Using a STEM Challenges with the Novel, Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

I love combining our classroom novels with STEM challenge ideas!  Recently, we did this STEM challenge after reading about one third of the novel.  The kids were so excited to integrate the novel with a hands-on STEM activity!

In this challenge, students had to design a paper airplane that could fly the farthest distance and float on water.  They had limited materials to use, but they had a lot of great ideas!  This display shows the different ways they solved this challenge!

There are five different STEM challenges we will complete as we read the novel.  The challenges include: 

Paper Floatplane Challenge

Temporary Shelter Challenge
Critter Camouflage Challenge
Bow & Arrow Challenge
Wooden Raft Challenge

We charted the data we collected as we tested their ideas and then created this display!