If you’re looking to apply learning in adaptations, habitats, food chains and food webs, life cycles, genetics & heredity, evolution, and/or human body systems, this STEM / STEAM challenge is a perfectly engaging way to get the job done joyfully!

This STEM Challenge is great any time of the year, but works especially well for Halloween or as a spring activity! The completed designs and extension projects make beautiful displays for Back to School Night or Open House as well!

The basic premise: 

Students work in individually or in partners or groups against a list of criteria and constraints to create a create-ure that has never been seen or imagined before.

Note: The version you are viewing is compatible with Google Slides ™.

Click here for the printable version of this resource.

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 Slides
  • Post-design extension activities list
  • Link to a video walk-through of the challenge

• Student Slides:
  • Criteria & Constraints List
  • Results and Design Analysis
  • Discussion Questions

• Extension templates
  • Process flow maps
  • Create & solve math problems based on designs
  • Life Science Folder/Booklet Project templates:
    • General Information
    • Feature Spotlight
    • Life Cycle
    • Where in the World? (Habitats)
    • Food Chain / Food Web
    • Animal Classification
    • Geologic Time Scale
    • Genetics / Heredity
    • Evolution
    • Body Systems Compare/Contrast

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.)

• • Note: The links below are Amazon Affiliate links. Find out more on the disclosure page.
    • • • Crayola Model Magic
        • Newspaper or tissue paper
        • Construction paper
        • Craft sticks 
        • Pipe cleaners 
        • Sequins
        • Yarn
        • Pom poms
        • Googly eyes
        • Paint
        • Feathers
        • Toothpicks
        • Scissors 
        • Foil
        • Cotton
        • Felt
        • Sand paper
        • Glue
        • Masking tape 
        • Hot glue guns
        • Plastic wrap or sandwich baggies
        • Uncooked noodles, rice, and/or beans
        • Design analysis handouts (included in resource)

         

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.

This resource is available in a printable format. It will soon be available in a discounted Planetopia Project bundle. The Digital/Paperless Mega Bundle is also coming soon!

PRINTABLE VERSION

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