STEM Challenge Index Card Towers Problem-Solving Elementary Project EASY PREP

Save time with this easy-prep Index Card Towers STEM Challenge designed specifically for elementary students by a STEM specialist! Tested by students, this hands-on activity provides an engineering opportunity that encourages problem-solving, perseverance, and redesign. Preparation is a breeze—just gather one simple material, and your students are ready to take charge of the challenge! ✅Believe it or not... This challenge is quite versatile! Use the method outlined in the detailed teacher's guide and then repeat the challenge later in the school year. Change one rule, add more cards, give out less cards, add one different material. ✅Why repeat a challenge? It's priceless learning! Students will remember what worked (or did not work) the first time. They will apply what they learned to the new build. This is real life with one simple material! ✅Your students will learn valuable skills while having fun building and improving their designs. Just stand back and watch them brainstorm and build incredibly tall towers. They will groan when the tower falls, dive right back in, and build it again. Be ready for the cheering when it works! ✅What is the challenge? This STEM activity will have your students designing and constructing a tower with one or two supplies. They must work together and revise constantly. Their initial thinking will be challenged as they see their efforts collapse (literally) and then they will go back to the drawing board. ✅The Teacher's Guide The lesson guide provides a materials list and step-by-step procedures to make this a great experience. Helpful hints are embedded throughout the teacher's guide to help you plan. Two versions of lab sheets are provided (with sample student answers). Two pages of photos will guide the use of the package. An Extensions page gives ideas for continuing the activity as a whole class or in your science/math centers. A BONUS version of this challenge is included. (And it's in 2 formats!) ✅What is your prep? Materials needed in addition to this package include index cards, masking tape, and scissors. The tape is optional. This challenge has the easiest setup! Copy the lab sheet of your choice, give each team a set of lab sheets, and a stack of cards. ✅The package specifically contains: Cover Teacher Background page Materials and Preparation page 4 pages of Step-by-Step Procedures Extensions page 2 versions of Lab sheets with sample student answers 2 pages of Photos Bonus challenge to try at Christmas Time with a Santa Tower! Terms of Use ✅PLEASE NOTE: This challenge pack contains a bonus lesson! Check the preview to see the Santa Tower Challenge. It is an index card tower challenge with something added to the top. This is perfect for use at Christmas time! Directions, helpful hints, constraints, a lab sheet, and photos of the Santa Tower are all included in this package. If you want to try holding aloft a different object I included a set of generic forms for you! ✅What are teachers saying? "This activity was so much fun! The student groups had a lot of fun and they learned to problem-solve, listen to each other and work together. Our tallest structure was almost 4 feet tall and did not use tape! It was fascinating to watch them construct it. Thank you for this activity." "Thank you for all the detail included with this activity. Easy and fun to use!" "What a great STEM challenge! My students loved this activity and worked well in groups too! I love how everything is provided for you and laid out clearly. Great work!" ➡️ Click here to save 20% on this STEM Challenge and 2 additional tower-building activities! ***************************************************************************** Be the first to know about my new discounts, freebies, and product launches: Click here to follow my store. It’s that easy to receive email updates about Teachers Are Terrific Thank you so much, Teachers Really are Terrific!