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 tallest “tower of love” possible using Valentine’s Day cards they were probably just going to throw away anyway! (Note: for older students or those who don’t exchange cards, see materials list below and thumbnail above; alternative love-notes handout is included.)
Check out the video preview to see what is included in this resource (skip ahead to 4:37 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 in color (editable versions in color and B&W provided)
- Student “love letter” template cut-outs, kindness log & compliment chart handouts (editable)
- 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
- 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:
- Choose primary material(s) from the following:
- 20+ Valentine’s Day cards
- 20+ index cards
- 4-5 Valentine’s Day card boxes
- Copies of “love letters” on paper or card stock
- Tape (12 in.)
- Scissors
- Ruler or measuring tape
Optional:
- craft sticks
- pipe cleaners
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:
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