STEM STARTER CHALLENGES
THE “SPACE” LEARNING IS A TEACHING AND LEARNING STRATEGY DESIGNED TO GIVE STUDENTS A DEGREE OF CHOICE OVER THE ACTIVITIES THEY COMPLETE AND THEREFORE MORE OWNERSHIP OF THEIR OWN LEARNING, WHICH THEN ALLOWS WORK TO BE MORE CLOSELY MATCHED WITH EACH STUDENT'S ABILITY. THIS IS VERY SIMILAR TO THE CHILLI CHALLENGE THAT MANY SCHOOLS OFFER.
CHOOSE YOUR CHALLENGE:
PLANET SOLAR SYSTEM GALAXY
NO-HANDS CUP STACKING CHALLENGE
GROUP SIZE: 4
RESOURCES:
Planet Reduce the number of cups used or simply use one cup and ask the children to work as part of a team to move one cup to a different position | Solar System | Galaxy Introduce more that 6 cups and ask the children to be more creative with the towers they build and even turn the cups around so they are not upside down. |
PAPER PLATE/ PLASTIC CUP STEM
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL/ SMALL GROUPS
TASK- WHAT CAN YOU BUILD USING THESE RESOURCES?
RESOURCES
Planet Give the children more direction and ask them to build something specific (this could be topic related) | Solar System | Galaxy Give each group a challenge that the structure must be of a certain height/ width (this could even be mapped out with tape on the floor) , use every object provided and have an upside down cup at the top. |
PAPER PLATE STRAW MAZE
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL
RESOURCES:
Planet Use playdough on a table to construct a maze for a pom pom | Solar System | Galaxy Hold a magnet underneath the plate to guide a paperclip through the maze |
LEGO MARBLE MAZE
GROUP SIZE: 2
RESOURCES:
Planet Reduce the number bricks available for children or use Duplo bricks instead. Ask the children to make one path for the maze with an entrance and exit. | Solar System Use Lego bricks of 2 different lengths for the marble maze and the option of only one or two dead ends for the marble to fall into. | Galaxy |
LEGO BALANCE SCALES
GROUP SIZE: 2
RESOURCES:
Planet Build a simple see saw design with lego pieces that allow movement up and down | Solar System | Galaxy Challenge the children to build the design and then extend their learning thinking about and building other design that require this type of tilt movement. |
SIX BRICK CHALLENGE CARDS
GROUP SIZE: IN PAIRS OR SMALL GROUPS
TASK- WORK THROUGH 6 BRICK CHALLENGE CARD EXAMPLES: HTTPS://EDUCATION.THEIET.ORG/MEDIA/5417/SIX-BRICKS-WORKSHOP-CARDS.PDF
RESOURCES:
6X LEGO BRICKS PER CHILD
COPY OF CHALLENGE CARDS
Planet | Solar System Differentiate the challenge cards by making the structures more complex or increasing the number of bricks used. | Galaxy Further differentiate the challenge cards by making the structures more complex or increasing the number of bricks used. Try using Lego rather than Duplo. |
CARDBOARD MARBLE RUN
GROUP SIZE: 4
TASK – MAKE A MARBLE RUN FROM CARDBOARD TUBES AND JUNK
RESOURCES:
Planet Make a “wall” marble run by taping the tubes to a wall using masking tape | Solar System | Galaxy Challenge groups to connect their designs together to make one huge marble run |
TOY PENNY SPINNERS
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL
RESOURCES:
Planet | Solar System Make several (3 or 4) of these spinners but of different diameters and compare how they work. | Galaxy Make several spinners all the same size and change the penny to other object or coins to compare how they spin. Option to use a time lapse camera to compare. |
PAPER CHAIN CHALLENGE
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL/ TEAM
TASK- MAKE THE LONGEST PAPER CHAIN THAT YOU CAN USING ONLY ONE PIECE OF A4 PAPER
RESOURCES:
Planet | Solar System Children make individual chains but work as a team of 4 to combine into one long chain. Estimate, measure and compare lengths of chains. | Galaxy In groups of 4, children make individual paper chains with different chain widths of strips to hold the weight of a small object when suspended. Weigh, measure, compare and discuss results. |
PAPER PLATE STEM
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL/ TEAMS OF 4
TASK: HOW LONG CAN YOU MAKE YOU PAPER PLATE
BY CUTTING IT IN SOME WAY?
