Whenever I am asked what materials I  couldn't live without in the STEM lab, when integrating STEM in the regular classroom, or at home, besides recyclables like cardboard tubes, these are my MUST HAVES!
I've included  Amazon links (these are affiliate links), ways I use these materials in my lessons, as well as lots of actual lesson slides. As always feel free to make a copy of the lesson slides and tweak for your needs!

TONS and TONS of masking tape! I always make sure at the very least, each group has its own roll.   A management strategy I use is to have students tear off an arm’s length piece and attach it to the edge of their table to they aren’t waiting for the group roll. 
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You’d be surprised how many kids don’t know how to tear tape. Modeling this fine motor skill and giving them time and grace to practice is important. Of course, scissors can be provided as well. 

Some of my STEM challenge constraints include only using a certain amount of tape (ie. 30cm). This helps kids think before building/cutting and allows them to develop other ways to attach materials together (ie. making slits in straws, pushing straw ends inside one another, etc.)

Toothpicks, I always use the round  type for their strength and  pointy ends which are more user-friendly for kids, are  used by the box in my lessons!

• Bridge Building: Toothpicks can be used to construct miniature bridges. This activity requires planning, design, and execution. Kids can test the strength of their bridges by adding weights to them and observing how much they can handle before collapsing. It's a great way to introduce concepts of architecture, engineering, and materials strength.
• Structure Building: Building with Play-Doh, packing peanuts, cardboard, gumdrops, marshmallows, and other materials can kick up the level of challenge.
  • ​Polar Bear Den Challenge
  • ​Real Story of the Three Little Pigs Challenge
• Geometry Lessons: Toothpicks can serve as excellent tools for teaching geometry. They can be used to create various 2D shapes like triangles, squares, rectangles, and more complex polygons. Similarly, by joining these shapes, 3D structures can be formed, giving a physical representation of geometric figures.
• Seed Germination: Insert toothpicks into a seed, such as a bean or avocado pit, and suspend it over a cup of water with the toothpicks resting on the rim. This offers a unique way to observe seed germination and root development. 
• Crystal Formation: Toothpicks can be used to create a framework on which crystals can grow. By using a saturated solution of borax or sugar, kids can watch the crystallization process in action over several days.
• Windmill Construction: Construct a simple windmill using toothpicks, paper, and a pin. This activity can demonstrate concepts of wind energy and mechanical energy transformation.
• Vehicle axles: Toothpicks are great when students are challenged to build mini-vehicles during their study of forces and motion.

I like to have plenty of both the bendable and non-bendable type straws on hand! Let the kids decide which will be better for their particular design. There is a lot of failure learning associated with the bendable kind. Allow that failure to happen, even if you see it coming!

• Straw Tower Challenge: Provide a number of straws and some tape to each team of students. The challenge is to build the tallest tower possible that can stand on its own while holding an object. This task promotes team collaboration, critical thinking, and understanding of basic engineering principles.
  • Pumpkin Tower Challenge Lesson
  • Rock Tower Architecture Challenge

• Straw Bridges: Similar to toothpick bridges, students can design and construct bridges out of straws. The challenge here is to make a structure that can support as much weight as possible. This teaches about structural design, load distribution, and the properties of materials.
• Straw Rockets: Kids can build simple rockets using straws and paper. By blowing through the straw, the rocket will launch. This demonstrates principles of physics like force, pressure, and aerodynamics. (Rather than use the template in the above video I would let the kids design and create their own.) Straw rockets are a great integration into any measurement unit!
• Straw Mazes: Create a maze on a flat surface and use a straw to blow a small ball (cotton balls and pompoms work great)   or a piece of paper through the maze. This activity can help children learn about the force of air pressure and control while also promoting problem-solving skills. Straws can also be the walls of the mazes the kids build.
  • Hexbug Maze Lesson
  • Marble Maze Lesson
• Water Flow Experiment: Construct a water system using straws. By connecting straws together, students can create a piping system and observe how water travels through it. This is a practical demonstration of fluid dynamics.

Pool noodles make great boundary areas for activities. I tape them down with Painter’s Tape as Start/Finish lines, to make arenas for robotic challenges, and in large squares to delineate each team’s building area. In addition, they can be used in many challenges.

