STEAM Activities
What is STEAM?
STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. This in an integrated approach to teaching these subject with the idea that they are interrelated. A STEAM activity should involve at least 2 of these disciplines and should address specific topics that would normally be taught and assessed during the year. In general, the students are presented with a problem to solve or a question to answer and they must collaborate to design a solution to the problem. Some activities are very involved and messy, but others are short and neat. Some activities are long-term, requiring a few weeks or an entire quarter to solve. Some activities can be done in one class period.
STEAM |
Science = asking questions, making observations, gathering data, exploring God's creation
Technology = using a tool. This can include any tool of science: a ruler, a measuring cup, a compass, a protractor, a stopwatch or timer on a phone, magnifying glass, a computer, digital scale, etc . . .
Arts = aesthetics, Language Arts, Physical Arts, Social Studies, Fine Arts, and Music.
Mathematics = numbers, shapes, quantities, graphs
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Where are the Goals and objectives?
You can write your own goals and objectives as they apply to your class. However, there is a great resource to help you with this at Next Generation Science Standards. You can set the filters to search by grade level and topic. Another fun resource is Teachers Pay Teachers. Don't worry- you can find many activities for FREE, with goals and objectives included.
Listed below are STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) activities. The activities are topic-specific, not grade level specific. You will need to adapt each activity to fit the needs of your class.
Pom-Pom drop This fun activity requires the use of toilet paper tubes, tape, and pom-poms. Variations: longest drop, fastest run, different material ball, lining (fabric) inside tubes, slowest run, etc . . .
Source: Sylvanlearning Water & AbsorptionHow much water can the sponge absorb?
Variations: different measuring tools (teaspoon, tablespoon, 1/4 cups), different types of sponges (natural vs. artificial), size of sponges. Source: Little Bins for Little Hands |
ANGLES ARTUse circles and angles to create a design. This activity includes the A for art, but not the S for science. Variations: angle size, types of angles, sizes of circles.
Try exploring the famous Four Color Theorem Source: intheplayroom.co.uk Stick ExplosionsExplore the concepts of chain reactions, kinetic energy, potential energy and more. This activity incorporates the A in STEAM by including the challenge to create an explosion that aesthetically pleasing.
Source: babbledabbledo.com |
Rube Goldberg MachineBuild a Rube Goldberg machine- the goal is to build a complicated machine to accomplish a simple task. The more complicated it is, the better it is. Watch a video and then get started. Try this on a day when you need to have indoor recess.
Source: Tinker Lab & josephmachines.com Measure with springsMeasuring and graphing! Use spring to measure different masses. Record the mass and the length of the stretch of the spring. Graph the data to see the patterns. (Don't look now, but this is an algebra concept- slope.) You may need to borrow springs and masses from your science department.
Source: leftbraincraftbrain.com Marshmallow challenge |
Water & oil artCreate an original art piece using water color and oil. Water and oil DON"T mix, which is exactly the point of this activity. Talk to your art teacher about doing this activity during elective time. You can also explore color mixing (art and science). Sorry, not much math in this activity.
Source: Babbledabbledo.com ChromatographyThis is actually an activity about chromatography. Water soluble black ink separated into different colors when dissolved in water. The colors are separated. Variations: different colors of ink (not just black), internet search to find how this technique is used, what about permanent markers, try to create artistic designs.
Source: Exploratorium.edu Extension idea: real leaf chromotography craft leaf chromotography Source: Playdough to Plato |
Build the tallest structure with only a limited amount of supplies and limited amount of time. The marshmallow must at the top. Students have to quickly collaborate, make decisions, and work within constraints.
Source: International Technology and Engineering Educators Association. Build a bear cageRead a book about bears. Talk about the proper habitat for a bear. The STEM challenge- to build a bear cage.
Suggested book: Big Smelly Bear by Britta Teckentrup. Source: teachersareterrific.com Build a Bridge for 21 ElephantsRead the book: Twenty-One Elephants and Still Standing by April Jones Prince. Then have students build a bridge.
Source:playgroundparkbench.com |
Truck RacesStudents race cars or trucks and measure how far they go. What if they go father than the measuring stick? Does the type of flooring make a difference? Why? What if you race them uphill or downhill? Students need to measure, collect data for comparison later, ask questions, and create new racing challenges.
Source: intheplayroom.co.uk Newspaper TowersRolled up newspapers and tape are the only supplies needed to build some impressive towers. Give constraints- only so much paper, only so much tape. Compare height and strength of the towers.
Source: theardentteacher.com Build an alphabet treeRead the book: Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Martin and Archambault. Then build a "tree" to hold alphabet letters. How many letters can your tree hold?
Source: PreschoolSTEAM.com |