Design and make a straw rocket and use this simple experiment to explore the trajectory of spaceships when they are launched from Earth.
Space STEM: Engineer a homemade shooting star spinner toy. This fun projects teaches about kinetic and potential energy and uses recycled materials!
Last year, I started a new Space Club program at four middle schools. Not wanting to reinvent the wheel, I searched the web for ideas and curriculum to implement. I soon became excited to find great resources like NASA and TeachEngineering , but I was
Space topics for elementary students- includes Escape Room, STEM Challenge, reading, and more! Details are on this blog post full of amazing ideas and tips.
Start your year off right by decorating your STEM classroom to inspire your students to have fun, take risks, and have a growth mindset.
Like most preschool fascinations, I’m not entirely sure how it began. It might have been the Star Gazing Discovery Bottles I made last month, or the fact that they are in bed before they actually appear in the sky every night. Whatever the cause – studying stars has become the…
Learn about the planets, galaxies and more with these awesome Outer Space Crafts for Kids! Perfect for Show and Tell or summer STEAM projects!
Magic Milk is a classic, simple science experiment kids love. Here we give it a space twist with a Galaxy theme that feels like space travel!
Fun STEM activity for outdoor play and makes a great science lesson! (Includes a printable rocket template).
I created this maker space in my classroom almost two years ago. I am soooooo glad I did. We use it for really cool STEAM projects. It makes it so easy to do one anytime I want. It is always there, stocked and ready to go. I originally envisioned this as an independent activity in my classroom. But, the reality of the mess isn't always possible during a busy kindergarten day. So, I use it more often as an adult supported activity. The kids are still working independently, but an adult is there to remind kiddos to keep it tidy. That, and having a low heat hot glue gun makes creating so much easier. The adult uses the glue gun, but the students are the design directors. It works perfectly that way. So, yes, you will need an aide or parent volunteer to do this with kinder kids. In an older grade level, this would be easier to manage as an independent center or station. Here is how I set it up. Maker Spaces are as individual as the makers who make them. So, when you set yours up, get some inspiration and then do what works for YOU using your available resources. I have three big drawers for the kids to pull materials from... above is cardboard. Below is plastic and paper. It is actually easy to fill the space when you get in the habit of saving cool recyclables and scraps from other projects in your classroom. You can also ask families in your class to donate materials. I use a fourth drawer for storage. I change up the materials in the little bins, so it's nice to have a place to save things like corks hardware, twigs, etc. I like to provide special materials that will aide in making each project. Here are just a few of my bins up close... OK, let's move on to some great projects... Making bridges is usually one of my first projects of the year. We do it as a part of my Fairy tales/ Folk tales unit. I use a comprehension assessment for The Three Billy Goats Gruff , so we spend some time to go in depth with that story. Creating a bridge makes a great extension activity. Here are few more kindergarten kid designs. And of course we had to get out the plastic goats to test them. Don't you love the "No Crossing" sign? Written in Kinder writing of course! At the end of that unit, we also make boats for the gingerbread man to create a safe way for him to cross the river. Here are a couple of those... The tests on the boats are fun, but you have to prepare your kids for disappointment. I read Rosie Revere, Engineer to my class this year when we tested our boats. It was the perfect prime for accepting failure as part of the designing, learning, re-designing process. We use the little Pepperidge Farm gingerbread cookies in each boat for the test. So, of course I give a cookie to each of my little makers too! That book cover is an Amazon affiliate link for your convenience. You can grab it by clicking on the image. It's a must have if you are doing STEM projects in your classroom. For the boat tests, I use a large plastic storage container that I fill with water. We sit in a circle around it and each child gets to put a cookie in their boat and float it (or not) across the water. It's also a great idea to give your kids time to look at each design and talk to each other about how it was made. It's a little makers' convention. It only takes about 30 minutes. I think it is time well spent. Here is a precious video of one or our boat tests: Here are some adorable kid made leprechaun traps. This is the original STEM project. I have been doing leprechaun traps in my classroom for years. I like to have the kids make them in the classroom better than doing it as an at home project. The one year I had kids do them at home, I could tell that parents helped too much! You can tell these were made by little learners... It was great to hear my sweet students explain how each trap was going to work. We usually leave them out around the classroom on March 16th. I put some Rolo candies inside each one. (They are chocolate caramels wrapped in gold foil). I also sprinkle a little gold glitter around. It's lots of fun when students come into the classroom on the 17th and find the GOLD! Things can get pretty messy when the kids are working at the Maker Space. Here is the table during leprechaun trap production. There is a place for everything and we put everything in it's place when its time to clean up. The kids love using the space, so they are usually very willing to help clean up. We have little recycle and trash bins in the space so it is easy to put scraps where they belong. We also made bird feeders last year as a spring project. We had been learning about the season of spring and animals that lay eggs, It was a great extension for our unit. Plus, we have windows in our classroom where we can see so many birds outside. Those little tubs have bird seed and Cheerios cereal. You can also see the big jar of peanut butter. We spread the PB on to the cardboard pieces and then dipped them in the seed. I love this little engineer's design. Those are just a few ideas for your little makers. You don't have to have a Maker Space in your classroom to do these projects, it just makes it easier for me. If you haven't already, I hope you will try some STEAM projects with your kindergarten class. Thanks so much for stopping by. Happy teaching!