• Boat Building: Pool noodles can be cut into various shapes and used to build floating structures. Children can design and create their own boats, learning about buoyancy and design principles. They can then test their boats in water to see if they float. This activity is a great way to introduce concepts such as buoyancy, displacement, and balance.
• Marble Runs: Cut pool noodles in half lengthwise to create channels for marbles. This can be a fun way for children to experiment with gravity, inertia, and momentum. They can create complex systems by changing the angles and heights of the channels, and observing how these changes affect the marble's speed.
• Bridge Building: Pool noodles can also be used to create bridges. Children can use them to explore the principles of engineering and physics, learning about the structural integrity and what design elements make the strongest bridges.
• Vehicle Builds: Create wheels using sections of pool noodles and use other materials like straws or wooden dowels as axles. This activity can help teach children about simple machines, friction, and motion.
• Building 3D Shapes: Cut the pool noodles into different lengths and use toothpicks or skewers to connect the pieces together. This can be a hands-on way to learn about geometry, specifically different types of 3D shapes and their properties.
• Drone obstacles:  Allow teams to construct various drone obstacles for a class course using pool noodles  cut however they want  and other materials.
  • ​​Drone Obstacle Course Challenge

KEVA Planks    are one of my favorite STEM materials because of their simplicity and versatility. They are lightweight, identical pieces of smooth polished wood.

• Bridge Building: Challenge students to design and construct a bridge using a specified number of KEVA planks. We have had them try to bridge the distance between two desks, two piles of books, and other materials. This can be an excellent activity to teach about principles of engineering and physics like load distribution, balance, and material strength.
  • Bridge Engineering Challenge
• Replicate Famous Structures/Structures in Literature and Picture Books: Assign or let students choose famous architectural structures around the world or from a recent story and challenge them to replicate these structures using KEVA planks. This can help students learn about design, scale, and construction principles.
• Design a Maze: Have students design and build a maze for a marble, a HexBug, or a robot to travel through. This can involve principles of physics (like gravity and momentum) and engineering design.
  • Where Do Bugs Go In the Winter? 
  • HexBug Mazes
• Tower Challenge: Challenge students to build the tallest tower they can with a fixed number of planks. This activity can teach students about stability, gravity, and structural design.
• Robot Navigation Course: If you have access to programmable robots, have students design a course with KEVA planks that the robot has to navigate. This involves coding, problem-solving, and spatial understanding.
  • Groundhog Dash Day Challenge

• Earthquake Simulation: After students build a structure with KEVA planks, put it on a shake table (or a simulated one) to see how well it holds up under earthquake conditions. This can lead to lessons about architecture, geography, and seismic activity.
• Create a Domino Rally/Rube Goldberg Machine: Ask students to design a complex domino rally or a chain reaction machine using KEVA planks along with other materials. This helps students understand cause and effect, physics principles, and sequential reasoning.
• Mathematical Shapes and Models: Use KEVA planks to construct geometric shapes or mathematical models, like a 3D graph or a fractal design. This can help students understand complex mathematical concepts in a tangible way.

I use pipe cleaners as a material choice in almost every engineering design challenge at every grade level. It always amazes me how many primary students have never held, twisted, or otherwise played with a pipe cleaner!

• Building Structures: Students can use pipe cleaners to design and build various architectural structures. This can range from simple shapes, such as squares or triangles, to more complex designs like towers, bridges, or buildings. This not only promotes understanding of engineering principles but also encourages creativity and problem-solving.
• Circuit Creation: Because most pipe cleaners have a metal core, kids can create simple circuits, lighting up a small LED or powering atiny buzzer. They'll learn about the flow of electricity and the basics of circuit design. Note: Always prioritize safety when working with electricity.
• Geometric Shapes and Patterns: Have the students create various 2D and 3D geometric shapes with pipe cleaners. This helps students understand the properties of different geometric figures and their dimensions. Makes a great hands-on math center/rotation.
• Create Simple Machines: Students can create models of simple machines like levers, pulleys, or wheels and axles. Pipe cleaners can form the frame or moving parts of these models.
• Stop Motion Designs: Use pipe cleaners to model the growth of a plant from a seed to a full-grown plant or other stop motion design topic projects. They are easy to work with and change in small increments.
• Biome Models: Students can use pipe cleaners to create miniature models of different ecosystems or biomes. Pipe cleaners are good for   modeling plants and animals. This can help students understand the diversity of life on Earth and the adaptations each species has developed to survive in their particular environment.
  • Can Animals Get a Sunburn?
  • Where the Wild Things Are
• Maze Creation: Pipe cleaners can be one of the material choices in any type of maze challenge. They work great taped to paper plates for mini-mazes.
  • Marble Maze Challenge

I always keep a huge bag of packing peanuts as part of my STEM materials. The cheapest place I’ve found them is at your local UHAUL rental store, but you can also get them at mailing stores and on Amazon. I use the common white ones a lot, but have also found that the more expensive water-soluble kind are great for various challenges as well.

