Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...

JDaniel4s Mom

growing & learning with him

Deirdre Smith writes/owns JDaniel4’s Mom. After twenty years as a elementary school and technology resource teacher in Northern Virginia, she became a stay at home mom in upstate South Carolina. Her blog features ways she and her 5 year old are exploring learning, crafting, creating healthy meals and living life to its fullest. Deirdre can also be found on twitter as @jdaniel4smom and on her blog's FB page. You can also check her out on Google+.

Outer Space STEM Challenge Cards

By

Children will have fun building the creations on the outer space stem challenge cards. The cards may need to be read to younger children. There are no pictures on the cards to clue children into what they will need to build. The way children will rely on their imaginations and not a picture when they are making.

The set includes versions of the cards that are B/W and colored. You can decide which set you want to use. The B/W version will be cheaper for you to print. However, the colored set may be more fun to look at.

Getting the Outer Space STEM Challenge Cards Ready to Use

Downloading the Cards


First, you will need to download the set.

Outer Space STEM Challenge CardsDownload

Second, if you don’t have Acrobat Reader you will need to download it. The algorithm page is an Acrobat Reader PDF file.

Third, you will need to go to your download file and open the page.  You may be asked if you want the file to open right after you download it. If you are, you won’t have to hunt for it in your download file.

Laminating the Outer Space STEM Challenge Cards

You can have your children work on the cards uncovered if you like. However, if you laminate the mats you can use them over and over again. Below you will find links for a laminator I recommend. There are also links for laminator pouches and a laminator.

The links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. My Amazon Picks

Scotch Brand PRO Thermal Laminator, Never Jam…$55.99$128.93 (11009)

Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches, 200- Count-…$27.99$42.99 (22799)

Exploring the Outer Space STEM Challenge

The outer space STEM challenge cards can be explored in a number of ways. The ideas below are just that ideas. You may come up with new and different ways to use them.

Hint:
Before you have your children start exploring the challenge cards, you will want to go over the words on the cards.

Maker’s Space or Center

The cards can be placed along with building materials for children to explore. Children can work on building outer space objects at any size or height they want to.

Small Group Work

It is fun to see how different children complete the same challenge. You can select the material and card you want them to explore. Then you can have them each build what they think the object should look like. While some children may want to make their objects just like the neighbors, others will strike out on their own. It will be fun to have them discuss the object they are building.

More Challenge Card Activities

Polar Animal Shape Challenge Cards

Snowman Cup Stacking Challenge Cards

Traveling Across the Solar System Algorithm Game Boards

By

Solar System Algorithms Game Boards are a fun way to review the order of the planets in the solar system. Children build a path or algorithm from the word Start through the planet squares to the word end. They can use arrow squares or rockets squares in the set to build paths. However, that will mean covering the planets and their names. Children can draw arrows to create their paths if they prefer.

Getting the Traveling Across the Solar System Algorithm Game Boards Pages

First, you will need to download the set.

Traveling-Across-the-Solar-System-Algorithm-BoardsDownload

Second, if you don’t have Acrobat Reader you will need to download it. The algorithm page is an Acrobat Reader PDF file.

Third, you must go to your download file and open the page.  You may be asked if you want the file to open right after you download it. You won’t have to hunt for it in your download file if you are.

Getting Ready to Use the Solar System Algorithm Game Boards

Making the Game Boards Reusable

If you plan on using the game boards over and over again, you may want to laminate them. Below I have suggested products that you may want to use to cover them.

The links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. My Amazon Picks

Scotch Brand PRO Thermal Laminator, Never Jam…$54.68$128.93 (11154)

Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches, 100 Count-P…$15.98$24.68 (63556)

Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches, 200- Count-…$27.99$42.99 (23612)

Hammermill Printer Paper, Great White 100% Recy…$17.00 (4917)AllAds by Amazon

Using B/W or Color Game Boards

If you choose to laminate the game boards, they printing the color version makes sense. They will look pretty and it will justify the cost of printing in color. However, if you plan to use them like worksheets printing them in B/W makes more sense.

Exploring the Game Boards

You will find that some of the game boards offer a number of ways that your children to complete the game boards. Here is how you could introduce your children to the game boards.

