Winter – STEM Challenges

Late Winter STEM Challenges

Winter STEM Challenges (or STEAM Challenges) engage your students in brain-busting work disguised as fun! There are five challenges: 3 purely winter, 1 Black History Month/ Women’s History Month, and 1 Groundhog Day challenge!

From this hub page, you will find everything you need to know about all five Late Winter STEM challenges: links to resources, blog posts, video walk-throughs, and teacher feedback on each resource.

Late Winter STEM Challenge Basics:

Students work in partners or groups against criteria & constraints lists to design and build various items using science, technology, engineering, and math skills to complete the tasks and extensions. Modification suggestions are included to make these challenges engaging and productive for students in grades 2 – 8.

Teacher Feedback on the Late Winter Bundle

This bundle is AMAZING!! I am excited to use all of the Winter activities with my STEM class students! They are fun, easy to implement, and can be adjusted for grade and ability levels!! The cross-curricular inclusion is a HUGE Bonus!!

Jayme T.-Late Winter Bundle

Another great product. Thanks!

Marangely H.-Late Winter Bundle

Snow Scoop

Working against a criteria/constraints list individually or in partners, students will design a snow scoop to designed for maximum capacity and/or maximum efficiency.

Success can be evaluated in one or both of the following ways:

– Largest possible scoop capacity

– Time to clear a 1-inch path in the snow (or to clear the entire yard of snow)

As with all my challenges, modifications are included to make it appropriate for grades 2-8. More details can be found in resource, blog, and video linked below the teacher feedback.

Teacher Feedback on Snow Scoop

Very thorough and challenging. I used with a wide rage of students in STEM class and the material options ensured many different responses from the students.

Buyer 5/15/17-Snow Scoop

Loved this product! So sorry I didn't provide feedback sooner. The kids loved doing this project and it was a great STEM activity just after a snow day! The creativity my 4th graders showed in the variety of designs was amazing. Thank you. One of the things I loved is the materials are so basic...I only need to bring in the rice (snow)!

Maggie K.-Snow Scoop

My kids loved it! I used it with my middle school students and it was great! Loved all of the resources that come with it!

April G.-Snow Scoop

My 5th graders loved this activity, easy to follow directions and well developed worksheets and directions.

Karen B.-Snow Scoop

I loved this STEM project as well as my students. They had so much fun creating their shovels and loved the competition part with their groups as to who can scoop the most rice in the fastest time. We then extended the activity and talked about averages or each measurement. My principal loved seeing their creations out on display. Thank you!! Loved the video you provided as well...very helpful.

Lori S.-Snow Scoop

My class had a blast making their snow scoops. The variety of scoop ideas really surprised me. Thank you!

Dorothy S.-Snow Scoop

This is a perfect STEM for my 3rd graders when we are studying Snowflake Bentley!

Kasey M.-Snow Scoop

Every single detail in this product is planned perfectly. Thank you for a complete and engaging activity!

Megan O.-Snow Scoop

I used this with second through fourth and eighth grade GT students. Students were engaged and wanted to make improvements after measuring "snow". It was loads (lol) of fun and helped with the lesson on simple machines. Great job!

Buyer 1/30/17-Snow Scoop

In partners/small groups, students will design the “iciest” tree possible.

Using a criteria/constraints list, students will build a tree with branches. They will also create triangular icicles to attach to the branches. Point values are assigned to each triangle based on various criteria (dependent on age group). Students attempt to create the iciest tree possible in the class’s Frosted Forest.

This challenge can be run simply (focusing on shape creation & manipulation, measurement, and addition), or you can add complexity (focusing on triangle classification by sides and angles, layering icicles, assigning point value based on area, etc.). Two editable criteria/constraints lists are provided to highlight either end of the spectrum.

If it’s out of season, feel free to call it “Triangle Tree” instead! No need to wait until the winter!

As with all my challenges, modifications are included to make it appropriate for grades 2-8. More details can be found in resource, blog, and video linked below the teacher feedback.

Teacher Feedback on Frosted Forest

Love the integration into math at so many levels. Differentiation!!