RESOURCES:
PAPER PLATES
SCISSORS
MEASURING TAPE/ STICK
Planet | Solar System Children complete individual task but then work as a team of 4 to combine into one long chain. Estimate, measure and compare lengths of chains | Galaxy Work in a group of 4 to compare the design of the cuts used e.g. going round, across, zigzag etc. Remember to consider all variables including thickness of cuts. Measure, compare and discuss results. |
BALLOON CHAIR
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL/TEAM
RESOURCES:
Planet | Solar System The balloon chair should hold the weight of one pupil for a minimum of 30 seconds. | Galaxy Create a balloon sofa that can hold the weight of two pupils for a minimum of 30 seconds. |
Challenge:
Design and make a chair using only balloons.
BALLOON ROCKETS
GROUP SIZE:4
RESOURCES:
Planet | Solar System Use different sizes and shapes of balloons and compare how they travel. Option to use a time lapse camera to compare. | Galaxy Complete solar system challenge and then use most effective ballon shape/ size and design a suspended object for the balloon to carry across the string. Compare with other group designs/ balloons. |
WIND POWER CHALLENGE
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL/TEAM
RESOURCES:
Planet Create a simple wind turbine that turns when powered by a hairdryer. No cup required. | Solar System | Galaxy The wind turbine should be freestanding on the table. Weighted items in the cup when testing the turbine. |
Challenge:
Build a simple wind turbine that can lift a cup off the floor when powered by a hairdryer.
WIND POWERED CAR
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL/TEAM
RESOURCES:
Planet | Solar System Increase the distance the car needs to travel. Add weight (a passenger) to the car – this must remain inside the vehicle during travelling. | Galaxy Create a vehicle and trailer. Use objects (eg marbles) as cargo in the trailer. Add a speed bump onto the track that the vehicle needs to go over. |
Challenge:
Make a car that can travel a short distance when powered by wind.
TIN FOIL CARGO BOATS
GROUP SIZE: 2
TASK- DESIGN A BOAT THAT CAN STAY AFLOAT. SLOWLY ADD COINS ONE AT A TIME SEE HOW MUCH CARGO YOUR BOAT CAN CARRY.
RESOURCES
Planet Build a simple boat that can carry up to 3 coins without sinking. | Solar System | Galaxy Build a boat using tin foil and compare the designs of each boat noting which shape is the most effective- think of reasons why. Further challenge to make a boat from a different material, paper, cardboard, plastic. |
WATER WHEEL
GROUP SIZE: 2
TASK – MAKE MOVING WATER WHEEL
RESOURCES:
Planet Use one paper plate and some plastic spoons | Solar System | Galaxy Count how many rotations of the wheel you can get from one litre of water. Experiment with changing the height from which the water is poured and observe what happens. |
MAKE YOUR SHARK SWIM
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL/PAIRS
TASK- FOLD THE EDGES OF THE FOIL TO CREATE A DISH. THEN DRAW YOUR SHARKS/SEA ANIMALS, ON THE BOTTOM OF THE FOIL (GOOD IDEA TO DO MORE THAN ONE). NEXT ADD WATER, POUR THE WATER INTO THE DISH CLOSE TO THE EDGES OF YOUR DRAWINGS. WITHIN SECONDS, YOU’LL SEE THE WHITEBOARD PEN INK REACTING WITH THE WATER, AND THE EDGES OF YOUR DRAWINGS WILL BEGIN TO LIFT. AS YOU ADD MORE WATER, THE INK WILL LIFT AWAY FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DISH AND FLOAT TO THE SURFACE OF THE WATER. BLOW WITH A STRAW AND WATCH THEM MOVE.
RESOURCES:
Planet | Solar System Make observations to try and determine what factors make the experiment work best Is it the colour of the ink? Does it depend how thick the layer of ink is? | Galaxy Can you pick up your floating shapes? Try to pick up the floating shapes with your fingers. They may completely deflated and look like a little strand of rubber, but when gently placed back on the surface of the water and jiggled a little, they can expand back into their original shape and be floated again. |
SLOW MARBLE RUN
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL/TEAM
RESOURCES:
Planet Remove the time element. Construct a simple marble run with a start and end point the marble must travel between. | Solar System | Galaxy Pupils must use three marbles to travel along their marble run. Include one loop in the design of the marble run. |
Challenge:
Design and construct a slow marble run. Your marble must travel as slowly, and run for as long a time, as possible. At the end of the run it must go into, and stay, in a container.