  • First, you can work through a part of a game board with your children. It will help them understand how to place the arrows in the boxes. Remember that the arrows they draw or the printed arrows or printed rockets should point in the direction they will need to go to connect to the next step. They need to begin at the word Start and finish in the box that will lead them to the End box.
  • Second, children can work with a partner to complete the gameboard. They can take turns placing the arrows in the squares.

More Algorithm Game Boards

How to Build a Snowman Algorithm Game Boards

Little Miss Muffet Coding Activity for Preschoolers

Help your child learn coding and the phases of the moon at the same time with this simple STEM activity for space themed learning

Coding the Moon

Space Rocket Cup Stacking STEM Challenge Cards

By

5,4,3,2,1! Build cup stacks based on pictures on challenge cards! While children like to build their own cup stack, these challenge cards will help build building skills. First, it is important to learn which ways cups can be stacked upside down. Second, learning how to arrange cups right side up without falling over. Finally, mastering how to combine cups upside down and right side up is important. Yes, children can learn from failed builds. They can also learn from builds that will be successful.

Getting the Space Rocket Cup Stacking STEM Challenge

First, you will need to download the set.

Space Rocket Cup Stacking Challenge CardsDownload

Second, if you don’t have Acrobat Reader you will need to download it. The algorithm page is an Acrobat Reader PDF file.

Third, you must go to your download file and open the page.  You may be asked if you want the file to open right after downloading it. You won’t have to hunt for it in your download file if you are.

Exploring the Space Rocket Cup Stacking STEM Challenge

Explaining the Rockets

While most children will look at the upside-down rocket and know it means the cup is upside down, others may be confused. The upside-down rocket is narrow. Its body is wide. There may be children that think that means the narrow cup base goes on the bottom. Please take a moment to explain this to them.

If they end up building structures that are the opposite of the card, you can decide if you want to correct them. It may be important to you that you build it just like the card. It may be important that they just practice cup stacking.

After exploring some of the more challenging cards, children may want to build their own structures. ( That is what happened with my students.) It would be fun to take pictures of their structures and make them into challenge cards. They can have a picture of their structure on the front of the card. Then they can try to draw their structure with snowmen if they think it will translate well to a flat picture.

Building Background

Before starting this activity, you may want to do another rocket activity with your children to read them a rocket-themed book.

The links below are affiliate links.

Children can explore STEM activities that focus on rockets.

Children love watching the rockets fly. We used the one we have for years.

The fun yoga book has a rocket ship theme. It will be fun to explore with children.

More Sets of Cup Stacking STEM Challenge Cards

Ghostly Cup Stacking Challenge Cards

Fire Hydrant Stacking STEM Challenge Cards (These are for sale on my TPT shop.)

STEM Challenge- Build an Earth Shape

By

While children will know that the Earth is round, it will still be fun for them to explore the Earth shaped in different ways. Children learn about the attributes of shapes as they build them. Whether it is on their own or in a group, they will see how many sides (edges) and corners (vertices) they have.

Space Theme or Earth Day Activity

While this activity is shared as one of five space-themed activities and worksheets for Space Week, it could be an Earth Day activity. However, you may want to use different building materials for the two different events.

The links below are affiliate links.

Building Supplies for a Space Theme

Earth Day Building Supplies

  • Small Sticks
  • Small Pebbles
  • Buttons from Old Clothes
  • Plastic Bottle Caps

Getting the Build an Earth Shape Mats

First, you will need to download the set.

STEM Challenge – Build an Earth Shape MatsDownload

Second, if you don’t have Acrobat Reader you will need to download it. The algorithm page is an Acrobat Reader PDF file.

Third, you must go to your download file and open the page.  You may be asked if you want the file to open right after downloading it. You won’t have to hunt for it in your download file if you are.

Exploring the Build an Earth Shape Mats

Once you have downloaded the set, you must decide how you want to share them with your children. At the same time, you could just add them to your maker’s space or put them out for your children to explore. I would follow the steps listed below.

First, identifying the shape of the mat would be helpful.

Second, talking about the parts of the shape would be wonderful. Whether you call where the sides connect vertices or corners, it would be great to count how many each shape has. Some of you may call the lines connecting the corners side or edges. Whatever you call them, it would be great to go over how many each has.

