Summer / End of the Year STEM Challenge: Wicked-Fast Water Slide PAPERLESS

This summer STEM challenge is the perfect end of the year activity to keep your students engaged through the very last day of school!

The basic premise:

In partners/groups, students will design and build a water slide built for speed, thrills, and safety.

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 Summer / End of the Year STEM Challenges. They can be purchased in a bundle at a 40% discount:

Summer / End of the Year 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

- 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

- Process Flow Map

- Create Math Problems Based on Designs

- Forces Research Log

- Forces Research Applied to Student Re-Design template (editable)

- Related Video & Website Slides

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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.)

– Paper-towel and/or toilet paper cardboard tubes and/or cardboard scraps

• Distribute as evenly as possible. If you don’t have much cardboard, tighten the height constraint to 12 in.

– Foil, wax paper, or plastic wrap (~24 sq. in.)

– Straws (5 – 10)

– Pipe cleaners (5 – 10)

– Plastic beads or marbles (6)

– Small bowls and/or cups (1 – 3)

– Tape (24 – 36 in.)

– Yarn (24 – 36 in.)

– Bottle of water

– Stopwatch (at least one per class is needed)

– Scissors

– Ruler

– Design analysis handouts (included)

Optional

• Craft sticks

• Clothespins

• Rubber bands

• Paper towels (for clean up)

• Blue food coloring for the water

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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.

“This was a fantastic find for the last week of school. I did a shortened version of this with my 6th and 7th graders and they went crazy over it! They loved the build and then after we tested I let them destroy (the water started the process) and they thought it was awesome. Thank you for creating such a great resource that could be used with many different grade levels.”

“I loved using this with my summer camp kids. Easily adaptable so that you can use the whole thing or only use parts of it.”

“My students absolutely loved this!! The project was excellent and the questions evoked critical thinking skills.”

“I used this right before school was out and my students absolutely loved it! Many said it was their favorite STEM project of the year!”

“Amazing!! My kiddos loved this project and it gave them something worthy to do in that all too famous "last week of school" chaos. Not just an activity where they just color and do busy work, this was definitely worth it. Highly recommend this product. Thank you!”

“Super fun!! My 3rd graders were so excited AND competitive!”

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You might also like these resources:
⭐ Back to School STEM Challenge Bundle: 1:1 PAPERLESS Version
⭐ Create-ure STEM Challenge: PAPERLESS VERSION
⭐ Earth Day STEM Challenge: New Earth City PAPERLESS VERSION
⭐ Plants STEM Challenge: PAPERLESS Version
⭐ Landforms STEM Challenge PAPERLESS VERSION
⭐ Winter STEM Challenge Bundle 1:1 Paperless Version
⭐ Easter STEM Challenge Bundle Paperless Version

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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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