STEM Learning in Kindergarten
Kindergarteners love hands-on learning--especially when we have STEM projects! STEM stands for Science Technology Engineering and Math. For our STEM projects, kindergarteners/engineers are given a challenge, some parameters and a variety of materials. Students work in groups to design a plan, test it and then adjust it as needed. There is no direct model and there is no right or wrong answer. Our big word we love repeating is "persevere!" Our STEM challenges have included:
- As a culminating project for our science unit on weather, students were challenged to create a shade structure using a variety of materials. Students tested their structures by using a flashlight to see if their structure blocked the light.
- As part of our fall Pumpkin Patch, students used their own pumpkin as part of a STEM project. Students had to create a structure that could hold their pumpkin for the entire length of the song "Five Little Pumpkins."
- To celebrate the international Hour of Code, students did STEM challenges that including coding. Students used "command cards" to build in code and then a partner had to follow the written code to move a Lego character.
- For the 100th day, students were challenged to build a structure with 100 items that could hold a container with 100 pennies for 100 seconds. Our kindergarten engineers were dressed as 100 year olds too!