Check out our space! It’s a double classroom with over 2,000 square feet. Roughly 4/5 of it is student workshop space and the last 1/5 is the *back room* where we have storage space for student projects and lots of…

Whew! This blog post has been a dream for a few years, and it is finally a reality, as I have just finished adding my 39th STEAM challenge post today. It’s been a busy summer and I was thrilled to…

We have regularly schedule Makerspace Days throughout the year. They are a great opportunity for kid engineers to utilize the skills and knowlege that they’ve been acquiring and use them create what they want to make — and take it…

In this challenge, students in grades K-5 work as a class to create six buildings for Tiny Town. The goal is to provide resources for community members, while making choices that are smart for the environment and community members (balance…

This challenge combines cardboard/recyclables engineering, business model formation, robotics, and green screen technology. All that on top of collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and communication. It’s chock full of learning opportunities. Click the arrow below to view and/or download the challenge…

Fun – and loud…!!! In this challenge, students choose a robot, dress it up, prepare to race. They must include a spot for 1-4 ping pong balls (depending on grade level) on their bot. The goal is to race to…

I’m almost sad that this is a once every three years challenge — because of how much fun we had (and how successful the kids were with it!). We used iPads, materials from our classroom, and the Stop Motion Studio…

For this challenge students are encouraged to create a road, town, and programmed robot that will travel the parade route.

This is a spin off of the very popular Macy’s Day Parade. Students work to create a balloon “float” for the parade. We use green screen technology to create a parade. I’ve also seen this done with robots. Next time…

We have two Glowforge lasercutters. They are definitely under utilized, but that will change, once we get a fire extinguisher added to the room for peace of mind. The one project we did complete was to make plant markers for…

The year I had 350+ tree houses in my classroom… We are fortunate to have many outdoor learning classrooms at our school/district. We have a school forest, pond, prairie, garden, one room schoolhouse, nature center log cabin, and a sugar…

One of the most frequently asked questions I get every year (and throughout the year, until it happens) is, “When’s HESS Week?” The kids just love these things! I learned about the HESS Toy Truck STEM Giveaway in 2018, during…

A great way to let loose, and still learn! Students in grades 4K-5 work with Cubelets. For 4K and 5K I limit the number/types of cubes available to them. For this challenge, students are encouraged to: Build a bot that…

Students in K-2 work as a class to create ONE newspaper sculpture that is decorated with colored cellophane paper and LED lights. Students in 3-5 work as table teams to create newspaper shoes. 4K students work to refine their cutting,…

This challenge started off as one vision and morphed as the week progressed. I don’t have this challenge scheduled on a regular basis, on our 6-year scope and sequence plan. Instead I think I’ll somehow combine this one with our…

Using marker code or block coding on Ozoblockly, students aim to knock down as many pins as possible. I recommend counting the bowling pins at the start and end of each class to be sure you have what you should…

This is a once-every-six-years challenge and once completed, we showcase our inventions/creations during Family STEAM Night. Each class creates ONE invention and works collaboratively throughout the challenge. The steps are as follows: Brainstorm/Draft Ideas Sort Ideas Into Like Categories Choose…

I’ve been wanting to give this idea a try and this year was finally the year! The kids love it. We started with just ONE robot (Meeberbots — and they’re really great for it), but then as the week progressed,…

We have two schoolwide challenges that we do every year. Mechanimals is one we did during the 2019-20 school year and it’s definitely a keeper! For this challenge, each class works as ONE TEAM to create one animal that lights…

This is a two day project. Each grade level starts off on day one building a marble run using grade-specific materials. 4K: Cardboard Tubes 5K: Playdough 1st: Duplo Blocks 2nd: LEGO Bricks 3rd: Pegboards 4th: K’Nex 5th: KEVA Planks The…

An obstacle course (or Fun Park) for Robots? Why not!!?? We’ve done this challenge a few different ways: Using Edison Robots ONLY Using Meeperbot Robots ONLY Using a Variety of Robots all at Once Moving forward, we will do this…

This is an integrated challenge — which asks student to utlize tools to engineer a cart that rolls and transports a stuffed animal (powered by a robot). It’s a one day challenge, packed with a lot of different skills: make…

Students begin programming robots in grade 4K. We use block based programming for grades 1st-5th and push button/color tiles/path drawing programming in grades 4K-Kindergarten. The first year we did this, I had grade levels assigned to the following robots: 4K:…

This is a yearly challenge. Each grade level works on a STEAM challenge, after reading a book! 4K: The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Chicka Chicka Boom Boom 5K: The Three Bears 1st: The Three Pigs 2nd: Muncha, Muncha, Muncha 3rd:…

Grab yourself a few black lights and black light reactive materials and you have yourself a GLOW Week in STEAM! You’d be surprised what in your room already glows under black lights. I did purchase a few things and have…

