STEM Activities STEM Challenges

These NGSS aligned STEM activities and challenges motivate students with authentic growth mindset learning. This year-long bundle of STEAM projects incorporates the engineering design process within stem challenges.

⭐ This money saving ALL STEAM & STEM BUNDLE is priced 25% less than the cost of resources purchased individually. ⭐ As more challenges are added, the price will increase.

Check out the PREVIEW and INDIVIDUAL LISTING for detailed information about each STEAM & STEM Challenge

CURRENT BUNDLE INCLUDES: 15 STEAM & STEM Challenges PLUS Engineering Design Cycle Cards

Engineering Design Flip Cards:

These cycle cards guides students through the engineering component of STEAM and STEM projects. The cycle is fluid, meaning students will move forwards and backwards through the five components as they complete their project. There will be times students will go back to the drawing board to investigate possible solutions, then make modifications to their designs.

⭐Earth Science STEAM and STEM Challenges:

Water Pollution- Water Filter STEAM & STEM Challenge: NGSS 3-5-ETS1-2, 5-ESS3-1

This project requires students to create a water filter for use with greywater in order to conserve water resources. The engineering design cycle will be used as students investigate, plan, create, improve, and evaluate their filter. Students will use their observations and collected data to write a report on their findings.

• Challenge Directions

• Teacher Greywater Creation Solution

• Data Collection Page

• Engineering Design Cycle Reflection

• Water Filter Report

• Grading Rubric

• Leveled Passage: Greywater- How can Water Conservation help the Environment? (3 Leveled Texts)

• Science Leveled Passage: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch- A Global Problem (3 Leveled Texts)

• 2 Venn Diagrams

• 6 Writing Prompts: Persuade, Inform, Entertain

Creek Soil Preserver- An Environmental Erosion Challenge: NGSS 2-ESS1-1 4-ESS2-1

This project requires students to develop a solution to an eroding creek bank to protect a playground in this STEAM and STEM challenge. The activity incorporates the engineering design cycle and includes a leveled text. Students use their observations and collected data to write a report on their finding. Writing prompts round out this jammed packed set!

• Student Directions Page

• Data Collection Page

• Engineering Design Cycle Reflection

• Soil Preserver Report

• Grading Rubric

• Science Leveled Passage: Erosion- How Does it Occur in Nature? (3 Leveled Texts)

• 2 Venn Diagrams

• 4 Informational Writing Prompts

Weather Hazard Flood Challenge: NGSS 3-ESS3-1, 4-ESS3-2

This provides a hands-on learning approach to understanding how to prevent and reduce flooding! This project requires students to develop a model to that would help reduce home flooding during severe storms. The activity incorporates the engineering design cycle and includes a leveled text. Students use their observations to write a learning report. Writing prompts are included, too!

• Student Directions Page: 2 Versions

• Design and Testing Page:

• Engineering Design Cycle Reflection: 2 Versions

• Engineering Learning Report: 2 Versions

• Grading Rubric

• Science Leveled Passage: Hurricane Maria: Devastation to Puerto Rico (3 Leveled Texts)

• 7 Venn Diagrams

• 2 Research Writing Prompts

• 5 Show Know What You Know: Task & Writing Prompt

Are your students learning about the Earth's rotation? In this project, students create a shadow catcher and will investigate how Earth's rotation effects shadows throughout the day in this STEAM and STEM challenge. The engineering design cycle is incorporated as students investigate, plan, create, improve, and evaluate their shadow catcher. Observations and collected data is used to write a report on their findings. Leveled texts and writing prompts round out this jammed packed set! 1 Interactive Graphic Organizer: Weather Vocabulary (Flood, Tornado, Ice Storm, Hurricane)

Shadow Catcher- A Solar Challenge: NGSS 5-ESS1-2 & 1-ESS1-1

In this project, students create a shadow catcher and will investigate how Earth's rotation effects shadows throughout the day. The engineering design cycle is incorporated as students investigate, plan, create, improve, and evaluate their shadow catcher. Observations and collected data is used to write a report on their findings. Leveled texts and writing prompts round out this jammed packed set!