CODING CHARACTER
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL/PAIRS
RESOURCES:
Planet | Solar System Use 3 different movements to make the character move. Include a different feature e.g. speech bubble | Galaxy Create a minimum of 2 characters that interact. |
Challenge:
Using Scratch, create a character than can move across the screen.
SAFE VEHICLE
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL/TEAM
RESOURCES:
Planet Reduce the gradient and length of the ramp. | Solar System | Galaxy Change the load for the car to 6 marbles. All of the marbles must remain in the car as they travel. The car needs to travel up a ramp and down the other side before going over the speed bump. |
Challenge:
Design and make a vehicle that will safely carry an egg down a ramp and over a speed bump.
ROBOTIC HAND
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL/TEAM
RESOURCES:
Planet Create a robotic hand with fingers that move. Remove the objective of lifting an object. | Solar System | Galaxy The object needs to be moved from one point to another. |
Challenge:
Create a robotic hand that can lift an object.
DOMINO CHAIN
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL/TEAM
RESOURCES:
Planet | Solar System Increase the distance between the start and end point. Must include at least one ramp. | Galaxy Increase the distance between the start and end point. Must include at least two ramp/ raised sections and one spiral. |
Challenge:
Create a domino chain with a clear start and end point.
LEGO ZIPLINE
GROUP SIZE: 4
TASK – MAKE A ZIPLINE FOR A LEGO FIGURE
RESOURCES:
Planet | Solar System Investigate the effect of gravity by altering the slope, what is the effect of making the slop steeper or more gradual? | Galaxy Measure the rate of acceleration of the figure by measuring the time to travel down the slope and the distance travelled. Challenge the children to increase the speed by reducing friction |
BUILD A WINCH
GROUP SIZE: 4
TASK – MAKE A MOVING WINCH USING JUNK MATERIALS
RESOURCES:
Planet Build the pulley onto a table top (eliminate the towers) | Solar System | Galaxy Try to lift increasingly heavy objects with the winch. Use scales to weigh the objects. Compare successful designs. |
BUILD A STRUCTURE
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL
TASK: THIS COULD BE AN OPEN-ENDED CHALLENGE ALLOWING CHILDREN TO DESIGN ANY STRUCTURE OR CAN BE MORE DIRECTED USING CHALLENGE TASKS FOR 2D AND 3D SHAPE.
RESOURCES:
Planet | Solar System Ask children to create a selection of regular and irregular shapes. Option to include facts about each shape e.g this shape has 4 equal sides | Galaxy Ask children to complete a selection of 3D shapes. Option to include facts about each shape e.g this shape has a square base, 4 triangular faces and 5 vertices. |
HURRICANE HOUSES
GROUP SIZE: 2/3
TASK- DESIGN A HOUSE THAT WILL BE HURRICANE PROOF WITH FIRM FOUNDATIONS
RESOURCES
Planet Allow children time to be creative simply by creating 2D or simple 3D designs using the materials | Solar System | Galaxy Provide a cost for the resources and research who can build the most cost effective house that can withstand the winds of a hurricane. |
LOLLY STICK BRIDGE
GROUP SIZE: 2
TASK – MAKE A BRIDGE STRONG ENOUGH TO CARRY A TOY CAR USING ONLY LOLLY STICKS AND PLAYDOUGH
RESOURCES:
Planet | Solar System Increase the weight the bridge needs to sustain | Galaxy Reduce the number of lolly sticks available to compete the challenge. Investigate what shapes make the strongest bridge |
HOUSE OF CARDS
GROUP SIZE: 2
TASK – WHAT IS THE TALLEST STRUCTURE YOU CAN BUILD USING A SET OF PLAYING CARDS
RESOURCES:
Planet Make a 2 story house with cards | Solar System | Galaxy Can your structure support a small toy? |
TIN FOIL TOWER
GROUP SIZE: 2/3
MAKE THE TALLEST TOWER USING ONLY THE GIVEN AMOUNT OF TIN FOIL
RESOURCES:
Planet Construct a creative tower from tin foil without any height challenge | Solar System | Galaxy Research the design and contruction of metal towers (e.g. electricity pylons, Blackpool Tower, Eiffel Tower, Tokyo Tower) and incorporate these ideas into the design |
MAGNETIC CHALLENGE
RESOURCES:
Planet Attach the picture of the Police Officer to a bar magnet. Attach the picture of the Robber to a second magnet. Will the Police Officer catch the robber or will the robber escape? Why? Which was the most difficult to do? Why? | Solar System “Float” your magnets in two boxes, away from other magnets. Make sure there are no magnets near your boxes. What do you see? How many magnets can you float? | Galaxy Use blue tac to attach a button magnet between the two bottle tops. Can you use another magnet to move the wheelie without touching it? |
FORCES
small magnet
MAGNETS
GROUP SIZE: 2
TASK- DESIGN A CAR, CUT IT OUT AND ATTACH A PAPER CLIP. DESIGN A RACE TRACK. USING A MAGNET ATTACHED TO STRING, RACE A FRIEND AROUND THE TRACK.
