STEM throughout the year- Unit 2 Shapes

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 preschool, kindergarten, and first 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 two 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. (You can also choose to use the lessons as stand alone activities.)

This packet is geared to help students think as mathematicians, engineers, and artists. Using their basic knowledge of two and three dimensional shapes, students will expand upon their knowledge in fun and innovative ways.

This month’s STEM focus includes a few different STEM challenges. Before each activity, students will be reminded of the steps in a STEM activity: define the question, imagine a solution, plan, and then create. Students can draw out their plans before they dive into using their materials.

Activities:
1. 2-D Shape Building- What two dimensional shapes can you create using the following materials?

2. Sponge Print Painting- Can you create a painting using two dimensional shapes?

3. Piet Mondrian Challenge- Can you create a painting inspired by Piet Mondrian?

4.Three-Dimensional Shape Challenge- Can you build a 3-D shape house that will stand up on its own?

In this packet you will find posters, activities, recording pages, and extensions to use during an entire month. These activities are perfect for fun Friday experiments, STEM labs, and math 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.