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Besties with our Buddies: STEM in Action

3/24/2015

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See what we've been up to with our buddies each week as we 
explore a plethora of STEM projects covering numerous 
science, technology, engineering, and math standards!

"Frozen"-inspired STEM Challenges

Disney's Frozen is a COLOSSAL success...and PERFECT for inspiring "blizzards" of STEM activities! We engaged in the following snow/ice-themed activities:
  1. Create symmetrical snowflakes using K'nex and pattern blocks.
  2. Snow (saltwater) painting
  3. Frozen-themed computer game coding
  4. Solids, liquids, gases observations (melting)
  5. Construct sugar cube "ice castles."
  6. Engineer a better sled for Sven & Kristoff to escape the wolves & Marshmallow (snow monster).


3 Billy Goats Gruff: Bridge Engineering

"Who's that trip-trapping over my bridge?!?!" After reading the Three Billy Goats Gruff, our classes were challenged with creating the strongest bridge using only dried spaghetti and hot glue!  This took some architectural planning and LOTS of design improvements!

Smitten with SCIENCE: Valentine's Day STEM

Students on Route #125 "LOVED" getting to do STEM experiments with their buddies on the morning of Friday, 2/13. We explored the scientific concepts of chemical & physical reactions, changing states of matter, & the scientific method.  We also participated in creating eco-friendly, 100% edible bird feeders to show our love for our feathered friends during the winter months.

Please scroll through the slideshow below for up-close photos of the experiments as well as action shots of 4th grade students with their Kinder-buddies.  See full details on each experiment in my Scholastic blog post featuring these simple STEM activities that you can recreate in your own home using items easily found around the house!

SEUSS-Tastic STEM: 10 Apples Up on Top
Tower Engineering

Miss Weinstein and I jumped at the chance to celebrate Seuss’ birthday with some STEM fun, and found Ten Apples Up on Top to be a perfect fit for our weekly STEM challenge.  

Students were given Keva planks (but you could use ANY building materials, purchased or recycled) and were asked to build a structure at least one yard tall that could balance and hold at least one apple “up on top.” Once students achieved that goal, they worked to improve their engineering designs to add more apples to their structures. In the time we had, students were able to support up to four apples on their yard-tall towers.
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    I am a theme-weaving, bargain-hunting, creative public educator who teaches a fabulous group of 4th graders at Indian Trail Elementary School in Highland Park, Illinois.  

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