STEM / PROJECTS

FOURTH AND FIFTH GRADES

If you’re looking for lessons and units specifically related to the objectives of STEM education with a focus on preparing students for a future that is constantly evolving, the resources listed below may be a good place to start. If you would like more information about any of these resources or have suggestions for additions, please send a MESSAGE.

Click on the MULTIDISCIPLINARY tab for additional studies that incorporate multiple disciplines including science, social studies, math, research, literature, and the arts.

RECOMMENDED MATERIALS / CURRICULUM

Virtual Makerspace – read more about it here.

STEM Engineering Start Kit for Elementary (TPT – free)

EIE Curriculum Units (Engineering Curriculum for Kids)

Design Thinking in the Classroom (David Lee)

Genius Hour – Andi McNair

Teach Engineering

Intel Teaching Idea Showcase – teaching ideas that showcase the integration of technology into classroom projects for all ages and most subjects

Wonder Workshop (Dash and Dot) and Wonder Workshop Classroom

Try Engineering

Scratch – students can code their own interactive stories, animations, and games

Instant Challenges – practice exercises for Destination Imagination®

Micro:bit (circuitry and coding beginning at $25)

Makey Makey (use coding and circuitry to make things! Scroll down on this page for sample lesson plans)

Ozobots and Ozobots Lessons

Sphero and Sphero Activities

Cubelets

Novel Engineering

Genius Square ~ STEM Puzzle Game of the Year

Mindware (kits, toys, games for classroom use)

Code.Org (coding projects and activities)

James Webb Space Telescope STEM Toolkit – lessons and activities for K-12

3Dux I Design ~ design and building kits and challenges (see video)

Ellen McHenry’s Basement Workshop– Science and Art- many free resources and lessons

Freebies for Science Teachers (National Science Teaching Association)

Genius Hour Resource List

Science News for Students ~ nonfiction science articles to incorporate into thematic units

Rubik’s Cube for STEM lessons

Chrome Music Lab – music experiments that connect to sciencemathart, and more

LESSON AND UNIT IDEAS

Kids with Class: Student-Created Videos for Extended Learning (blog post)

Electric Quiz Board: Using Circuits to Create! (mini-unit)

Student-Created Escape Chamber: A Unique Project and Learning Journey (blog post)

Kids Building Big: A Geodesic Dome in Less Than an Hour (3rd and up – can be integrated into a unit on architecture or structures)

Student-Created Virtual Museums Using Google Slides

A Student-Created Maker Space / Museum

Logistics for Kids ~ Low-Prep Design Challenge

Do You Speak Binary? – Unplugged Computer Science and Binary Code

Undercover Robots Camp – by Terri Eichholz (TPT) 10 missions

3-D Printer Student Business – by Crystal Koenig

The Journey of a Question ~ independent research ~ great kickoff for Genius Hour / blog post)

Building Big – (includes Educators’ Guide; engineering behind large structures such as bridges and domes / intended for Grades 5 -8 but suitable for use with younger students)

Global Cardboard Challenge

Skype a Scientist – find a scientist to chat with your class via Skype!

Augmented Reality for Education Resources (TPT – $5.00)

The Mystery of Me – (free mini-project for the beginning of the year- see blog post)

Gingerbread Man Loose at Christmas ~ A Marble Design Challenge – see also Holiday Ideas

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