Christmas STEM Challenge and Winter Holidays Activity for Middle School
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Google Apps™- Easel Activity
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Middle schoolers can be a tough crowd. Are you struggling to keep your middle school students engaged in rigorous STEM learning? You can promote critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and communication skills by teaching the engineering design process with these engaging STEM challenges! EacPrice $51.94Original Price $74.20Save $22.26
It is a challenge to keep students engaged when the weather is changing and holidays are around the corner. If you are struggling to keep your students’ attention and get to the end of the period, you are not alone! Now imagine having exciting, middle school STEM challenges on hand to keep your studPrice $38.67Original Price $55.25Save $16.58
Description
Are you looking for the perfect Christmas STEM challenge to keep your students engaged before the winter holidays? Check out this exciting engineering design challenge that is sure to keep your students' on-task and learning up to the winter break.
In this middle school Christmas STEM challenge, students will use simple materials and the engineering design process to design and build a package that will protect a cookie as it travels through the mail. First, students will discover the problem and project criteria and constraints. Then they'll design and create their own protective packaging using simple materials. Next, the class will simulate sending the packages through the mail by shaking, throwing, and dropping the cookie packages. Last, students will open their packages and observe their cookies for cracks and crumbles to determine the success of their design. Through this process, students will use the middle school engineering practices outlined in the Next Generation Science Standards.
Grab this Christmas STEM challenge today so you can take a break from planning and know your students will still be learning and having fun as you count down to the much-needed break for the winter holidays!
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What’s included in the Christmas STEM Challenge?
- Detailed teacher notes that include suggestions for differentiating and facilitating the project
- PDF, Google, and Easel versions of the student project packets
- Embedded links for background research
- A slideshow to assist with lesson facilitation
- End-of-project celebration certificates
- Easy-to-use grading rubric
Materials needed:
- A printed or digital copy of the student project packet
- The building materials for this project are flexible! You can use whatever you have available, such as paper, straws, tape, cardboard, paper towel rolls, etc.
- Rulers for measuring the size of their cookie delivery packages
- Cookies, crackers, or another small, breakable food item for testing out their design
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What are other teachers saying?
★★★★★
“So excited to use this! I teach Intro to Engineering and this is perfect for the holiday season!” - Pamela Z.
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How can this winter holidays activity be used in your classroom?
- Keep students learning and engaged throughout the weather changes and excitement that comes with the winter holidays
- Embrace the holiday spirit with a Christmas STEM challenge
- Use the challenge to keep students on task when you have unusual schedules or low attendance due to field trips, testing, assemblies, or other interruptions
- Give your students practice with problem-solving using the engineering design process
- Introduce real-world STEM disciplines and professions
- Give students an opportunity to develop their 21st-century skills, such as communication, collaboration, and critical thinking
- Assign the resource for extra credit, a holiday break packet, or an extension activity
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Product Recommendations
If you liked this product, check out:
- Middle School STEM Challenge Bundle
- STEM Movie Guides for Middle School
- Engineering Career Research Project
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