STEM @ Home - WHY do it?

STEM is such an important part of our classroom and now that we are teaching through distance learning I want to keep doing STEM challenges with my kids!  While I cannot do all of my many STEM challenges, I can do a lot of them, especially those using FOUND materials.

Why should we keep doing STEM during distance, or virtual, learning?

1. STEM challenges are a great way to keep kids engaged and interested.

These computer programs are fine, but kids need to get those hands and brains working in order to keep and stay engaged.  STEM challenges are the perfect way to keep that engagement level UP and the kids excited!

2. STEM challenges can be done with minimal materials.

Believe it or not, lots of STEM challenges can be done with only a few items and some with just a sheet of paper!  For the picture below students just used a sheet of copy paper.  They had to build a chair for a stuffed animal.  While we did this at school, it could easily be done at home with ANY type of paper and ANY type of stuffed animal.

3. STEM challenges are an easy way to get families involved.

Families can help students complete their STEM challenges at home!  It is a fantastic way to get families spending time together communicating and collaborating to solve a problem.  Kids really love having "required" time with their families to complete different challenges.  Sometimes the parents and kids even do their own solution to the problem.

4. Sharing solutions can be a lot of fun!

Kids and parents can share their solutions with the whole class using the flipgrid site!  They create a video to show their solution and talk about how they completed the challenge.

Try to get some STEM going at home, whether you are doing virtual instruction, hybrid instruction, or kids are back full-time!

You can buy this STEM @ Home pack here for just $2!  OR just come up with your own!