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These open-ended STEM projects address science standards for Engineering Design. They can easily be completed at home with craft supplies and recyclables from around the house. They are great extensions to any of the Gingerbread Man (Boy, Girl, Baby) stories, and can also stand alone. I love connecting literature to STEM! I have included links to alternative gingerbread stories that do not involve our hero getting eaten by a fox. Feel free to use the classic gingerbread story if you desire. You

These open-ended projects address science standards K-2-ETS1-1 and K-2-ETS1-2, Engineering Design. They are great ways to extend children's Hanukkah books, and can also stand alone. I love connecting literature to STEM! The Night Before Hanukkah, by Natasha Wing, connects to the first project. Students will use various craft and classroom materials as they follow the steps of the project to design a substitute candle for the menorah. The next project relates to The Runaway Latkes by Leslie Kimm

These open-ended STEM projects address science standards K-2-ETS1-1 and K-2-ETS1-2, Engineering Design. They are great extensions to children's Thanksgiving books, and can also stand alone. I love connecting literature to STEM! You can use little turkey erasers to test out students' creations. How to Catch a Turkey, by Adam Wallace and Andy Elkerton, provides the backdrop for the first project. Students will use various craft and classroom materials as they follow the steps of the project to des

These open-ended STEM projects address science standards K-2-ETS1-1 and K-2-ETS1-2, Engineering Design. They are great extensions to children's Halloween books, and can also stand alone. I love connecting literature to STEM! For the first project, you will read the book Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson. Challenge students to design a broom that protects the witch from the wind. Students will use various craft and classroom materials as they follow the steps of the project. This can also be

These fun, open-ended STEM projects address Next Generation Science Standards in Engineering Design, as well as Common Core standards in reading and writing. They are great extensions to children's books, and can also stand alone. I love connecting literature to STEM! You can use little snowman erasers, or have students make cottonball snowmen, to test out their STEM projects. Please note that students are NOT all creating the same exact thing. The focus is on problem-solving, creativity, and im

These Valentine's STEM projects are great extensions to children's books, and can also stand alone. I love connecting literature to STEM! The first project can use  The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond. In this story, Cornelia Augusta catches paper hearts that rain from the sky. Challenge students to design something that will help Cornelia catch more hearts. They will use various craft and classroom materials as they follow the steps of the project. This can also be presented as an invitat

These open-ended STEM projects motivate children with a literature-based challenge. Each student's project will be a unique product of their own problem-solving strategies, just like real engineers! No cookie-cutter results here! Plan for several days (or longer) to allow kids the time to establish, design and implement their ideas. The projects are great extensions to children's books about St. Patrick's Day, and also stand alone. I love connecting literature to STEM! Project #1's read-aloud is

This New Year's STEM project is a great extension to children's books, and can also stand alone. I love connecting literature to STEM! Students gain skills by working on an authentic, real-world challenge for an extended period of time. We start with a class discussion and create a chart of how my students celebrate New Year's. Then I read a book about a New Year's party or celebration, such as: P. Bear's New Year's Party: A Counting Book by Paul Owen Lewis New Year's Day (Celebrations in My Wor