STEM Archives - Page 7 of 20

Snowflake Building Mats- Exploring Shapes

January 9, 2023 By Deirdre

This set of snowflake-building mats features snowflakes with a variety of shapes in their centers. Children are invited to identify the shapes. After identifying the shapes, children will need to build them

What can they identify about each shape?

Some of the questions below will be easier for children to answer than others. Children tend to like to at least hear new vocabulary or math terms. It will be up to you to decide if your children are too young for some of these questions and/or math terms.

What shape is it?
How many sides or edges does it have?
Can you tell what types of angles it has?
How many corners of vertices does it have?

Possible Snowflake Building Materials

The links below are affiliate links.

Craft Sticks
Bread Tags
Toothpicks with the Sharp End Removed
Keva Planks
Magnetic Building Sticks and Blocks
Playdough
Pipe cleaners
LEGO Bricks

Getting the Snowflake Building Mats

First, you will need to download the set.

Snowflake Building Mats Download

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 with a particular program. As I mentioned I use Acrobat Reader.

Laminating the Snowflake Building Mats

You can have your children work on the mats 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)

More Building Activities

Build a Shape Fire Pit Mats

Building Cards with a Magic Theme

Woodland Animal Pattern Block Building Mats

Snowflake Worksheets and Activities

January 8, 2023 By Deirdre

Snowflake worksheets and activities are great to work on even if you live in a place that doesn’t see snow. A series of five flake-themed activities will be shared one day at a time starting January 9th both here and on 3 Dinosaurs. Please stop by each morning to get a free set to download. The collections feature math, coding, and STEM activities.

At the end of this post, you will find several other snow-themed activities. These are only a few activities available. Every day, more snowflake posts will be shared at the bottom of the new set of snowflake 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 snowman-themed activities or books before working on one or all of the sets. It will help children build a background in building snowmen.

Snowflake Science Activity Book explores activities that focus on ice crystals along with the elements of snowflakes.

This building set features building elements that look like snowflakes. They will be wonderful for building snowy structures all year round.

The There Was a Cold Lady Who Swallowed Some Snow book is a great way to explore sequencing with your children. After picking up of the word sequence, they will want to join you as you repeat it.

Getting the Snowflake Worksheets and Activities

First, download each set when an active link has been placed under its picture below.

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

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

Snowman Activities and Printables by Day

Monday

Children will have fun using various building materials displayed on snowflake building mats to explore shapes. Some of the shapes will be easy to replicate and others will be more challenging.

3 Dinosaurs is a set of addition fact flashcards with a snowflake theme.

Tuesday

The I Spy Snowflake Shapes snowflake worksheets invite children to collect and display data. Children can record their data with numerals or tally marks.

Free Mitten Rhyming Matching Activity is shared on 3 Dinosaurs. It focuses CVC words.

Wednesday

Drawing a Snowflake Based on an Algorithm is a set that displays drawing directions on Blockly Blocks. The worksheets combine coding and drawing on one page. There are pages with words only and words along with pictures.

3 Dinosaurs is sharing a Free Snowflake ABC Tracing Cards. I just love the snowflake character on each card.

Thursday

This set of snowflake worksheets explores feelings and patterns. It has several ways that patterns can be continued. The set also includes a set of feeling flashcards.

What a fun way to work on elapsed time! This set from 3 Dinosaurs will be great to explore this winter.

Friday

The final set of snowflake worksheets asks children to color all the sections of a picture with the same number and the same color. There are pages with assigned colors. Some pages ask children to select their colors. You can decide which pages are the best ones for your children.

3 Dinosaurs is sharing a free winter skip counting by 6 easy reader today.

More Snow-Themed Activities and Printables

Below you will find snowman-themed activities and printables that have already been shared on my blog.

How to Make Fake Snow Recipes Featuring Cornstarch Displayed on Blockly Blocks.

