The Mini Mayflower / Mini Mishoon Thanksgiving STEM Challenge will engage your students in brain-busting work disguised as fun as they design water transportation for the Wampanoag or Pilgrims!

The basic premise:

Working against a criteria/constraints list individually or in partners/groups, students build a boat that is designed to hold as much capacity as possible, and/or sails the fastest.

Note: This is the digital format, compatible with Google Slides ™.

For the print version, click here.

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 and Constraints List (editable)
  • Results and Design Analysis
  • Discussion Questions

• Extension templates
  • Process flow map
  • Create & solve math problems based on designs
  • Video/website linked slides
  • Speak, Listen, Draw slides

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.)

At least one per class:

• Container filled with water to test the boats
  • be sure to choose a container with appropriate dimensions, or constrain students on length, width, height accordingly
• Set of uniform objects to measure capacity
  • pennies, base-ten blocks, paperclips, balance weights, bouncy balls, etc.

For each student or group:

• Popsicle/craft sticks, foil sheets, and/or 3×5 cards

• Tape (masking tape or packing tape perform best, constrain to 12 in. or less)

• Scissors

• Copies of data recording & analyzing handouts

Optional:

• For building: Clay, pipe cleaners, clay, twine, straws
• For recording data: rulers/measuring tapes, scales, stopwatches (if conducting the speed test)

This resource is also available in print format and as part of the Thanksgiving and the Mega STEM Challenge bundles. Click through below:

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.