STEM @ Home - Where can kids find found objects?

A lot of STEM thinking is using things in different ways.  Because so many of us are teaching from home, using found objects in STEM challenges is a great way to continue doing STEM without having to worry about materials.

Everyone has STUFF and everyone seems to have a lot of leftover stuff after they open or use something.  Many of these items we toss in our recycling bins or trash cans.  I ask my students to keep a plastic tub or brown bag in their garage or basement were they can toss they found objects for STEM challenges.  

Sometimes you need to give kids a list of some found objects to get them started!  Here are a few...

- cardboard toilet paper and paper towel tubes

- empty cardboard boxes from food items OR from deliveries

- plastic bags

- plastic bottles

- glass jars and bottles

- paper, paper stuffing

- foil

- lids

- cardboard sheets

- egg cartons

- old clothing, shoes

- magazines, newspapers, junk mail 

- empty pop cans

- old books

- extra straws from fast food restaurants (they will give out extras if you ask)

The list can go on and on...just look around.

We use junk mail to build lots of things that we would build with paper or index cards at school.  This always cracks my kids up because everyone seems to have junk mail.  While few people get newspapers, a lot of those free ads that no one reads are printed on newsprint.

Encourage your kids to look at things a little differently and they can find a lot of things to use to do STEM challenges!

Think creatively and use things in different ways!