A few days ago I was putting together some containers of STEM materials for a class challenge and heard a student say this:
"I see straws in those bins. We use a lot of straws!"
Yes, we do! In fact, we use so many straws for challenges that I asked for straws to be added to our school supply list this year! So now I have one entire cabinet filled with straws. Just for fun, we counted the boxes one day and there were 40. FORTY. That is 4000 straws, just in boxes. There are also smaller boxes and bags, and more bags, and even more boxes.
Well, I asked for them! Right?
But why?
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Above is a Quick Challenge called Straw Mazes. The walls of the maze were built of straws. A little bit of tape and that's about it! {Blog Post}
Yes, tennis ball towers!
Above is another Challenge called Tennis Ball Towers. This one has some unusual materials and a surprising constraint- kids must use all the materials. They get so creative!{Blog Post}
Bridges and Boats
Above is a bridge challenge. This is one of the first STEM challenges I invented and I promise it was a throw- together- some- junk- and- see- what -they- build kind of challenge! We ended up calling these Straw Bridges (with Toothpicks)!{Blog Post}
Above is a VERY popular challenge called Building Boats! All kids LOVE this one! {Blog Post}
Bubbles and Bubble Wands
Above is Making Bubbles! There is actually more to it than that. With a bunch of wacky supplies, kids make bubble wands! They LOVE it!
Platforms and Parachutes
Above is a Straw Platform! This was a little challenging since it had to hold weight!
Above kids are making a container to hold an egg. It was then dropped with a parachute! So, of course, we called this one Egg Parachutes!
Towers, Rescue Devices, Hoop Flyers, and Geodesic Domes
Above is a Straw Tower! The trick with this one was that the kids only received 12 straws! Ha!
Above is one of my all-time favorites! Kids had to build a rescue device and it had to wind up! Awesome and clever solutions were part of this one! {Blog Post}
Above is one of our most recent challenges! We made hoop flyers and experimented with changing variables. It was spectacular! {Blog Post}
Above is another recent challenge building Bucket Towers! We loved this one, too! The bucket had to be suspended and hold weight! {Blog Post}
Finally, you have another recent challenge about building Geodesic Domes! This was really, really fun! Check back next week because it may be my next Wednesday post!
So, now, you ask,
"Why do we use so many straws?"
Because, my friends, they do not cost very much! I have FIFTEEN classes of STEM each week. I cannot spend a lot of money.
Advice: Ask parents to send in straws. And another little giblet of knowledge for you is this: The best straw you can get is from the Dollar Tree!
So what are you waiting for? Get some straws!
I started a STEM club this year and the kids loved straws and making things with them. We had platforms for holding weight, towers to hold baseballs (I coach so I had a bucket full) and will be making boats during our last STEM meeting. Thanks for you blog site and Pins.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these STEM challenges. I just wanted to share I've walked into several fast food restaurants on the way to my school, told them I was a teacher, and that I needed straws for a project, and they've never turned me down.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I have gotten pizza boxes from a restaurant, but I will definitely try straws- especially milk shake straws! Thank you!
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