• Student Directions Page: 3 Leveled Versions

• Engineering Design Cycle Reflection: 2 Versions

• Data Collection Page

• 2 Line Graphs: Graph angle and length

• Shadow Catcher Report:

• Grading Rubric:

• Compare/Contrast Seasonal Changes:

• 4 Informational Writing Prompts

• Science Leveled Passage: Sundials & Ancient Civilizations: 4 Leveled Texts

• Science Leveled Passage: How are Shadows Formed? 4 Leveled Texts

• 3 Venn Diagrams

• 2 Interactive Vocabulary Organizers

⭐Physical Science STEAM and STEM Challenges:

Inclined Plane STEAM & STEM Challenge: NGSS 3-5 ETS 1-1

Students will apply their understanding of inclined planes in this STEAM & STEM challenge. Graphic Organizers, Writing Prompts with rubric, and an Informal Assessment will enhance your simple machines unit.

• Student Direction Page

• Engineering Design Cycle Reflection: 2 Versions

• Data Collection Page: Personal & Class Versions

• Challenge Grading Rubric

• 6 Quadrant Style Graphic Organizers

• 2 Triple Venn-Diagrams

• A 3-2-1 Informal Assessment

• 3 Constructed Response Writing Prompts (Grading Rubrics Included)

• Science Leveled Passage: Simple Machines: Ancient Ruins 3 Leveled Texts

• Interactive Vocabulary Graphic Organizers: 6 Terms

• Simple Machines Search: Graphic Organizer

Sound- Pitch & Volume Instrument Creation STEAM Challenge: NGSS 1-PS4-1

This STEAM & STEM project gives a students the opportunity to connect their understanding of sound and knowledge of pitch and volume to create a musical instrument using the engineering cycle.

• Challenge Directions

• Challenge Grading Rubric

• Instrument Museum Voting Slips

• 1 Leveled Science Passage (3 Leveled Texts)

• 2 Venn Diagrams

Thermal & Heat Energy Insulator STEAM & STEM Challenge: NGSS 4-PS3-2

This project requires students to connect their understanding of thermal energy to create an insulator used to keep a can of soda cold. The engineering design cycle will be used as students investigate, plan, create, improve, and evaluate their soda insulator.

• Challenge Directions

• Data Collection Page

• Engineering Design Cycle Reflection

• Soda Insulator Report

• Challenge Grading Rubric

• 1 Science Leveled Passage (3 Leveled Texts)

• Informational Prompt: Writing About Insulators

• 4 Venn Diagrams

• Concept Check: Conductor or Insulator

Shipbuilding- A Density Colonial STEAM & STEM Challenge: K-2-ETS 1-3

This colonial STEAM requires students to draw on their understanding of density to create a cargo ship prototype. The engineering design cycle will be used as students investigate, plan, create, improve, and evaluate their ship. Students will use their observations and collected data to write a report on their findings A leveled text and writing prompts round out this jammed packed set!

• Challenge Directions

• Data Collection Page

• Engineering Design Cycle Reflection

• Shipbuilding Report

• Challenge Grading Rubric

• 1 Venn Diagram

• 1 Science Leveled Passage: Why are Some Trees Able to Float? (3 Leveled Texts)

• 4 Informational Prompts

Magnetic Solution STEAM Challenge: NGSS 3-PS2-3 and 3-PS2-4

This magnetic invention STEAM and STEM challenge provides a hands-on learning approach to understanding magnetism! This project requires students to modify a current product used in everyday life to help make tasks easier. The activity incorporates the engineering design cycle and includes a leveled text. Students use their observations to write a submission report on their invention before a classroom showcase. Writing prompts round out this jammed packed set!

• Student Directions Page

• Design and Testing Page

• Engineering Design Cycle Reflection

• Engineering Submission Report

• Grading Rubric

• Science Leveled Passage: Medical Magnets- What is an MRI? (3 Leveled Texts)

• 2 Venn Diagrams

• 2 Informational Writing Prompts

• 2 Show Know What You Know: Task & Writing Prompts

Light- Reflection STEAM and STEM Challenge: NGSS 4-PS4-2

This challenge provides a hands-on learning approach to understanding how reflection impacts human sight! This project requires students to develop a model which describes how light reflecting from objects enters the eyes, causing sight. The activity incorporates the engineering design cycle and includes a leveled text. Students use their observations to write a learning report before a classroom showcase.

