Teaching about plants and need the perfect activity to engage? This STEM / STEAM Challenge is perfect for applying learning in plant needs, parts/functions, adaptations, life cycles, cells, photosynthesis, and/or genetics & heredity.

This STEM Challenge is great any time of the year, but works especially well 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 individually or in partners or groups against a list of criteria and constraints to create a plant that has never been seen or imagined before.

Check out the video preview to see what is included in this 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 & Constraints List (in color and B&W; editable version provided)
  • Results and Design Analysis (2-page regular spacing and 4-page expanded) spacing for primary students included in color and and B&W)
  • Discussion Questions (color and B&W)

• Extension templates
  • Process flow maps
  • Create & solve math problems based on designs
  • Plant Writing Templates
  • Planetopia Plants Folder/Booklet templates (editable)
    • General Information
    • Feature Spotlight
    • Life Cycle
    • Where in the World
    • Genetics/ Heredity
  • Plant Science Study Handouts (editable)
    • Plant Parts/Functions
    • Photosynthesis
    • Plant & Animal Cell Diagrams
    • Plant & Animal Cell Compare/Contrast
    • Plant Inquiry

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
      • Tissue paper
      • Construction paper
      • Craft sticks 
      • Pipe cleaners 
      • Sequins
      • Yarn
      • Pom poms
      • Paint
      • Feathers
      • Toothpicks
      • Scissors 
      • Foil
      • Cotton
      • Felt
      • Plastic beads
      • Cotton
      • Sand paper
      • Small cups
      • Rubber bands
      • Paperclips
      • Cardboard scraps
      • Glue
      • Masking tape 
      • Hot glue guns
      • Uncooked noodles and/or beans
      • Single hole punch
      • 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 digital 1:1 format, compatible with Google Slides (TM). It is also available in the Mega Bundle, and will soon be available in a discounted Planetopia Project bundle.

PAPERLESS VERSION

PRINTABLE BUNDLE

PRINTABLE MEGA BUNDLE

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Preview Music Credit:

“Carefree” Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/