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

The basic premise:

Working against a criteria/constraints list individually or in partners/groups, students will design and build the smallest container possible to house a candy assortment.

– “Confection Container” alternative: students will design and build the smallest container possible to house one or more cupcakes (keeping frosting on the cupcakes, not the box!)

– Because this can be treated as two separate challenges, two criteria/constraints lists have been provided: one for candy and another for confection (cupcake).

Check out the video preview to see what is included in this resource (skip ahead to 5:37 to see what is included in the resource):

Note: If you are in a 1:1 classroom, you may prefer the
digital format, compatible with Google Slides ™.

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 Handouts
  • Criteria and Constraints list (Two editable versions in color and black & white provided)
  • Design Analysis (2-page regular spacing and 4-page expanded spacing for primary students included in color and B&W; editable)
  • Discussion Questions (in color and B&W; editable)

• Extension templates
  • Shipping box and Delivery Truck Exercise (editable)
  • Process Flow Map
  • Math Extension

Sample/suggested materials for each student or group:

(Materials you’ll need to do the activity are easily modified. You don’t need to provide all of the following materials. Select a subset and/or add in your own ideas.)

For each student or group:

• Assortment of candy (4 – 8 pieces). A variety of shapes is desired.
  • “Confection Container” Alternative: one or more cupcakes
• Cardboard/card stock (paper plates, cereal boxes, Valentine’s cards boxes, etc.)
• Craft sticks (5-10)
• Pipe cleaners (5 – 10)
• Tape (24 in.)
• Scissors
• Ruler

Optional:

• Valentine’s decorations (lace, ribbons, hearts, etc.) or construction paper, markers, and glue
• Tissue paper
• Foil
• Toothpicks
• String
• Small paper cups
• Straws (5 – 10)

This resource is also available in paperless format and as part of the Valentine’s Day and the Mega STEM Challenge bundles. Click through below:

PRINTABLE MEGA BUNDLE

If you prefer to purchase on TPT, click here. 

Note: Any coupon codes you received for subscribing to the email are for this site and will not work on TpT.