• Student Directions Page

• Design and Testing Page

• Engineering Design Cycle Reflection

• Engineering Learning Report

• Grading Rubric

• Science Leveled Passage: Sight: How do Human Eyes Work (3 Leveled Texts)

• 5 Venn Diagrams

• 3 Informational Writing Prompts

• 1 Show Know What You Know: Task & Writing Prompt

• 1 Interactive Graphic Organizer: Light Vocabulary

⭐Life Science STEAM and STEM Challenges:

Seed Dispersal and Pollination STEAM Challenge: 2-LS2-2, K-2ETS1-2

Learning ecosystem interdependence with Life Science project will challenge students as they use the engineering design process! They will create an animal or insect that helps plants with pollination or seed dispersal. A leveled bees and pollination reading passage and informational writing prompts included!

• Note to Teacher: STEAM Philosophy & Supply Suggestions

• Student Direction Page

• Vocabulary Posters: Dispersers & Pollinators

• Investigate: Research Pollinators or Seed Dispersers

• Plan: Pollinator or Seed Disperser Animal/Insect Model

• Improve: Design Modifications

• Evaluate: Pollinator or Seed Report (2 Options) • Engineering Design Cycle Reflection (2 Options)

• Grading Rubric

• Science Leveled Passage: Pollinators: The Decline of Bees 4 Leveled Text

• 3 Venn Diagrams:

• 3 Informational Writing Prompts

• Pollinator & Seed Disperser Showcase: Certificates & Voting Slips • Flippable Organizer: Animal and Plant Interdependence Vocabulary

⭐Problem Solving STEAM and STEM Challenges:

Solid Figure Bridge Support Challenge: NGSS K-2-ETS1-2

This STEAM & STEM project gives a real-life scenario from an urban city where a bridge collapse occurred, following a fire. Students are challenged to test 3 different solid figure columns, triangular prism, rectangular prism, and cylinder, in order to make a recommendation as to which type of supports the new bridge should have.

• Recommendation Letter

• 6 Venn-Diagrams

• Science Passage: Why Are Cylinders Strong (3 levels of difficulty.)

Earth Day Reusable Challenge: K-2-ETS 1-1, K-ESS3-3

In April are you studying how to reduce, reuse, and recycle? This challenges students to design and invent a product using reusable/recyclable materials. This project requires students to develop a model to solve a problem. The activity incorporates the engineering design cycle and includes a leveled text. Students use their observations to write a learning report. Writing prompts round out this jammed packed set!

• Student Directions Page

• Engineering Design Cycle Reflection: 2 Versions

• Brain Storming with SCAMPER

• Data & Testing Page

• Engineering Report: 2 Versions

• Grading Rubric

• Science Leveled Passage: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! 3 Leveled Texts

• Family Action Plan: Try This!

• 2 Venn Diagrams

• 3 Informational Writing Prompts

• 1 Interactive Graphic Organizer

These STEAM and STEM Projects May be Purchased Individually:

Engineering Design Cycle Flip Cards

⭐ Earth Science:

Water Pollution- Build a Water Filter

Erosion Prevention- Weather Hazard

Flood Prevention- Weather Hazard

Shadow Catcher

⭐Life Science:

Endangered Animal Habitat

Seed Dispersal and Pollinator

⭐Physical Science:

Simple Machines Inclined Plane

Sound- Pitch and Volume Create an Instrument

Thermal & Heat Energy Soda Insulator

Colonial Shipbuilding- Density

Magnetic Solution Inventors

Mirror- Light Reflection

Matter Interaction

⭐Problem Solving:

Solid Figure Bridge Support

Earth Day- Reusable Invention

Bridge Building Competition- FREEBIE

Thank you for reviewing my product!

♥ ♥ ♥ If you choose to purchase this product, I'd appreciate if you'd take the time to leave feedback. You'll earn credits towards future purchases :-) Win, Win! ♥ ♥ ♥

~Spivey Sparks~

Let's Keep in Touch!

⭐ Follow Spivey Sparks on TpT!

⭐ Pinterest

⭐ FaceBook