• Static Electricity Experiment (depending on what type you buy): Students can explore the concept of static electricity by rubbing a balloon on their hair or woolen cloth and then bringing it near packing peanuts. The static charge on the balloon will attract the peanuts, helping to explain this concept.
• Buoyancy Test: Create an activity where children test the buoyancy of different materials, including packing peanuts. Have them hypothesize about whether the peanuts will float or sink, then test their hypotheses. This activity can be expanded by using different kinds of packing peanuts (biodegradable and non-biodegradable), leading to discussions about material properties and environmental implications.
  • Who Sank the Boat Challenge

• Insulation Experiment: Use packing peanuts to demonstrate the concept of insulation. Have students create a container using different materials, one of which includes packing peanuts. Then place ice inside each container and observe which one stays frozen the longest.
  • Hot Diggity Doghouse Challenge
• Building Structures: Packing peanuts can be used for engineering activities such as building towers or bridges. Some peanuts, when dampened, can stick together, making them an excellent material for constructing various structures. This can spark discussions about stability, balance, and load-bearing structures.
  • Dash Snow Sculpture Challenge
  • Sphero Snow Sculpture Challenge

• Plant Growing Experiment: If you have biodegradable packing peanuts, they can be used as a medium for growing plants. This activity can demonstrate the biodegradability of certain materials and how they interact with living organisms. Make scientific observations comparing soil, hydroponics, etc.
• Sound Absorption Experiment: Use packing peanuts in a sound absorption experiment. Have students place a sound source inside a box filled with packing peanuts and measure the change in volume or perceived loudness. This demonstrates the principle of sound absorption.
• Sorting and Classifying: This activity can be helpful for younger learners. Students can sort peanuts based on their properties, such as size, shape, and color (if you color them), which can help develop early math skills and the concept of classification.
• Creating a 3D Model: Packing peanuts can be used to create 3D models of structures, geometric shapes, or even constellations. This allows students to visualize abstract concepts in a meaningful way.
  • Polar Bear Den Challenge

Everyone’s favorite go-to for STEM challenge materials. You can never have enough, and I usually make sure I have small and large versions for kids to choose from.

• Bridge Building: Of course, bridge building has to be on the list! This engineering project is all about creating the strongest and most efficient bridge design. Children can use craft sticks and glue or tape to build bridges, then test their strength with weights. This activity allows kids to learn about structural engineering, force distribution, and design principles. Providing a limited amount as a constraint or a budget can provide additional challenges.
• Catapults: Teach students about physics, specifically the laws of motion and tension, by having them construct small catapults using craft sticks, rubber bands, and a bottle cap or a plastic spoon.
  • Pumpkin Catapults with Spookly the Square Pumpkin
  • Eyeball Catapults

• Coding Activity: Colored craft sticks can be used to teach coding concepts offline. For instance, different colored sticks can represent different commands or actions. Arrange them in sequences to create a 'program' that others must follow. 
• Mazes: Another popular use! Create a 2D or 3D maze using craft sticks and glue. It's a fun way to learn about spatial awareness, problem-solving, and design.
• Geometry Shapes: Craft sticks can be used to make various 2D shapes, helping students visualize geometry concepts. With older students, these can be extended into 3D shapes for a more advanced exploration of geometry.
• Simple Machines: Create simple machines such as levers, pulleys, gears or wheel and axle using craft sticks. This introduces basic mechanical engineering concepts to children in a hands-on way.
• Robotics Extensions: Have students create plows, collection devices, arm extensions, or other add-ons for their robots (Dash, Sphero, Beebot, or whatever you have) to carry out engineering/coding challenges.
  • Dash Hockey Challenge