Third, finding objects that are the shape you are focusing on will help children visualize the shape they are going to build.

Fourth, the building would finally happen. They will need to think about whether the shape they build needs to fit on a mat or can be bigger than the mat.

More Shape Building Activities

Build a Shape Fire Pit Mats

Building Cards with a Magic Theme

Woodland Animal Pattern Block Building Mats

Space Worksheets and Activities

By

These sets of Space Week worksheets and activities focus on patterns, building, and coding. During Space Week 3 Dinosaurs and I will each be sharing five days of space-themed activities. Space Week starts on January 23rd and will go through January 28th.

At the end of this post, you will find several other space-themed activities. These are only a few activities available. Every day, more space posts will be shared at the bottom of the new set of space-themed worksheets. After downloading the recent sets, you will want to check them out.

Building Background Before Starting an Activity

The links below are affiliate links.

You explore one of these space-themed activities or books before working on one or all of the sets. It will help children build a background on themselves.

This wonderful book teaches about the universe as two girls explore space.

It will be fun to learn about the solar system with this glow-in-the-dark set.

Children will have fun learning about the solar system while building a puzzle.

Monday

This STEM building challenge invites children to build a variety of shapes around the Earth. While the Earth is known to be round, the mats invite children to think about it being various shapes.

This free space number find and trace number set is like going on a treasure hunt. 3 Dinosaurs has come up with a really creative idea.

Tuesday

It will be fun to build the various cup-stacking structures featured on the challenge cards. Each cup is represented by a space rocket.

This addition facts activity invites children to match equations to sums. It is out of this world.

Wednesday

The Traveling Across the Solar System set invites children to connect the planets in order as they travel around the solar system. They connect them with arrows or rockets.

3 Dinosaurs has wonderful planetary pattern cards for your children to explore.

Thursday

The Outer Space STEM Challenge Building Cards invite children to build a variety of space-themed objects. They can build with any materials you have on hand.

What a fun way to explore the phases of the moon!

Friday

Rocket Ship Skip Counting strips are fun to work on number patterns. They would also be a good way to introduce the principles of multiplication.

3 Dinosaurs has a wonderful space ABC planet and moon matching activity you will love.

More Space-Themed Activities

Exploring the World of Shadows with Shadow Puppets - These space themed puppets are a fun way to explore shadows.

Space Themed Shadow Puppets

Moon and Star Muffin Tin Number Activity

Total Eclipse Painted Paper Plates

Eclipse Craft

I Spy Feelings on Penguins Activity Pages

By

I have created a number of I Spy Feelings sets including one that focuses on birds and shapes. This I Spy Feeling set focuses on penguins.

The set also includes penguin feeling cards in B/W and color. While many of your children may know all the feelings displayed, others may not. Some may need to have flashcards beside them while they work. They can look at the bigger version on the card and then look for the smaller pictures on the worksheet that display the feelings.

You can decide just what your children will need to have available to them as they work through the pages.

Getting the I Spy Feeling Pages

First, you will need to download the set.

I Spy Feelings on Penguins PagesDownload

Second, if you don’t have Acrobat Reader you will need to download it. The algorithm page is an Acrobat Reader PDF file.

Third, you must go to your download file and open the page.  You may be asked if you want the file to open right after downloading it. You won’t have to hunt for it in your download file if you are.

Exploring the I Spy Feelings Activity Pages

  • First, you will want to go over the feelings displayed on the I Spy pages. You can do that by going through one of the sets of flashcards or going over the shapes displayed in the chart.

  • Then you will want to have your children figure out how many of each feeling there is displayed on the page.

  • Your children can write the number of faces found for each feeling with a number or a tally mark.

  • If you think your children will have trouble remembering that they have already counted a shape you can have them color the penguin as they count or put an x on them.

    • More Penguin Activities

    Algorithm Game Boards with Penguins

    Shape Bingo Cards Featuring Penguins

    Shape Bingo Cards Featuring Penguins

    Code and Color Polar Animals

    By

    Children will have fun as they color polar animals. There are two types of pages available. The first set displays the color that your children will need to color each section. The second set leaves the color the sections will need to be colored up to your children. If you are worried they will need guidance with colors, you could just put out the colors you want them to use.

