Our Latest STEM Challenge!

Launching POMPOMS!  YahOOoO!

When they see STEM CHALLENGE on the schedule, they let out cute little screams of joy.  They don’t have any idea what they will be doing at that point, but it doesn’t matter.  They LOVE these challenges and I encourage you to try them at home this summer.  Google STEM CHALLENGES or check out PINTEREST for ideas.  They usually require materials that are easily found (you often will already have them in your possession!) and they learn a ton!

They LOVE this process.  We start out in community circle and make a list of the materials and I give them the chance to try and figure out what they are going to create.

The materials for this challenge were: 

1 large and 1 small pompom

1 toilet paper (or paper towel) roll

4 rubber bands

2 binder clips

5 index cards

2 pipe cleaners

1 spoon

1 small Dixie cup

You do NOT have to use all of your materials.  You may NOT use any additional materials, but you can cut the materials you have.  Nope, you can’t have any tape (289 kids wanted to use tape).

2 minutes were spent writing ideas all alone.  They did not know who they would be partnered with at this point, and needed to get their own ideas down on paper before meeting with their partner. 

5 minutes were given to work with your assigned partner.  They talked, sketched, and wrote about their ideas.

Once they had their materials, they had 25 minutes to construct their launcher.  Talk about fun!  I love wandering around the room listening to them figure things out, offer ideas, discuss what they are going to try, and diving right into design ideas.  They take this seriously and work hard the entire time.  I display a timer on the white board so they are aware of the time and how much time they have until they need to stop working. 

The ultimate goal: use your launcher to propel your pompom as far as you can.  You must have the launcher on the ground when launching (you can’t hold it in your hands) and you get two tries with each size of pompom to record your farthest launch. 

We will finish launching on Monday (we ran out of time on Friday) and I will post pictures and distances then!  Yay!