How to Make Snow with Cornstarch

Building Shapes STEM Snowman Activity for Kids

STEM Snowman Activity- Building Shapes

Do You Want to Build A Snowman Activity

How to Build a Snowman Algorithm Game Boards

January 4, 2023 By Deirdre

The pictures displayed in this set of walk children how to build a snowman. Children are invited to connect the pictures in order with arrows. While there is more than one way to connect the pictures, there is only one path answer key per page.

The set includes B/W and color scarecrow algorithm gameboards, answer keys, and a set of crow arrows. After looking at the set you will need to decide what boards will work best for your class.

Hint: If you plan on using the boards over and over again, you may want to laminate 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

Getting the How to Build a Snowman Algorithm Game Boards Pages

First, you will need to download the set.

How to Build a Snowman Algorithm Game Boards Download

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.

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 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 Activities

Woodland Animal Algorithm Game Boards

Offline Coding Academy -Muffin Tin Algorithm

How to Make Slime with Liquid Starch Algorithm Coding Activity

How to Make Liquid Starch Slime Algorithm

Building Background

Below you will find some wonderful coding activities and a book that would be great to explore with kids.

The links below are affiliate links.

My students love building mazes for the mouse to travel through.

It will be fun to build and walk through an algorithm maze your children have built themselves.

This game introduces a number of coding concepts including binary code.

This wonderful book breaks down the parts of an algorithm in a simple way for children.

Snowman Cup Stacking STEM Challenge Cards

January 3, 2023 By Deirdre

This set of Snowman Cup Stacking Challenge Cards has challenges for children of various ages and fine motor abilities. The set has simple challenges that focus on four cups. After the simple challenges, there are cards that feature ten or more cups.

The snowman cup stacking challenge cards have been field tested with kindergarten through second graders. However, children younger than five and older than seven will probably enjoy exploring them.

Getting the Snowman Cup Stacking STEM Challenge

First, you will need to download the set.

Snowman-Cup-Stacking-STEM-Challenge-Cards Download

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 Snowman Cup Stacking STEM Challenge

Explaining the Snowmen

While most children will look at the upside-down snowman and know it means the cup is upside down, others may be confused. The upside-down snowman’s head 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 snowman activity with your children to read them a snowman-themed book.

The links below are affiliate links.

This kit is another way to build snowmen with your children.

Building a snowman with LEGO is also fun.

Children will have fun building snowpeople with clay.

More Cup Stacking Challenge Card Sets

Turkey Cup Stacking Challenge Cards

Ghostly Cup Stacking Challenge Cards

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

This post is part of a five-day series on snowman worksheets and activities. Please stop by and check out the whole series.

Snowman Activities and Printables

December 21, 2022 By Deirdre

Snowman activities and printables are fun to explore whether or not you live in a place that gets snow. A series of five snowman-themed activities will be shared one day at a time starting January 2nd both here and on 3 Dinosaurs. Please stop by each morning to get a free set to download. The collections feature math, coding, and STEM activities.

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

Building Background Before Starting an Activity

The links below are affiliate links.

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

Getting the Snowman Activities and Printables

First, download each set when an active link has been placed under its picture below.

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

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

Snowman Activities and Printables by Day

Monday

The I Spy Snowman Numbers Activity pages invite children to gather data. The data will need to be displayed in numerals or tally marks.

3 Dinosaurs is sharing a subitizing number sense from 1 to 20 sets of snowman pages.

Tuesday

The Snowman Cup Stacking Challenge cards invite children to explore tower building with cups. They work well in a center!

3 Dinosaurs is sharing a shape-tracing activity today. It will be fun to trace the shapes and then build around their perimeter.

Wednesday

How to Build a Snowman Algorithm Game Boards show children the steps needed to build a snowman. After figuring out the steps, children will need to connect them with arrows creating an algorithm.

3 Dinosaurs is sharing a Free Snowman Repeat Addition set. It will be a great way to introduce multiplication to your children.

Thursday

Children will use their fingers, tongs, chopsticks, or tweezers to sort objects onto these snowman color sorting cards.