• Craft Stick Airplanes: Have students design and build their own airplanes using craft sticks. Once they are built, you can discuss the principles of aerodynamics and conduct experiments to see whose airplane flies the farthest. Compare them to traditional paper airplanes. Measure and use the results for data analysis activities.
• Magnetic Activities: Glue a small magnet to the end of a craft stick and sprinkle iron filings on a piece of paper. By moving the magnet under the paper, kids can see the invisible lines of the magnetic field. I’ve had good success with a paper image of the original Wooly Willy or another character inside a gallon-sized plastic bag with the filings!
  • Magnet Car Force Challenge
• Craft Stick Windmill: Using craft sticks, children can build a windmill, and this can lead to discussions about renewable energy and how windmills generate electricity. It's a good introduction to environmental science and energy engineering.
  • Wind Turbine Challenge

STEM materials don't have to be fancy, electronic, or expensive. These are definitely 8 I wouldn't want to do without! If you have any questions about any of the suggestions or lesson slide links, please don't hesitate to reach out!

I'd love it if you would add your MUST HAVES in the comments!

The Research Shows…
I have always enjoyed reading educational research. My bookshelves at home are full of geeky research-related publications. I am always saddened that there seems to be this wide moat between the researchers/their findings and us, the practitioners, the very ones who should be applying what the research concludes - with no easy drawbridge to meet upon!

As passionate facilitators of STEM education, we know that introducing the engineering design process to early elementary students has become increasingly essential. Those of us who have worked with our smallest engineers know their minds are naturally curious and imaginative.

​According to Hadani et al., “...children’s early experience builds brain architecture and lays the foundation for one’s lifelong thinking skills and approach to learning, both critical roots of STEM success.” Elementary educators play a crucial role in equipping students with these valuable skills, empowering them to become the architects of the future.

Many other studies support this premise. For example, a study conducted by the University of Cambridge found that students who engage in engineering-based activities at a young age demonstrate improved problem-solving abilities and higher levels of creativity compared to their peers. These skills translate into better academic performance across various subjects, fostering a holistic learning experience.

The Bigger Picture
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in STEM occupations is projected to grow at a faster rate than non-STEM occupations, creating new opportunities and demands for a technically skilled workforce.

By introducing the engineering design process to primary students, educators contribute to preparing the next generation for these emerging careers. Building a strong STEM foundation early boosts confidence and interest, opening doors to a wide range of professions, including engineering, architecture, computer science, and so many more.

Providing these positive STEM experiences at an early age is vital, as a large body of research shows that students who have not had this meaningful exposure in the elementary grades lose confidence and begin to believe that STEM-related studies are not for them by the time they are entering middle school. This is especially true for our girls.

For more on this topic I highly recommend Breaking the STEM Stereotype by Dr. Amanda Sullivan. Or if you'd rather watch a webinar related to her extensive research in this area, I had the pleasure of joining her several years ago for a Wonder Workshop hosted session. You can view it HERE. 

Disclaimer: This is an affiliate link in which I may receive a small commission for your purchase.

​Developing a STEM Pedagogy
In its simplest form, pedagogy is defined as “the method of how teachers teach, in theory, and in practice.” As elementary school teachers, we have the unique privilege of nurturing young minds during their formative years. By introducing the engineering design process to our primary students, and regularly integrating it into our lessons, we can help them develop critical skills that will serve them throughout their lives.

Here are a few key reasons why integrating engineering design thinking into your curriculum is vital:

1. Encouraging Critical Thinking: The engineering design process encourages students to think critically, analyze problems, and develop innovative solutions. By engaging in hands-on activities that involve brainstorming, prototyping, and testing, students learn to approach challenges with an open and analytical mindset, fostering their problem-solving abilities.
2. Fostering Collaboration and Communication: Engineering design challenges often require teamwork and collaboration. By working together on a shared goal, students learn to communicate effectively, respect diverse perspectives, and build upon each other's ideas. These collaborative experiences prepare them for future group projects and real-world situations where teamwork is essential.
3. Cultivating Resilience and Perseverance: Engineering design projects seldom go smoothly from start to finish, and with younger children still developing these skills, there are sometimes tears! Students may encounter setbacks, failures, and unexpected obstacles along the way. By embracing these challenges as opportunities for growth, students develop resilience and perseverance, understanding that failure is a learning opportunity and a stepping stone toward success.

To Put It Simply
Introducing the engineering design process to primary students ignites their curiosity, fosters their problem-solving skills, and sets them on a path to becoming lifelong learners.

