Looking for Easter activities that your students will love but are more than just a craft or activity to pass the time? The Bean Bind STEM Challenge (or STEAM Challenge) will keep your students engaged in brain-busting work disguised as fun!

The basic premise: 

Due to equipment malfunctioning at the bean factory, several types of beans are all mixed-up, putting the Easter Bunny in a bind! Individually or in partners/groups, students will design and build a device to sort the jelly beans from the mixed-up beans.

(You can skip the story if it’s too cutesy for your kids, or if you want to avoid Easter references.)

– If you’re working with younger students, you’ll want to mix jelly beans with only one other bean type that is not too similar in size (e.g. black beans). For older students, increase to two or three other bean types, some of which may be closer in size to the jelly beans.

 

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Note: Click here for the printable version of this resource.

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Resource includes:

• NGSS aligned standards, Grades 2 – 8

• Teacher Tips:
  • Links to my 5-part video series on getting started with STEM challenges
  • Materials and timing
  • Criteria & Constraints (including modifications to increase difficulty for older students)
  • Measuring results
  • Universal STEM Challenge Notes & How to Use Student Handouts
  • Post-design extension activities list
  • Link to a video walk-through of the challenge

• Student Slides:
  • Criteria & Constraints List (editable slide provided)
  • Results and Design Analysis
  • Discussion Questions

• Extension templates
  • Process Flow Map
  • Math Extension
  • Task Card Tips, Templates, and Examples

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Sample/suggested materials for each student or group:

(Materials you’ll need to do the activity are easily modified.)

• • Note: The links below are Amazon Affiliate links. Find out more on the disclosure page.For each class:
    • Jelly beans (1 – 2 bags)
    • Mix-in beans: black, pinto, etc. (1 – 2 bags)
    • Bowl/bucket to hold the mixed beans (1)

    For each student or group:

    • Pipe cleaners (5 – 10)
    • Paper plates (1 – 4)
    • Coffee filters
    • Paper bags
    • Tape (12 – 24 in.)
    • Rubber bands (5 – 10)
    • Scissors
    • Design analysis handouts (included in resource)

    Optional:

    • Plastic baggies
    • Single hole punch
    • Foil or foil pans
    • String/yarn
    • Craft sticks
    • Straws

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Benefits of this STEM Design Challenge:

• Focus on critical thinking, problem solving, and application of learning
• Helps students develop growth mindset traits like persistence and resilience
• High levels of student engagement
• The potential to hit upon all NGSS ETS standards depending on the depth and number of iterations you choose to implement in your classroom (modifications included)
• Highly flexible and differentiated for materials, timing, grade levels, and rigor.

Each design iteration should be planned for ~60 min. if you are including data gathering and analysis rather than just building for fun. If you add extension activities, you will need to adjust timing accordingly.

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This resource is available in printable format, as well as in discounted bundles.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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