3 Dinosaurs is sharing a snowman addition matching set. What a great way to work on addition facts!

Friday

Drawing a snowman with an algorithm will be so much fun. This set features three levels of coding directions.

Exploring Diphthongs with this set will help your children see and hear the difference in very similar sounds.

More Snowman Activities and Printables

Below you will find snowman-themed activities and printables that have already been shared on my blog.

How to Make a Bobblehead Snowman

Snowman Shapes for Kids Printable Puzzles

Snowman Shape Puzzles

Adding Two Digit Numbers Snowman Number Spin Addition Recording the Number

Adding Two Digit Numbers with Snowman

December 2022 STEAM Activity Calendar

November 29, 2022 By Deirdre

This December STEAM activity calendar is filled with December-themed activities. The idea behind this calendar was to share with you a variety of STEAM activities that you can explore with your children this month. The activities can be done on their assigned day or several on one day if you like. It is really up to you.

You are going to find that some of the December STEAM activities are from right here on JDaniel4’s Mom. While the other activities come from some of them are my favorite blogs. Most of the activities have to do with Christmas. I have included one Hanukkah and a few New Year’s Eve STEAM activities on the calendar too.

Building Background Before Starting an Activity

The links below are affiliate links.

You may want to explore one of these STEAM building materials. Below you will find some materials that would go along with STEAM activities.

Getting the December STEAM Activity Calendar

First, you will need to download the set.

December 2022 STEAM Activity Calendar Download

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 Activities on the Calendar

You will be able to access the directions needed to explore each activity when you click on each day’s hyperlink. After you get to each activity’s blog post, you will find a supply list and step-by-step activity directions. Some of the activities offer free printables or recording sheets. You can use what they have for you to download or create your own versions of the activities if you like. Remember the idea was to inspire you to explore STEAM activities with your children. You know what they can handle and how they want to explore concepts and activities.

A variety of different types of STEAM activities have been included on the calendar. You may find that some are more appropriate for older children while others are great for children of all ages. I think that some of them could be done with a partner or parent. However, some of you may have children who want to complete them independently.

More STEAM Activities

Making Reindeer Fly Fast

Reindeer Straw Rockets

Turkey Cup Stacking STEM Challenge

November 2, 2022 By Deirdre

This Thanksgiving Turkey Cup Stacking STEM Challenge invites children to stack cups following the picture directions on the challenge cards. The turkey that are upside down represent a cup that is stacked upside down. However, the turkey pictures that are right side up represent cups that are right side up.

Whether you decide for your children to explore the Turkey Cup Stacking STEM Challenge at the kitchen table or in a learning center, they are sure to have fun. The set includes simple cup stacks and more complicated. You can decide which cards are best for your kids.

Getting the Turkey Cup Stacking STEM Challenge

First, you will need to download the set.

Turkey Cup Stacking STEM Challenge Download

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 Turkey Cup Stacking STEM Challenge

Explaining the Turkeys

While most children will look at the upside-down turkey and know it means the cup is upside down, others may be confused. The upside-down turkey’s head is narrow. Its base 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.

Cup Stacking Challenge Card Cup Recommendations

While you can truly use any type of cup that you like, it would be best to use cups that have sturdy sides. It will help the tall structures stay up. The cups you choose to use do not need to be expensive though. The size of the cup doesn’t matter either. I think small cups like shot cups work can well as tall cups. Small cups are easier to store.

More STEM Challenges

Ski Lift Paper Plate Craft

Woodland Animals Pattern Blocks Mats

Hay Bale Kicker STEM Activity

Thanksgiving Bonus Activity for Kids -STEM-Brick-Challenge-Task-Cards-for-Thanksgiving Download

Color by Code Monster Pictures

October 23, 2022 By Deirdre

While your children can color the monsters in this color by code monster pictures set the assigned colors, I have included an open-ended color set. If you don’t want everyone’s monsters to come out looking the same, you will want to use the open-ended set.

