STEM Challenge Task Cards and engineering activities for fall, winter, spring and summer.

This is a MEGA BUNDLE of the following seasonal STEM resources:

Fall STEM

Winter STEM

Spring STEM

Summer STEM

You will receive 12 main STEM challenges (3 for each season) plus over 20 additional task card challenges! These activities are highly engaging and appropriate for a wide range of grades.

Please see each individual file linked above for a more thorough preview.

✅ Fall STEM ✅

Fall STEM activities includes 3 different STEM challenges that are great for hands-on learning. Use the printable pages provided to follow the Engineering Design Process, or set this activity up as a STEM station with the challenge cards provided. Though these are autumn themed STEM challenges, they can be done at any time of the year. The three challenges are:

• Acorn Chute: design a chute for acorns to go from point A to point B.
• Leaf Glider: design a paper leaf glider that can fly the farthest.
• Sports Dome: design a sports dome for your favorite sports team!

All of these challenges can be used to complement your study of force and motion (kinetic and potential energy, drag, tension and compression, etc.). Follow the engineering design process to complete each challenge. These challenges can be as simple or as complex as you choose to make them – for this reason they are appropriate for a wide age range.

What You'll Get

• Teacher Notes
• Sample Pictures
• Printable Challenge Poster: Hang at your STEM center or near where the STEM creations are, especially if they will be on display for the class or a STEM fair, parent night, etc.
• Printable pages to use with the challenge and guide the students through the engineering design process.
• STEM Challenge Cards These cards are like task cards, but they include the 3 main STEM challenges in this resource (with variations), as well as some other challenges. You can use these if you would rather set this up at a STEM station as a self-guided STEM activity. Choose from cards with images or without.
• STEM Graphic Organizers Fall themed – use with the three challenges or the challenge cards, provided to allow the students to work through the engineering design process. You may also use this sheet for any of the other challenges if you prefer a more generic one.

✅ Winter STEM ✅

Winter STEM / Snowflake STEM activities. Create a variety of snowflakes with these 3 STEM engaging challenges.

What You'll Get

• Instructions and sample images
• Warm up activities: Which folded up snowflake profile fits the unfolded snowflake? Photograph examples and printable pages (2 included, versions A and B. B designs are more complicated).
• Challenges

❄ Geometry Challenge: Create a variety of snowflakes as specified.

❄ Fast/Slow Challenge: Design and create snowflakes that will fall the fastest or slowest from a given height.

❄ Reverse Engineer Challenge: Take a snowflake someone else has created (from the first two challenges) and try to create an exact copy.

• STEM Challenge Cards - 12 Snowflake STEM task cards that include the challenges above (cards 1-8), as well as 4 bonus challenges. Recording sheet included that follows the engineering design process.

✅ Spring STEM ✅

Spring STEM activities includes 3 different STEM challenges that are great for hands-on learning. Use the printable pages provided to follow the Engineering Design Process, or set this activity up as a STEM station with the challenge cards provided. The three challenges are:

• Sturdy Nest
• Wind Power (sailboat racing)
• Planter Box

What You'll Get

• Teacher Notes
• Sample Pictures
• Printable Challenge Poster: Hang at your STEM center or near where the STEM creations are, especially if they will be on display for the class or a STEM fair, parent night, etc.
• Printable pages to use with the challenge and guide the students through the engineering design process.
• STEM Challenge Cards These cards are like task cards, but they include the 3 main STEM challenges in this resource (with variations), as well as some other challenges. You can use these if you would rather set this up at a STEM station or use at Field Day as a self-guided STEM activity. Choose from cards with images or without.
• STEM Graphic Organizers Spring themed – use with the three challenges or the challenge cards, provided to allow the students to work through the engineering design process. You may also use this sheet for any of the other challenges if you prefer a more generic one.

✅ Summer STEM ✅

Summer STEM activities includes 3 different STEM challenges that are great for hands-on learning. Use the printable pages provided to follow the Engineering Design Process, or set this activity up as a STEM station with the challenge cards provided. The three challenges are:

• submersible (water craft or SCUBA diver)
• strong sandcastle
• squirrel-proof bird feeder (or choose simple bird feeder)

What You'll Get

• Teacher Notes
• Sample Photos
• Printable Challenge Poster: Hang at your STEM center or near where the STEM creations are, especially if they will be on display for the class or a STEM fair, parent night, etc.
• Printable pages to use with the challenge and guide the students through the engineering design process.
• STEM Challenge Cards These cards are like task cards, but they include the 3 main STEM challenges in this resource (with variations), as well as some other challenges. You can use these if you would rather set this up at a STEM station as a self-guided STEM activity. Choose from cards with images or without.
• STEM Graphic Organizers Summer themed – use with the three challenges or the challenge cards, provided to allow the students to work through the engineering design process. You may also use this sheet for any of the other challenges if you prefer a more generic one.

Please note, while I have marked this as grades 3-6, many second graders would enjoy these activities, as well as students in upper grades. These challenges are fairly open ended and will enhance critical thinking skills, regardless of age!

Do you ONLY need the TASK CARDS?

Please see this resource: STEM for All Seasons Task Cards

FAQs about STEM

Why use STEM activities in your classroom or homeschool?

These STEM activities are project-based and cross-curricular. Your students will gain experience in soft skill areas and foster a growth mindset while:

✓ Learning to work as part of a team.

✓ Communicating effectively and clearly to persuade others.

✓ Gaining confidence in presenting and speaking to groups.

✓ Persevering through a challenge when the initial design fails.

✓ Accepting constructive criticism from peers.

FAQs

Will I need to spend a lot of money on supplies?

You don't need a lot of expensive materials to get started! You probably have most of the supplies in your classroom already, or in your recycle bin. I have developed most of my STEM challenges to be easily modified based on the materials you have on hand. For most of the challenges, you will need basic office or craft supplies and household recyclables such as:

tape

paper, index cards, or card stock

recyclables like plastic cups, paper towel rolls, and cereal boxes

craft sticks or straws

I've never done STEM challenges before. What can I expect?

I've got you covered! There are notes and photos in the pack, and I have written several blog posts to get you started, two of which you can find here and here. All of my STEM challenge resources guide you through the engineering design process step by step.

I don't have time to do this as a group activity in my classroom. Can I still use this resource?

Yes! With STEM task cards, you can set up an independent learning center for your early finishers or when you do stations. Provide the materials, STEM task cards, and the included recording sheets or graphic organizers, and the students can work on these challenges independently, either alone or in small teams. Keep your materials in STEM bins so that you can easily rotate through them!

Find more STEM at my blog momgineer

momgineer

or at STEM Activities for Kids

STEM Activities for Kids