    Getting Ready to Use the Code By Color Polar Animal Pages

    Downloading the Coloring Pages

    First, you will need to download the set.

    Color By Code Polar Animal Coloring PagesDownload

    Second, if you don’t have Acrobat Reader you will need to download it. The algorithm page is an Acrobat Reader PDF file.

    Third, you must go to your download file and open the page.  You may be asked if you want the file to open right after downloading it. You won’t have to hunt for it in your download file if you are.

    Building Background

    If your children don’t know a lot about polar animals, you may want to read a book or do an activity that features them before you start these pages.

    The links below are affiliate links.

    This book is part of a series that explores animals that live in various habitats around the world.

    Children will learn about the animals that live in the arctic as they put together this polar bear-shaped puzzle.

    This cool set of Magna-Tiles features characters from the book Polar Bear, Polar Bear What Do You See?

    Exploring the Color By Code Monster Pages

    If you are having a non-reader work on the color-by-code polar animal pages, you may want to help them highlight what they need to do. First, you can have them underline the number they are focusing on for each step. Next, children will need to place a line that matches the color mentioned in that step over or under that number.

    Some children will be fine with just highlighting the directions. However, there will be some that need to draw a dot near the number in each section that matches the assigned color. They can go back later and color in the whole section.

    Polar Animal Shape Challenge Cards

    By

    This polar animal shape challenge card set invites children to build the shape featured on each card. The shapes can be built with any materials you have on hand. Below you will find a list of suggested building supplies.

    What Animals and Shapes are Displayed on the Polar Shape Challenge Cards?

    • An arctic hare is a diamond.
    • The moose is a square.
    • A musk ox is a rectangle.
    • An arctic puffin is a pentagon.
    • The orca is a parallagram.
    • A snow leopard is an octagon.
    • The polar bear is a circle. (This shape will be hard to build. Building something close to a circle would be fine.)
    • An arctic wolf is a triangle.
    • The walrus is a heart. (The rounded part of the heart may be tricky. It is okay if they are more pointed than rounded.)
    • A reindeer is a hexagon.
    • The penguin is a trapezoid.
    • An arctic fox is a star.

    Getting Ready to Explore the Polar Shape Challenge Cards

    Gathering the Building Supplies

    The suggested items are things that you probably have already. Others will be purchased really cheaply at a dollar or big box store.

    • Coffee Stirrers
    • Craft Sticks
    • Buttons
    • LEGO
    • Unsharpened Pencils
    • Toothpicks with Points Removed
    • Sections of a Straw

    Downloading the Cards

    The cards are in a PDF format. You will need a PDF reader like Acrobat Reader to open them.

    Polar Animal Shape Challenge CardsDownload

    Laminating the Polar Shape Challenge Cards

    You can have your children work on the cards uncovered if you like. However, if you laminate the mats you can use them over and over again. Below you will find links for a laminator I recommend. There are also links for laminator pouches and a laminator.

    The links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. My Amazon Picks

    Scotch Brand PRO Thermal Laminator, Never Jam…$55.99$128.93 (11009)

    Scotch Thermal Laminating Pouches, 200- Count-…$27.99$42.99 (22799)

    Exploring the Polar Shape Challenge Cards

    The challenge cards can be explored in a number of ways. The ideas below are just that ideas. You may come up with new and different ways to use them.

    Hint:
    Before you have your children start exploring the challenge cards, you will want to go over the shapes and animals displayed on the cards. After that, you may want to talk about the number of sides and edges each shape has.

    Maker’s Space or Center

    The cards can be placed along with building materials for children to explore. Children can work on building the shapes at any size or height they want to.

    Small Group Work

    It is fun to see how different children complete the same challenge. You can select the material and card you want them to explore. Then you can have them each build what they think the shape should look like. While some children may want to make their shape just like the neighbors, others will strike out on their own. What fun it will be to have them discuss why they built their shape the way they did!

