STEAM Cycle 10

We took a break from our STEAM units to take part in some Halloween-y STEAM challenges.

Kindergarten-Pumpkin Pile

We read Patty's Pumpkin Patch to learn about the pumpkin life cycle and life on a pumpkin farm.  In the story, Patty sells her pumpkins in October.  The students were challenged to fit 25 pumpkin candies into a small square of "land" by piling them and creating a fence of toothpicks.

---

1st Grade-Spider Legs

Students used their knowledge from the unit thus far to look at a spider’s habitat, the features of its body, and its adaptations.  The students learned how to draw a spider web and created a spider using construction paper, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes.

---

2nd Grade-Ghost Lift

Simple machines help us everyday.  Pulley systems can help us lift things that are heavy or a number of objects at once.  Using a paper plate, string, and binder clips, the students worked to create a pulley system to lift 10 cotton ball "ghosts" from the floor to the top of the computer cart.

---

3rd Grade-Flying Ghosts

We've been talking about flight in terms of machines, but how can we make a paper ghost fly?  Each student cut out a paper ghost and got a paper clip.  The challenge was to make the ghost fly, and twist and turn like a tornado.  The students used a STEAM journal to track their investigation.

---

4th Grade-Bone Bridges

Working within criteria and constraints, the students were challenged to make a bridge of bones (cotton swabs, craft sticks, and pipe cleaners).  Using a limited amount of supplies, the students worked to build the longest and strongest bridge.

---

5th Grade-Creature Catchers

The students designed a device to catch as many “creatures” as they could over a given time and area, working against criteria & constraints with a team.