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The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Cardboard Game STEM Challenge

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Build, Make, Craft and Play!

What will you make today?

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STEM Challenge

A Kindergarten STEM lesson

Luz-Maria Van Daam

November 24, 2023

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Notes for teachers

  • This lesson takes place in a classroom for 2-3 sessions.
  • The lesson may be extended over several days to provide time for problem solving.
  • Students work independently to create their own design.
  • Teacher will facilitate lesson by assisting students as needed.

List of Materials

    • Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
    • Craft Glue
    • Cardboard boxes (1 per student)
    • Masking Tape
    • Stickers
    • Pipe Cleaners
    • Straws
    • Yarn
    • Construction Paper
    • Scissors
    • Bottle Caps
    • Any other recyclable materials

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Standards

K-2-ETS1-1. Ask questions, make observations, and gather information about a situation people want to change to define a simple problem that can be solved through the development of a new or improved object or tool.

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K-2-ETS1-2. Develop a simple sketch, drawing, or physical model to illustrate how the shape of an object helps it function as needed to solve a given problem.

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Science and Engineering Practices 

  • ask questions and define problems
  • develop and use models

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Standards

AZ ELA Standards – KINDERGARTEN

  • Reading Standards for Literature Key Ideas and Details

K.W.1.With guidance and support from adults, use a combination of drawing, dictating, and writing to compose opinion pieces in which they tell a reader the topic or the name of the book they are writing about and state an opinion or preference about the topic or book (e.g., My favorite book is . . .)..

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AZ Math Standards – KINDERGARTEN

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K.CC.B. Count to tell the number of objects.

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K.CC.B.5. Count to answer questions about “How many?” when 20 or fewer objects are arranged in a line, a rectangular array, or a circle, or as many as 10 things in a scattered configuration; given a number from 1 to 20, count out that many objects.

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Objectives:

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ELA:Comprehension Question-Students will listen to the story Not a Box by A.P. and answer the question “What is a box?”

Pre-writing-brainstorming concept map: Students will use the engineering design process to plan out and design their game for their arcade.

Math: Students will complete a cardboard challenge. To design and create a favorite game that may be played with classmates.

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Challenge: Students must use 1 cardboard box, 5 pipe cleaners, 5 water bottle caps, 1 foot yarn (pre-cut).

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Agenda (lesson 45 minutes)

What is a box?

What game will you create today?

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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What is a box?

• What will you engineer out of a box to be included for our classroom arcade?

Caine M.: 10mins.Caine's Arcade Video

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Hands-on Activity Instructions

  • Students will be introduced to the materials for their games.
  • Give students paper to draft their game ideas.
  • Students may be given the various choice of other materials such as glue, paint, and construction paper.
  • Students will use materials with their cardboard box.
  • Students will take turns playing their created games.

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  • Teacher will introduce the task by reading
  • Not a Box by Antoinette Portis
  • Teacher will ask students:
  • What type of things could be created with a cardboard box?
  • For this task students will design and create a game to be shared with the class.
  • Teacher will share materials and explain safety rules.
  • Students will be given the cardboard challenge.

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Assessment

  • Test your game:
  • What are the game instructions?
  • Did you complete the cardboard challenge?

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ELA Assessment

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  • Student will be able to tell the purpose of the authors choice of making a box into different things.

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Science Engineering

Assessment

  • Student will be able to complete a game using only the given amount of materials provided.
  • Student will be able to engineer and design a game.

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Assessment

  • Teacher will be able to assess students design process using The Cardboard Challenge Design Process worksheet.
  • Teacher will be able to assess students engineering designs to problem solve their cardboard games?
  • Teacher will be able to assess students use of materials to complete the cardboard challenge using only the given quantities.

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Differentiation

  • Provide pre-cut templates for cardboard
  • Provide extra time or days to complete lesson
  • Provide students extra time/days try to improve their games
  • Provide opportunities for students to work in teams

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Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Challenge:

  • After all groups have gotten a chance to show off their designs have the class vote for their favorite design.
  • Students design a game using different quantities of materials.
  • Have students design a game where you can score points. Have students create a method for keeping track of points/score. (Math integration)

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