As elementary educators, we have the power to unlock their potential, instilling in them the confidence to tackle complex challenges. By intentionally integrating engineering design thinking into our curriculum, we prepare our students for the exciting opportunities that lie ahead in the ever-evolving world of STEM.

​Remember, you are not just teaching engineering; you are nurturing students to be more successful no matter what path they follow in life!

I'd love to know your thoughts! We're better together! If you haven't yet, please join my email list to get all the newest updates from Collazo Cove! 

​Search and Curate Pinterest Boards
For many of us this is an oldie but still goodie! Many people use Pinterest for personal interests, but there are amazing educational pin collections as well!

Create or login to your account, type “STEM and Literacy” in the search box and voila! A huge rabbit hole for you to explore for the next several hours! LOL! Don’t forget to create boards of your own to organize all your amazing finds!

I am currently working on creating new boards for my new Collazo Cove account and will be transferring many from my personal collection. Still a work in progress (actually just starting)! But feel free to FOLLOW me now so you don’t miss anything! I want the boards to be helpful to you!

Read Blog Posts
I used to be an avid blog reader when the old Google Reader was alive (yes, I’m that old!). I recently learned about another blog aggregator called Feedly and have started using it.

Blog aggregators collect the newest posts published by bloggers you like to follow and bring them straight to your feed.

Every time I find a new blog that relates to the topic of STEM, I add it to my Feedly collection. It’s like opening an idea treasure box whenever I have a few minutes to skim the posts. HERE is a quick video on how I set it up!
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 Did you know that today is World Water Day? It is a day when people all around the planet learn about and commit to conserving one of Earth’s most vital natural ​resources - WATER! The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #6 is for EVERYONE on the planet to have safe water and sanitation by the year 2030 ("Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all."). According to the World Water Day website, we are definitely not going to meet that goal unless things change drastically!

Elementary students often feel like they are not big enough, powerful enough, or old enough to make a difference when it comes to big issues like a global water crisis. However, we can increase their understanding, sense of ownership, and empowerment when we provide interactive, relevant STEM activities.

After exploring the World Water Day site and thinking about how to include our students in becoming more educated inhabitants of our planet, these activities came to mind:

• Have students watch this two minute United Nations video, an ancient story about the hummingbird doing its small part to put out a forest fire, when discussing the importance of their own impact.
• This is one of my favorite STEM activities to do with elementary students - The Water Filter Challenge. The power, in my opinion, comes from creating the polluted water together following this realistic story. It is a very adaptable lesson which could be done whole group for very little learners. It incorporates lots of great math (using a budget) and engineering as the kids work to create the best water filtration system. This lesson has been built combining resources from the Moore County Schools Digital Integration Team and the NC Science House.
• Here is a more challenging STEM activity designed by my colleague Carrie Robledo. It involves the Sphero robot, which can be submerged in water. The STEM Lake Sphero Water Cleanup can be introduced by including this associated information about “Jenny” and the efforts to clean up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Relevance to the real world is key for our students!
• I am writing the Emersyn Blake series for all the reasons discussed above. Emersyn Blake and the Spotted Salamander helps young students understand how water quality can affect even the smallest creatures that rely on it. There are numerous enrichment possibilities that can be used with this book linked on Collazo Cove!
• Read and learn more about all 17 of the UN’s SDGs.

I would love to hear about your favorite water conservation STEM activities! Please feel free to share in the comments! We are #BetterTogether!

My day was made yesterday when two of my colleagues shared this picture of a beautiful tree hollow with me! Not only because I think tree hollows are magically amazing, each with their own unique characteristics, but because of what my friends shared next. They told me how on their weekly walks along this same path, they had obviously passed this tree many times. However it wasn't until they had read my new picture book, Beasties of the Tree Hollows, that they actually noticed its incredible hollow! 

As I mention in the "Dear Reader" section of my new picture book, I have always loved tree hollows and take pictures of every one I notice. Many of my actual photographs create the backgrounds of the pages of the book. But even for me, I am noticing tree hollows in so many more places now that my book has been published, and I can't help but imagine what Beasties live there!

This is exactly why I wrote Beasties of the Tree Hollows! I hope kids (young and not as young) will get out and notice more of the amazing natural resources all around us. And I hope, even more, that we all will never get too old and jaded that we are unable to imagine the Beasties!

By the way, if you'd like to listen to the podcast my friends Rachel and Rebekah record on their walks, subscribe to their podcast "Everything, But Nothing Really".