Weather STEM Activity | Spring STEM | Natural Disasters STEM Challenge Activity

If you’re looking to apply learning in weather, climate, natural disasters, natural resources & more, this STEM / STEAM challenge is a perfectly engaging way to get the job done joyfully!

The basic idea:

Students work individually or in partners/groups against a list of criteria and constraints to create a shelter to defend against 3+ types of weather and/or disasters.

This challenge was developed as part of the Planetopia Project, but it can be used as a stand-alone challenge as well.

Note: This the PRINTABLE version. If you prefer the version for use with Google Slides™, you'll want to look at the PAPERLESS VERSION instead.

If you have questions about which version is right for you, please feel free to leave me a question using the product Q&A below.

This resource is also available in the following discounted bundles:

⭐ Planetopia Project STEM Challenge Bundle
⭐ STEM Challenges: Year-Round Mega Bundle
⭐ The Ultimate STEM Challenge Mega Bundle

⭐ Resource includes:

✅ NGSS aligned standards, Grades 2 – 8

✅ Teacher Tips

• Links to a video walk-through of the challenge & my 5-part video series on getting started with STEM challenges
• Premise & Set-up
• Materials and timing
• Modifying Criteria & Constraints to adjust challenge difficulty
• Measuring results
• Post-design extension activities list & links

✅ EDITABLE Student Handouts

• Planning Pages
• Criteria and Constraints list (two editable versions in color and B&W)
• Design Analysis Handouts (in color and B&W in two versions: 4-page expanded room for response and 2-page condensed space version for older students)
• Discussion Questions (in color and B&W)

✅ Extension templates

• Evaporation Diagram
• The Water Cycle Diagram
• Shelter Ratings Activity
• Shelter Superlatives Template
• Weather Graph
• Weather Forecasting Activity Template
• Postcard Writing Templates
• Process flow map
• Create & solve math problems based on designs

Materials you’ll need to do the activity are easily modified. You can select a subset of the materials below and/or add your own ideas. The materials you select will be based on the types of weather/disasters you have your students design for.

Sample/suggested materials for each student or group:

For Building:

• Cardboard scraps / paper plates / small cups
• Craft sticks / wooden coffee stirrers
• Pipe cleaners
• Masking or packing tape
• Cotton
• Sand Paper
• Plastic wrap, bags, or balloons
• Zip ties or string
• Scissors, hole punch and/or nails/screwdrivers

Optional Building Materials:

• Crayola Model Magic or clay
• Hot glue gun
• Foil
• Construction paper / tissue
• Coffee filters
• Pompoms
• Foil
• Paperclips
• Toothpicks

Measuring Results Materials:

• Plastic bin or foil tray (shoebox size works well)
• Water
• Tissue paper
• Thermometers
• Spray bottles
• Fan, hair dryer, or leaf blower
• Cotton balls or batting
• Beads, rice, or marbles
• Molasses or mud
• Gravel, rocks, or sand

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⭐ Landforms STEM Challenge

⭐ Plants STEM Challenge Video

⭐ Thanksgiving STEM Challenge: Protect-a-Pilgrim

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Video preview music credit:

"Carefree" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)

Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/