STEM building projects (A REVIEW)

I have always loved the idea of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) projects. These projects encourage great thinking and problem solving skills, but I've always felt like they needed to be tied to something else. Like there needed to be a learning component or some greater picture. Don't get me wrong, STEM projects alone are great, but I just need more for my quick thinking kids.  Tied 2 Teaching has brought to light exactly what I've been thinking. With their STEM Activities, Full Year of Challenges with Close Reading package we got to see and do STEM projects in a whole new way.

We received the full year bundle (electronic, PDF's) of 60+ STEM projects that will last us the whole year. The idea being that we have one for every week, and some weeks more. There are many that are tied to a holiday or special time of year, and there are many that can be done anytime. Either way there are a lot to choose from!

Worksheet of close reading questions.

To start a project first I pick from the list of projects in my STEM folder. If I want a holiday related one I check for that first (usually there is at least one choice, if not more). I open it up to a PDF, and decide which pages to print. They are about 21 pages long each so I don't always print all the pages. There are several different worksheets for the kids to use if needed such as: Close reading questions, planning pages, note pages, and reflection pages.

Cover page of the Leprechaun STEM building challenge. They all have a fun picture on the front with a hint of what the challenge is about.

All of the challenges begin with a close reading passage from Wonderopolis. There is a direct link within the file so I can quickly find the reading that directly relates to the challenge. This is the extra part that I love! Each close reading passage has a great topic that starts the wheels turning about the challenge with just a little more information and history about the topic. It also includes real life pictures, videos, and questions to ponder. I really love how this goes together with the STEM building projects.

Print up of the close reading from Wonderopolis. I printed it up for my class to take turns reading.

To read the "wonder" part of the challenge I usually printed this part up, and we would take turns reading and exploring the Wonderopolis page together. I would also have the computer in front of us because there are pictures and videos to click on. The kids liked reading through these together, and taking turns. We'd then answer the close reading questions (worksheet above).

Finally, it's time to build!

The challenge is specifically laid out in a nice page that I'd often print so we wouldn't forget the requirements. Or, I would leave it up on the laptop for all to see. The kids are excited at this point and ready to get started. All that reading and thinking really helps to get them excited. I have presented STEM activities to my kids before, and sometimes they just stare at me blankly like they haven't a clue or they lose interest before they can even formulate an idea. These STEM activities have really worked miracles in my house.

This is more of a 2D version of the log cabin out of sticks. Totally OK! I love how this child interpreted it.

The building challenge always produces some creative results. The kids are allowed to put their own ideas and spin on things for sure.

I was able to use a few of these STEM challenges in my homeschool co-op class, so some of the kids worked in pairs if they wanted.

Working in pairs or not creating a project together after much trial and error, and collaborating together proved to be a big success. 

That is basically how a STEM challenge from Tied 2 Teaching works.

Cover for Abraham Lincoln's cabin.

It can lead to some rabbit trails too! Like learning a bit more about Abraham Lincoln himself...

Note: These pages are not part of the STEM projects, but something else I printed up on my own to go along with it.
There are a few of the STEM pages on this table though!

Another challenge we did in co-op class was the index card skyscraper challenge.

The PDF file open on my computer for all to see.

First, we read all about skyscrapers with the close reading activity. Then, the challenge was to use only index cards to build the tallest skyscraper design. No tape. Nothing else.

We used a lot of index cards. With all these projects there are definitely items needed so I have been saving recycle products, and I am definitely going to stock up on crafts and building supplies when I find them on sale. When you have a big bundle of STEM projects like this you have to be on the look out for cheap things that look like they would be good building tools. The dollar store is highly useful too! The costs can add up, but there are so many ways to collect items.

The kids amazed me with this project. They all came up with some great solutions. Some kids needed some hints though too!

This boy had to restart his several times. He persevered even in the face of failure. Such a great lesson to learn! These projects teach that so well. Another reason I highly recommend these STEM projects.

These towers were created by a team of two boys. They worked so well together.

One of my favorite challenges was the leprechaun challenge.

For the leprechaun challenge my boys designed and created a trap that would lure and catch a leprechaun. We did the close reading, and answered the questions. Explored some ideas. Gathered supplies that I had collected over time, and got to work! This was done at home in our homeschool setting, not in our co-op, and my boys had a blast. They really came up with some great ideas.

My 2 boys ages 8 and 10 worked on their own leprechaun traps, and they both came up with a different way to do their trap.

My youngest came up with the idea to use a pencil and let the box fall on the leprechaun..

His final completed trap.

8 year-olds completed STEM leprechaun trap.

My 10 year-old (who didn't want any pictures of the process) took a different approach and made a ladder that leads up to a trap door for the leprechaun to fall in. All decorated in shiny things and gold, of course, to lure him in.

10 year-olds completed STEM leprechaun trap.

What's even better? They did so awesome that I am proud to have them on the mantle for decorations. They had fun talking and wondering if a leprechaun would be caught.

I really loved all the projects we did, and look forward to doing these throughout the year. I highly recommend buying this bundle if you want a way to incorporate STEM in your homeschool. It gave me a little more to go on that just "build this" which really helped me as a teacher/mom.

If you'd like to see what others had to say about this you can click on the image below.