    More Building Activities

    Build a Shape Fire Pit Mats

    Building an Eraser Tower

    Polar Animal STEM Challenges – Build Pattern Block Animals

    By

    The polar animal STEM challenges in this set invite children to build animals with pattern blocks. Each of the STEM challenge mats has a key at the bottom that show children the blocks they will need. The pattern blocks can be stacked right on their picture on the mat.

    Helping Your Children Explore the Polar Animal STEM Challenges on the Mats

    Review the Shapes

    Before your children explore the mats, you may want to review each of the pattern block shapes. While they don’t have to know each shape’s name to build the animal, it would be a good thing for them to know.

    Counting the Shapes

    Each of the shape mats indicates how many of each shape children will need. Some children will be able to find and count the shapes on their own. However, there will be some who need you to count the blocks with them.

    Building the Animals

    The polar animal STEM challenge mats were not designed to have the blocks fit right on each animal. They were designed to have the animal built beside the animals on the page. This way children can refer to the picture while they build.

    Getting the Polar Animal STEM Challenges- Building Pattern Block Animals Set

    Polar Animal STEM Challenge - Pattern Block Mats

    First, you will need to download the set.

    Polar Animal STEM Challenges with Pattern BlocksDownload

    Second, if you don’t have Acrobat Reader you will need to download it. The algorithm page is an Acrobat Reader PDF file.

    Third, you must go to your download file and open the page.  You may be asked if you want the file to open right after you download it. You won’t have to hunt for it in your download file if you are.

    Polar Animal STEM Challenges

    Pattern Block Suggestions

    Below you will see a variety of sets of pattern blocks. Some of them are plastic and others are wooden. While you could print out a set of paper pattern blocks, these sets will be easier for your children to use.

    The links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    More Building Challenges

    Build a Bird’s Nest STEM Challenge

    Building Challenge Cards with a Magic Theme

    Narwhals Explore Words in Binary Code

    By

    This is the first of five sets of polar animal-themed worksheet sets. This narwhal set invites children to explore words in binary code. It does this by asking children to write alphabet letters in binary code to build words. Then they are asked to color each letter’s row of narwhal bellies to display the code. Each of the pages in the set focus on narwhal-themed words. After exploring this set, I have more sets available. There are sets that examine parts of a shark, patriotic words and Valentine’s Day words.

    Getting Ready to Explore Words in Binary Code

    First, Getting the Binary Code Set

    Before you download the worksheet set, you will need to make sure you have a PDF reader. Acrobat reader is a popular PDF and is the one I use.  Next, you will need to decide which of the words you want to explore with your children.

    Narwhals Explore Words in Binary CodeDownload

    You may want to print out two different worksheets for each of your children. One you would do with your children. Then one they could do on their own.

    Reading About Binary Code

    Here are some books and activities that explore binary code. The links below are affiliate links.

    This is an amazing book that looks at computer coding and explains binary code in a way they will understand.

    Here is another good book written for children that explore coding.

    Explaining Binary Code to Your Kids

    It is the code used by a computer to understand letters, numbers, symbols, and commands. The code uses groups of 8 numbers to represent each letter, number, symbol, and command you type in on a keyboard.  The only numbers that the computer can use to create the code are 0s and 1s.

    Binary code can be confusing. Therefore, you may want to visit  Teach Kids Binary in One Simple Step to get more information on how to teach it to your kids.

    What Words are on the Worksheets

    Narwhal– A medium-sized toothed whale. One of the teeth has developed into a spiraling twisted tusk.

    Unicorn– A mythical horse-like animal with a horn protruding from its head.

    Blessing– A group of narwhals.

    Explore Words in Binary Code

    • First, you will want to explain what binary code is to your children. A simple explanation is shared above.
    • Then your children will need to look for the code for each letter in the chart at the bottom of the page.
    • Next, they will need to write each number for the code on one of the little lines after each letter.
    • After that, your children must fill in circles next to the number representing a one.
    • Finally, you will want them to check their work. It is really easy to color in the wrong circle or put a zero in one’s place.

    More Binary Code Activities

    Christmas Holiday Words in Binary Code (This set is available on my TPT shop.)

    Building Letters in Binary Code

    Pool Noodle Ideas- Building Binary Codes

    Categories

    memberships

    From the Past