STEM Shark Tank

Using students’ interests in learning activities promotes problem-solving and collaboration while having fun. Grab random objects, have students research, learn and present about them.

Orion Heat Shield Experiment

After building a scale model of the crew capsule, Orion (which will be used in the upcoming Artemis missions) teams then designed and tested a heat shield, using an assortment of materials offered. Students added a Hershey's Kiss inside thier capsule, then simulated the heat and turbulance of reentry into Earth's atmosphere with a hairdryer. The goal was to keep the astronauts from melting, while being as budget-friendly as possible with materials. Items gathered from the STEM center were the emergency heat blankets and hairdryers.

Technology Transformations

Students use the design process to transform one type of technology into another. I begin by putting out several items (from the resource center) and letting each group pick an item. Then we begin the design process. They brainstorm things they can possibly make out of their item or the parts from their technology. Then they plan, build, improve and create. Finally, they share their final project. For example: one group of students took an electric toothbrush and transformed it into a fake tattoo machine using ink; another group took an RC car motor and plastic pieces and turned it into a boat with a propellor that worked in their pool; another group transformed a beanie hat into a mini backpack and used the wire for straps and created a button.

Submitted by: Misty Schreiber, Las Sendas Elementary, Mesa Public Schools

Unidad: Ciencia y Tecnologia

Students compared the use, effectiveness, and material of two electronic devices in the target language (Spanish). During the lesson, students had the time to write down any observations focused on use, effectiveness and material of product. Next, students compared the findings with peers and discussed any points of confusion about the products. Students used thinking maps during the process, prior knowledge from their science courses and focused on developing their writing skills. Overall, students had the opportunity to practice their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills all while using the target language.

Submitted by: Ruby Reyes, Westwood High School, Mesa, AZ.

TEA Lights/Take Apart/Put Back Together/and How To writing

I was able to pick up a tea light at the stem resource center for every student in my second grade class. I did a "take apart and put back together" lesson with the students. I asked them to look at the tea light and "wonder" .... what is it? What do you wonder about ? What might be inside, etc. For example, they responded with the following: I wonder if I will get electrocuted, I wonder if it will break, I wonder if there are wires, batteries, I wonder how long they last? etc, Next, we took it apart. Then, they had to put it back together. WE DID THIS ALL VIRTUALLY! Our class does one or two stem activities every week online. I incorporated a "How to..." writing lesson. The children had to write how to take it apart with a topic sentence, directions, and conclusion. You can differentiate this by having them write the directions on how to put it back together. My daughter is an engineer for Amazon Robotics so she did a great job explaining and drawing pictures of the "current" etc. Next, we are going to use the shavers I picked up at eh resource center and talk about what they might be? How could we use them in space? or a deserted island? Great writing project! Thank you for the lights. I can hardly wait to do it again next year. One student said, "Mrs. Schmidt, this was the BEST!"

Submitted by: Lori Schmidt, Broadmor Elementary, Tempe Elementary School District.

Salt Dough Maps

Students utilized their knowledge of chemistry while creating the best quality salt dough which was to be used to create their topographic map of the country they created in Social Studies.

Submitted by: Jaime Hansen, Canyon Springs STEM Academy, Phoenix, AZ

Future Solar Design Project

The Land Art Generator provides a platform to bring forward solutions for sustainable energy infrastructures that reflect culture and enhance the city as works of public art. After consulting with LAGI, STEAM Students were invited to design beautiful, futuristic clean Agrivoltaic Racking sytem that will benefit our own Alhambra Community.

Gamifying for Comprehension

Systems thinking is an important concept in both the physical and social sciences. It requires an understanding of the various parts and subparts of a system in order to understand the relationships within the whole. This Promising Practice is a fun and engaging way to help bring Scientific / STEM concepts to life in a conceptual way within the classroom.