STEM throughout the year- Unit 10 Circuits

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. (This acronym can also be spelled “STEAM” in which the “A” stands for art.)

This packet is full of fun, hands-on, innovative STEM activities that your kindergarten, first, and second grade students are sure to love.

Why STEM?
As educators we are tasked with preparing the next generation for jobs that may not even be created yet. Students need to be able to work collaboratively with their peers and be able to problem solve. STEM offers students the opportunity to work on these skills.

STEM provides students with open-ended activities where they can go through the process of defining a problem, brainstorming a possible solution, planning, creating, and improving on their plan. This process helps prepare our students for their futures in fun and innovative ways.

How Does This Packet Work?
This packet is part ten of a ten part series. Each unit is meant to span over the course of an entire month. Therefore, students can revisit the activities and improve upon their thoughts/plan.

This packet is geared to help students think as computer scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. Through a series of challenges, students will learn the basics of how and why circuits work.

Students will learn what a circuit is, how to draw a circuit diagram, what conductors and insulators are, and build many different circuits.

Activities:
1. Students will explore how a circuit works.

2. Students will work together to determine the answer to the essential question, “Can electricity flow through all materials?”

3. Using the pieces provided in “STEM Circuit Kit #3” students will complete a series of task cards.

4. In small groups, students will design a circuit. They will create a solution for the essential question, “Can you build a circuit that provides a solution for a problem?”


In this packet you will find fully written out lesson plans, posters, task cards, activities, recording pages, and extensions to use during an entire month. These activities are perfect for fun Friday experiments, STEM labs, and science and art extensions.

Please look at the preview to get a better understanding of how this pack is set up and what is included. Your students will LOVE these lessons and activities.