Bonnie F.-Frosted Forest

Thank you! I work outside with my students once a week. Those first graders love these challenges. I was able to modify for them! Thank you!

Amy C.-Frosted Forest

Awesome challenge! I used in my 5-8 STEM classes. I love the included differentiation! Thank you!

Stacie P.-Frosted Forest

Enjoyed the STEM challenge. It helped my students review area and perimeters of triangles. The video was also very helpful!

Mindy D.-Frosted Forest

This is a great resource that is easily adaptable for 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders. My students enjoyed this resource and the competition! Thanks!

Stephfanie R.-Frosted Forest

Perfect extension lesson for my enrichment group with triangles and angles. The many differentiated materials included are incredible! We love displaying our frosted forests in the hallway. Thank you!!!

EP Teaching Fun-Frosted Forest

What a great STEAM and math unit! There were SO many places to go with this activity that I was able to use it for more than one grade level. There were wonderful extension ideas as well. This one will be added to my regular rotation with my students!

Julie A.-Frosted Forest

Great activity that gets your pupils thinking and troubleshooting. Reinforces geometry skills. Excellent supports and advice for teachers included in the unit. Worth every penny.

Cynthia O.-Frosted Forest

Working against a criteria/constraints list in groups, students will build waiters’ trays designed to hold “snowy” 3D solids in an indoor relay race. This is a great way to combat cabin fever while getting in some crucial geometry practice!

As with all my challenges, modifications are included to make it appropriate for grades 2-8. More details can be found in resource, blog, and video linked below the teacher feedback.

Teacher Feedback on Winter Waiter

So cute - and I love that it's open ended.

Ann S.-Winter Waiter

My 3rd Graders loved this! I plan to use this again next year! Thanks for a great activity

Farrah E.-Winter Waiter

This is a very well thought-out activity. I appreciate the video as well! Great resource and the kids loved it too!

Jennifer J.-Winter Waiter

We have many of your activities...and the students love them all! I purchased your STEM Challenge Mega Bundle. I have many pictures of your activities. I was purposefully looking for more of your activities to add to more of our activities. Recently, I purchased the Winter STEM Challenge, the Valentine's Day STEM challenge bundle, and your St, Patrick's Day STEM challenge bundle. I love them all. The big problem is that I have no more money. Yours are so wonderful that it makes me find money to purchase your items! THANKS!

Kathy G.-Winter Waiter

This was a great activity that really challenged the thinking of my students. They thought it would be “so easy” and it was quite the challenge.

Megan A.-Winter Waiter

Functional Furniture (Black History Month)

This challenge was created as a way to celebrate Black History Month and/or Women’s History Month in science class. The premise is inspired by Sarah E. Goode’s 1885 invention of the folding cabinet bed. She was one of the first African-American women to obtain a patent for her invention!

Working against a criteria/constraints list in groups, students will design and build multi-functional furniture, or furnish an entire apartment.

As with all my challenges, modifications are included to make it appropriate for grades 2-8. More details can be found in resource, blog, and video linked below the teacher feedback.

Teacher Feedback on Functional Furniture

Our students loved this!

Erin V.-Functional Furniture

Extremely thorough and engaging!

Stacey M.-Functional Furniture

My students love STEM challenges and this fit in nicely with our study on Black History Month! Thank you for a fun and engaging resource!

Amanda G.-Functional Furniture

This is such a thorough resource that is ready to go! It has very good video links and extension activities! Well done! My kids loved this STEM challenge!

Sheryl V.-Functional Furniture

Looking for Groundhog Day activities that are more than just an activity? This STEM / STEAM challenge will make you wonder why you ever though Groundhog Day wasn’t worth celebrating!

In groups, students will create groundhog shadows, searching for the perfect combinations of light source angles, distances, and even groundhog accessories to meet the specified shadow criteria & constraints. Shadows will be traced and and turned into street art/graffiti.

As with all my challenges, modifications are included to make it appropriate for grades 2-8. More details can be found in resource, blog, and video linked below the teacher feedback.