I purchased one of the Speedometry STEM Kits from Hot Wheels off of eBay, after realizing that Hot Wheels was no longer offering their grant program for them. It came with a lot of vehicles and several key accessories we…

Our shipment FINALLY arrived — three years in the making — these kits were hard to find and purchase in bulk at the price we desired! K’Nex kits come with a direction booklet, similar to how LEGO kits come with…

The majority of our challenges have a heavy focus on engineering, with science, art, and technology support. The Physics Grade Level Challenges, though, spotlight science. I’ve had good responses from grade level teachers. We’ve worked with these challenges for every…

We utilize two LEGO kits for elementary students: LEGO WeDO 2.0 LEGO Education SPIKE Essential Students in grades 4K-5 work through a LEGO challenge. 4K uses just bricks, while Kindergarten – 5th grade use the robotics kits. Each grade level…

Circuitry standards don’t {officially} start until fourth grade, but that doesn’t stop us from exploring and applying what we’ve learned about circuitry into our projects in grades K-5. We work with a variety of circuits: littleBits Circuit Cubes Makey Makey…

Every three years we bring out the bots for a round or two of BattleBOTS. Students select a bot to work with, outfit it with tools capable of popping balloons, and then engage in battle. Creativity, critical thinking, communication, and…

I’m so glad we did this challenge — it was a lot of fun. Each grade level, 4K-5 participates. We feature the board games during Family STEAM Night and invite attendees to try them out! There are a few steps…

Apples, pumpkins, and gourds – OH MY! Each grade level works through a different challenge. 4K: Apple Containers & Pumpkin Towers K: Pumpkin Fences 1: Pulling Machines 2: Pedastals 3: Cantilevers 4: Fashion Hats 5: Wrecking Balls View or download…

Students in grades K-5 work with 3D printing. Each grade level works through a challenge. K: Magnets 1: Composed Shapes 2: Backpack Tags 3: Trinket Toys 4: Bubble Wands 5: Boats Project complexity for each grade level builds, so students…

These little Hexbugs are a neat addition to any STEAM/STEM program! We create mazes for them using scrap wood and pvc pipes. Teams also utilize chipboard, cardboard tubes, and tape. Click the download arrow below to access the Hex Bug…

After purchasing way too many hot glue gun sticks last year, I was beginning to think my students thought hot glue guns were the answer to all their attachment needs. In an effort to equip my students with strategies and…

This is challenge presents six different scenarios to students in grades Kindergarten through fifth grade. Each grade level is tasked with a challenge to help someone stranded on a desert island. By the time my kindergarteners have moved on to…

Researching, brainstorming, planning, and creating golf course holes is the focus of this challenge. Students worked collaboratively as a team to develop one golf course hole, while meeting a list of criteria and constraints. Click the download arrow below to…

Using Ozobot robots, students in Kindergarten – 5th grades add embellishments to their bots and create a segment of the parade route using markers to code. Click the download arrow below to access Ozobot Parade Challenge files: Slide Deck SMARTboard…

With over 400 students visiting our STEAM room every week, it’s important to have a variety of recyclables and materials on hand for engineer design process challenges. Students love shopping for the “just right” pieces that will help to bring…

Adding STEAM to your elementary specials rotation is doable. You’ll just need to evaluate what you wish to accomplish through your program offerings what block of time you have available what classes do you currently offer which of these offered…

Starting your STEAM program from scratch? I was in your position when our program was started. While outfitting your program can seem like a daunting task — it is doable. You’ll want to ask your district what funds you have available to…

I teach elementary STEAM, as a specialist. Students in Kindergarten – 5th Grade visit the STEAM Makerspace for 60 minutes, once a week. I also see 4-year-old Kindergartners for 30 minutes a week. I created a standards-aligned Scope and Sequence…

Need supplies for your makerspace? Get your community involved! What to collect? Think: craft supplies recyclables old toys and game pieces old/non-working electronics (for reverse engineering) Not only do they love to help, you will undoubtedly collect some interesting things! …

Moving classrooms is a challenge. At first I was pretty sure I wanted to keep my first grade room and transform that into our new elementary STEAM makerspace. I created a list of pros and cons for moving and staying….

Wondering what to start collecting and purchasing for your STEM/STEAM makerspace room? I started this growing list to help guide what’s added to our elementary STEAM makerspace. Do you have any additions I could make to this list? Comment below…

Hi, friends. I do consider you my friends! I know I’ve been far, far less active on this blog, in comparison to when my site was first created in 2003 — way before blogs existed! Since 2003 I’ve been either…

Establishing a terrarium in our classroom wasn’t a planned event. It happened because one of my kids brought in a cocoon and we needed a place to put it. I thought it might be nice to put it behind glass so…