STEM to the Rescue: Ending the School Year with Engagement and Review
As the school year winds down, it’s common for students to feel restless. Hello, Spring fever!! But what if you could harness that energy and channel it into meaningful learning experiences? Enter STEM lessons!
🙌🏻 Look for links to print and go STEM kit PLUS a free STEM kit download in this post!!
At the end of the school year, STEM activities can be a game-changer for several reasons:
1. Behavior: STEM lessons are hands-on, interactive, and challenging, keeping students focused and engaged, reducing disruptions and misbehavior.
2. Review: STEM activities reinforce critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity, tying in perfectly with the standards you’ve taught throughout the year.
3. Fun: Let’s face it, STEM is cool! Students love the hands-on nature of STEM, making it an excellent way to end the year on a high note.
Here are some ideas for you to make the most of STEM lessons this week:
– Make it a celebration*: Turn STEM lessons into a fun, end-of-year celebration, incorporating games, competitions, or presentations to showcase students’ projects.
– Do a room transformation themed to match the challenge topic.
– Make it a competition!
My favorite EOY STEM project is the 3 week Racecar Derby Challenges. Students LOVE them every year!
The reading with key terms will be interesting to the students because it gives them the background information needed to build their racecar.
Teaching Time Frame Idea:
In my experience, I have made a challenge each week for the groups to test. Three weeks of lesson plans are provided for this unit.
The informational text in this set is written to best fit the 5th and 6th grade reading levels. This lesson set is designed to be on level for 5th grade and covers standards from 5th, 7th, and 8th grade science. This is a helpful resource for ESL and low level eighth graders.
You get the following activities for each topic:
Informational Text with Key Terms
Writing Summaries with Key Terms
Graphic Organizer: Science and Racecars with a fill-in- the-blank graphic
Scientific Method Guide
Vocabulary Word Wall Activities
STEM Challenge Student Guide: (Three different races, one race per week)
CER Reflective Writing
Printable Award Ribbons for the races
You will love this lesson game changer!
Here are the Challenges for each week:
Week One: Speed Races
Week Two: Distance Races
Week Three: Tricks!
Having active and engaging lessons for students at the end of the year is crucial to classroom behavior that last month of school and this Racecar Derby Kit is a teacher win!
Popular STEM lesson ideas for the end of the school year:
Here are some simple STEM challenges suitable for upper elementary students (grades 3-5):
- Racecar Derby Challenge: Design and build a racecar using everyday materials that can perform in certain tests: Speed, Distance, and Tricks!
- Bridge Building Challenge: Design and build a bridge using everyday materials (popsticks, straws, clay, etc.) to hold a certain amount of weight
- Marble Run Madness: Create a marble run using cardboard, tape, and other materials to demonstrate gravity and motion.
- Egg Drop Challenge: Design a device to protect an egg from breaking when dropped from a certain height.
- Tower Building Challenge: Build the tallest tower possible using limited materials (straws, blocks, etc.).
- Water Filtration System: Design a system to filter dirty water using everyday materials.
- Solar Oven Design: Build a solar oven using cardboard, foil, and plastic wrap to cook small items.
- Wind Turbine Challenge: Create a wind turbine using everyday materials to generate electricity.
- Geodesic Dome Challenge: Build a geodesic dome using straws and tape to demonstrate structural integrity.
- Roller Coaster Challenge: Design and build a roller coaster.
- Recycled Material Robot: Build a robot using recycled materials and everyday objects.
- Cardboard Box Creations: Transform a cardboard box into a functional item (e.g., chair, desk, etc.). Can you make it sturdy?
- Simple Machine Challenge: Build a Rube Goldberg machine using everyday materials and simple machines.
- Popsicle Stick Catapult: Design and build a catapult using popsicle sticks and rubber bands.
Remember, the goal of STEM challenges is to encourage creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Encourage students to experiment, iterate, and have fun!
By incorporating STEM lessons into your end-of-year plans, you’ll not only maintain student engagement but also reinforce critical skills and standards. So why not give it a try? Your students (and your sanity) will thank you!
*Special Bonus*: Download the FREE STEM Challenge Kit to plan your own STEM challenge weeks!
Happy Teaching! Hang in there, you’re almost to Summer!!