Spring STEM Activity - Nice Nest Paperless Version
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Nice Nest is a STEM / STEAM lesson sure to engage and delight your students as a spring or Easter activity!The basic premise:Individually or in partners/groups, students will design and build a nest that holds as many eggs as possible using predominantly toilet paper.Resource includes:NGSS aligned sPrice $5.98Original Price $7.96Save $1.98
Description
Looking for Easter or spring activities that your students will love but are more than just a craft or activity to pass the time? This spring STEM Challenge (aka: spring STEAM Challenge) will keep your students engaged in brain-busting work disguised as fun!
The basic premise:
Individually or in partners/groups, students will design and build a nest that holds as many eggs as possible using predominantly toilet paper.
Modifications included for grades 2-8.
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Note: This version is for use with Google Slides in 1:1/paperless classrooms. If you prefer to print and have students complete work with paper/pencil, you'll want to look at the PRINTABLE VERSION instead.
If you have questions about which version is right for you, please feel free to leave me a question using the product Q&A below.
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This is one of five Easter / Spring STEM Challenges. They can be purchased in a bundle at a 40% discount:
Easter / Spring DIGITAL/PAPERLESS STEM Challenge Bundle
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Resource includes:
NGSS aligned standards, Grades 2 – 8
Teacher Tips
- Links to STEM Challenge “How-to”/PD videos
- Link to a video walk-through of the challenge
- Links to STEM Challenge “How-to”/PD videos
- Materials and timing
- Criteria & Constraints (including modifications to increase difficulty for older students)
- Measuring results
- Post-design extension activities list
- Universal STEM Challenge Notes & How to Use Student Slides Post-design extension activities list
Student Slides
- Criteria & Constraints List (editable version provided)
- Design Analysis
- Discussion Questions
Extension slides
- Bird Research Log
- Bird Idioms Log
- Related video & website slides
- Process Flow Map
- Create Word Problems
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CLICK THE GREEN PREVIEW BUTTON UNDER THE COVER & THUMBNAILS TO SEE THE SLIDES INCLUDED IN THIS RESOURCE!
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Sample/suggested materials for each student or group:
(Materials you’ll need to do the activity are easily modified. )
• Toilet Paper (1 roll each; the cheaper, the better)
• Plastic bowl or container (preferably with transparent sides)
• Plastic eggs (12 of various sizes or all one size)
– If a group creates a nest with greater capacity than 12 eggs, have groups buddy up for testing to share their eggs.
• Binder clips (4)
• Scissors
• Yarn (12 – 24 four-inch strips)
• Design analysis handouts (included)
• Optional
– Tape
– Small cups and water to test rain resistance
– Sand or clay to weight the eggs for added difficulty
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Benefits of this STEM Design Challenge:
- Focus on critical thinking, problem solving, and application of learning
- Helps students develop growth mindset traits like persistence and resilience
- High levels of student engagement
- The potential to hit upon all NGSS ETS standards depending on the depth and number of iterations you choose to implement in your classroom (modifications included)
- Highly flexible and differentiated for materials, timing, grade levels, and rigor.
Each design iteration should be planned for ~60-90 min. if you are including data gathering and analysis rather than just building for fun. If you add extension activities, you will need to adjust timing accordingly.
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What do teachers have to say about this resource?
Note: Comments taken from the print version.
“LOVED it! So did the students!!!”
“The kids loved this activity! I will definitely be doing this again!”
“This was great! Students learned a lot and so easy for me to use!”
��We did this activity with our Pre-K buddies! It was the Pre-K students FIRST STEM CHALLENGE and they loved it SO MUCH! They were so proud of their accomplishments! I was so proud of my 5th graders! They did such a great job!”
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You might also like these resources:
STEM CHALLENGE YEAR-ROUND MEGA-BUNDLE
Getting Started with STEM Challenges FREEBIE
Analyze and Interpret Data Unit
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Please check out the preview to see the challenge, and don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions!
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