A whole month of daily low-prep STEAM activities for kids. You are going to love all of the low-prep STEAM activities that we have in store!
Inspiring young minds doesn't have to be such a struggle.These STEAM project ideas have been tested and tried by kids all over the world to boost creativity
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DNA Gene Bracelet for Kids, an easy STEAM Activity using beads to create pattern bracelets. DNA is also a pattern.
Kids are fascinated by outer space, astronauts, moons, stars and planets! In fact, an outer space lesson plan may be our most requested topic EVER! We have scoured high and low for the best outer space science experiments including a DIY galaxy in a bottle (to learn about anti-gravity) and a balloon rocket STEM project. […]
Japan is renowned for its traditional ryokans, which offer travelers a unique and authentic experience. Among the many ryokans available, some of the best are those that provide private onsens. These private onsen facilities allow guests to indulge in a serene and private bathing experience, immersing themselves in the rejuvenating hot spring waters while enjoying the tranquility and beauty of their surroundings.
Learn about the planets, galaxies and more with these awesome Outer Space Crafts for Kids! Perfect for Show and Tell or summer STEAM projects!
In this robot craft and STEM activity, children will color a free printable robot and turn it into a gliding robot toy. This fun activity combines creativity with scientific thinking. Follow our Free Printables Pinterest board! We have been having all kinds of robot-themed fun in my kindergarten enrichment class! The kids loved our latest activity- …
For a play time that is truly out of this world give galaxy dough a try!
Astronauts, moon and space unit study activities. I'm giving you free dot-to-dot printables based on four popular constellations...
Ready to bring STEM to your classroom, but not sure where to start? This post outlines 10 MUST HAVE STEM materials for your classroom.
If your kids love space and space-themed crafts and activities, they will love making and playing with this easy DIY galaxy playdough.
This Glowing Lightning Bug Paper Circuit Card is a perfect project for STEM and STEAM learning at home or school or your favorite makerspace! Be sure to add this to your favorite summer STEAM project list!
Moon Phases can be tough to visualize in the context of the orbits that cause them. Using a visual aide will ensure your child understand the spatial relationships of both the Earth and the Moon as they relate to the Sun.
Sunscreen painting! Creative STEAM activity teaches the science of sunscreen and is a fun art project. Perfect for preschool, kindergarten, and all kids.
Learn about the planets, galaxies and more with these awesome Outer Space Crafts for Kids! Perfect for Show and Tell or summer STEAM projects!
Affiliate DisclaimerWe sometimes use affiliate links in our content. This won’t cost you anything, but […]
These bins are designed to allow the students to be creative. It awakens their brains for the day and lets them explore the exciting world of STEAM.
Fun STEM activity for outdoor play and makes a great science lesson! (Includes a printable rocket template).
We're sharing 16 Free STEM and STEAM Printables perfect for kids learning at home. Includes a Maker Space Supply List, STEAM Project Prompts and STEAM Project Observations Worksheet. Perfect for homeschooling and distance learning. #STEAM #STEM #Printable #Worksheet #Homeschooling #Science #MakerSpace #ObservationSheet
If you're looking for a fun math activity to add to your space unit, these free outer space pattern block mats are a perfect fit.
Affiliate DisclaimerWe sometimes use affiliate links in our content. This won’t cost you anything, but […]
Are you looking for an engaging STEM Challenge to enhance your space unit or to teach how the FIRST MAN landed on the moon? This is a great challenge for students to use materials to create a Lunar Lander (module) to test for a soft landing with their "shock absorbers." Check out the Preview.⭐ THIS ...
We love sensory bags at our house. Ever since I made our first sensory bag, Jumbled Snowman, over a year ago, they are always a guaranteed hit. It is a great way to provide hands on play for toddlers and preschoolers. So of course our Study of the Stars would not be…
Teach kids about space with this astronaut ice cream recipe! It's a fun addition to any space or astronomy lesson or when learning about astronauts.
Use STEM engineering activities in elementary school as a fun, engaging, and meaningful way to tackle the Next Generation Science Standards.
