I am looping with my class this year to the next grade level.  I really enjoy having the same kids for two years.  I have been looking for a classroom theme, and I recently decided on rubber ducks!

I decided first to develop a set of STEM challenges using rubber ducks.  We plan on doing these the first two weeks of school!

Click here to purchase this STEM pack!  These challenges can also be bought separately!

I can't wait to do the first challenge in this pack!  Students have to rescue as many rubber ducks as they can using the materials provided.  Click here to purchase just this challenge!

How many ducks can you get above the table-top using the materials provided?

Rubber Duck Rescue Challenge

Materials Needed: (per team)

- 3 plastic cups

- 6 wide popsicle sticks

- 2 index cards

- rubber ducks

I am working on figuring out a Welcome bulletin board and other items now.

Do you have a theme in your classroom?  What is your theme?  

:) Smart Chick

Everyone thinks underwear is hilarious!  Why not incorporate some underwear into your STEM challenges with some fantastic picture books?

UNDERWEAR! by Jenn Harvey is a really fun book to read in the classroom.  Students have to make a pair of underwear that fit a class teddy bear.  Students start by measuring the class teddy bear!  They then use these measurements to make a pair of underwear that fits the teddy bear.

Just grab ANY teddy bear to use as your class teddy bear.  You can ask students to bring one in and then choose one randomly or get one for your classroom.  The teddy bear can be ANY size!   Grab this STEM pack by clicking here!

Creepy Pair of Underwear by Aaron Reynolds is a hilarious book about a bunny who buys a creepy pair of underwear and what he goes through as he tries to get rid of them!  For this challenge, I get small stuffed bunnies from Oriental Trading Company.  Students have to make a pair of creepy underwear for their bunny.  It is a lot tougher than it sounds!  You need cardstock paper, at least one stuffed bunny, scissors, and tape for this challenge.

You can get this STEM challenge from my tpt store by clicking here.  

Another fun picture book about underwear is Polar Bear's Underwear by Tupera Tupera.  This one is about a polar bear who has lost his underwear.  He finally finds his underwear at the end of the book - it is a white colored pair of underwear that blends in with his fur!  

This is a STEM challenge we do BEFORE we read the book!  It is a fun way to do a prediction activity related to STEM!  Grab this challenge by clicking here!

What kid doesn't think underwear is hilarious?  Add some humor to your STEM instruction by adding some underwear!