RESOURCES:
Planet You can give children an already printed race track, ask them to race across a table or design a race track of their own. | Solar System | Galaxy Can you find a way to race using the magnets underneath the track? How can you get the track to stay up? |
SLIPPY OR GRIPPY
GROUP SIZE: 2-4
TASK- LIFT ONE END OF THE BOARD TO REST ON THE TABLE, THE OTHER END ON THE FLOOR.
PUT A SHOE ON THE HIGHEST END OF THE BOARD. WHAT HAPPENS? CAN YOU FIND THE SLIPPIEST OR GRIPPIEST SHOE?
RESOURCES:
Planet | Solar System Try the shoe challenge from different heights, from different heights – on a chair/a table. Can you measure the height? Repeat for different shoes. What are the results? Does the height matter? Why | Galaxy Can you create a graph to plot who’s shoe started to slip at which height? |
MATERIALS DESIGN CHALLENGE
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL/ TEAM
TASK- DESIGN THEN MAKE;
RESOURCES:
Planet Suitable clothing to dress teddy/doll for the rainforest/the artic. Can you make the clothes? | Solar System A musical instrument. Sketch and label your designs, then build a prototype. Which materials make the best sounds? | Galaxy A board game. Who will it be for? What will the rules be? Challenge someone else to play it. |
ENERGY
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL/ SMALL GROUPS
TASK- DRAW PICTURES OF, OR CUT OUT PICTURES OF THINGS THAT NEED, ENERGY TO WORK (FROM MAGAZINES OR CATALOGUES).
RESOURCES
Planet | Solar System Can you write down what types of energy they use? | Galaxy Added challenge: Is there a more sustainable energy source for these things? |
HELPFUL INVENTION
GROUP SIZE: INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP
TASK- DESIGN A NEW INVENTION THAT WILL MAKE THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE
RESOURCES
Planet Allow children time to discuss what are their favourite inventions that already exist? Are there any inventions that already help make the world better? Children may find it helpful to create a 3D design using plasticine or recyclable materials. | Solar System | Galaxy Create a Dragons Den style pitch for your invention. |
DESIGN A SUSTAINABLE TOWN
GROUP SIZE: 2-4
TASK- DESIGN A TOWN THAT USES ONLY SUSTAINABLE ENERGY FOR POWER. THINK ABOUT THE POWER SOURCES, WHAT WILL BE IN YOUR TOWN AND WHAT WILL NEED ENERGY TO WORK.
RESOURCES
Planet Design a house for Goldilocks and the 3 Bears to live in. Think about the things Goldilocks will need and the things the bears will need. | Solar System | Galaxy Provide a cost for the resources and children work out the cost of building the town. |
ROBOT STEPS/COMPUTATIONAL THINKING
GROUP SIZE: 2
TASK- WORKING IN PAIRS, CHILD A GIVE DIRECTIONS TO CHILD B TO MANOUVERE TO A SPECIFIC DESTINATION. USE LANGUAGE SUCH AS “FORWARD 2 STEPS/TURN RIGHT/90 DEGREE TURN LEFT”
RESOURCES
Planet Allow children to use whatever language they need, to get their partner safely to the destination. | Solar System | Galaxy Challenge the children by asking them to write the directions first. Can their partner use those exact directions to reach the destination? |
GUESS MY ANIMAL
GROUP SIZE: 2
TASK- DRAW AN ANIMAL AND WRITE ITS NAME E.G CAT, DON’T LET YOUR PARTNER KNOW WHAT IT IS. CAN YOUR PARTNER DRAW A PICTURE OF AND CORRECTLY GUESS YOUR ANIMAL? YOU CAN ONLY USE SHAPES AND LINES WHEN DESCRIBING E.G. DRAW 2 TRIANGLES 2 CM APART (FOR EARS)
RESOURCES
Planet Allow children to use language that describes the animals features e.g. draw 2 pointy ears/draw 2 round eyes. | Solar System | Galaxy Time how long it takes? Can you beat your time for the next animal? |