Getting Ready to Use the Color by Code Monster Pictures

Downloading the Puzzles Sets

First, you will need to download the set.

Color by Code Monster Pictures Download

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.

Deciding Which Style of Page to Use

Choose the Colors Pages

Children get to select the colors they want to use on the choose the colors pages. On this style of code and color, page children will need to think about the colors they are selecting. While the colors don’t have to go together, it would be nice if they worked together. Once they have selected a color for a particular number, they shouldn’t use it again. When you have color used over again, it can make it hard to see the picture.

Assigned Color Pages

Each of the assigned color pages has been tested to see how the color will work together. The goal on these pages was for the monster to be easy to see.

Building Background

Before your children start on these pages, you may want to read a book about monsters. It will help your children a little bit more about monsters.

Exploring the Color By Code Monster Pages

If you are having a non-reader work on the color-by-code monster 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.

More Monster-Themed Activities

Monster Number Recognition Puzzles

Roll and Cover Big Green Monster Activity

STEM Challenge Task Cards for Halloween

STEM Challenge Task Cards for Halloween

October 17, 2022 By Deirdre

STEM challenge task cards for Halloween invite children to come up with their own creative ways to build each challenge on a card. While we used LEGO to build the happy ghost, your children can use whatever materials they have available to them.

Getting Ready for the STEM Challenge Task Cards for Halloween

First, you will need to download the set.

STEM Challenge Task Cards for Halloween Download

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.

Printing Out the STEM Challenge Task Cards for Halloween

While we printed out the cards on colored paper, you could print them out on colored cardstock or white paper.

Laminating the Cards

You can have your children work on the paper 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, paper, and cardstock.

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)

Gathering Building Materials

Below you will find a list of building materials. However, you can build with whatever materials you have on hand.

Blocks
KEVA Planks
LEGO
Buttons
Craft Sticks
Wiggly Eyes
Sections of an Egg Carton
Small Sticks or Pebbles
Playdough
Bristle Blocks

Exploring the Challenge Cards

The challenge cards could be used in a maker’s space, STEM center, LEGO wall, or at your kitchen table. You can have children all build the same object or each work on their own card. That is really up to you.

It is important to listen to children’s insights into how and why they build their creations the way they did. It will help us learn about them.

More Halloween Activities for Kids

Halloween STEM Challenge Mats

Halloween Words on Algorithm Game Boards

Ghostly Cup Stacking STEM Challenge

Halloween STEM Challenge Building Mats

October 16, 2022 By Deirdre

The Halloween STEM challenge mats feature a bat, cat, spider, haunted house, and witch. Children are invited to decorate each featured element and create where it is. While we used LEGO to decorate our mats, you can use whatever you have on hand. Below is the Getting Ready for Halloween STEM challenge, you will find a number of building material suggestions.

Getting Ready for the Halloween STEM Challenge

First, you will need to download the set.

Halloween STEM Challenge Mats- Black and White Download

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.

Printing Out the Challenge Mats

While we printed out the mats on white paper, you could print them out on colored cardstock or colored paper. That would give the mats a more Halloween feel.

Halloween STEM Challenge Building Mats- Cat

Laminating the Mats

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

Gathering Building Materials

Halloween STEM Challenge Building Mats- Spider

The following materials would be fun to build with:

Blocks
KEVA Planks
LEGO
Buttons
Craft Sticks
Wiggly Eyes
Sections of an Egg Carton
Small Sticks or Pebbles

Exploring the Halloween STEM Challenge Mats

While the directions are on the mats, you will want to go over them with your children. The first thing they will need to do is decorate the Halloween object. The second is to create a location or setting for it. They can complete both tasks however they please. If you have certain guidelines you feel they need, feel free to share them with your children.

It would be great to encourage them to describe what they have built to you when they are done. That will give you a full picture of what they are created. It will also give you insights into what they can orally share about their creations.