• Meet the Authors
  • Write for Us
    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

Classroom Freebies

  • PK-2 Freebies
  • 3-5 Freebies
  • 6-8 Freebies
  • 9-12 Freebies
  • Blog
  • Write for Us
  • About
  • Meet the Authors
You are here: Home / All Freebies / THANKSGIVING STEM CHALLENGES TO TRY (PLUS A FREEBIE)

October 30, 2018 · Leave a Comment

THANKSGIVING STEM CHALLENGES TO TRY (PLUS A FREEBIE)

3-5· All Freebies

This year Thanksgiving comes very early, making it even more difficult for many teachers. To make it easier for you, here are three Thanksgiving STEM challenges that you can try in your classroom. Make sure to read till the end to grab a STEM freebie as well!

3 AWESOME THANKSGIVING STEM CHALLENGES TO TRY RIGHT NOW by Jewel's School Gems | Struggling with planning and trying to figure out how to fit everything in? Here are three awesome Thanksgiving STEM challenges and ideas to try right now.

One solution I thought of to make it easier for teachers like you is to tie several concepts and areas together with my three Thanksgiving STEM challenges. For these challenges, your students will design and build a Mayflower ship, a Thanksgiving table, and a turkey trap.

3 AWESOME THANKSGIVING STEM CHALLENGES TO TRY RIGHT NOW by Jewel's School Gems | Struggling with planning and trying to figure out how to fit everything in? Here are three awesome Thanksgiving STEM challenges and ideas to try right now.

MAYFLOWER THANKSGIVING STEM CHALLENGE

The Mayflower STEM Challenge is so much fun for kids to create with materials you probably already have in your classroom. Challenge your students to design and build a Mayflower ship using popsicle sticks, drinking straws, skewers, cling wrap, colored paper, and bottle caps. Challenge them to make the ship float while holding marbles without sinking or toppling over.

Use the STE(A)M links I have provided, grab some books from the library about life on the Mayflower, and add a writing activity for a complete mini unit.

3 AWESOME THANKSGIVING STEM CHALLENGES TO TRY RIGHT NOW by Jewel's School Gems | Struggling with planning and trying to figure out how to fit everything in? Here are three awesome Thanksgiving STEM challenges and ideas to try right now.

THANKSGIVING TABLE THANKSGIVING STEM CHALLENGE

The Thanksgiving Table STEM Challenge also uses easily obtainable, inexpensive materials. Challenge your students to design and build a Thanksgiving table using drinking straws and tape. Challenge them to make sure it can fit eight (8) Thanksgiving dishes.

The STE(A)M links I provided expand learning into several other content areas. One teacher also created a writing connection by having her students design a pretend cookbook of recipes for the items on the table.

3 AWESOME THANKSGIVING STEM CHALLENGES TO TRY RIGHT NOW by Jewel's School Gems | Struggling with planning and trying to figure out how to fit everything in? Here are three awesome Thanksgiving STEM challenges and ideas to try right now.

TURKEY TRAP THANKSGIVING STEM CHALLENGE

Students LOVE the Turkey Trap Challenge. Again, the materials are easy to come by and inexpensive. Challenge your students to design and build a turkey trap using popsicle sticks, skewers, and yarn/string. Challenge them to make sure it works and can capture a tom turkey.

If you want to expand this challenge beyond the STE(A)M links, add a writing assignment such as “How the Turkey Got Away”.

Want STEM Resources for FREE?

If you want a copy of my Engineering Design Process Posters for FREE, just sign up to become a Jewel’s School Gems subscriber to access my Free Resource Library! Get the posters plus many other Science and STEM resources (like this one) for zip, zilch, nada. Sign up today!

— Jewel of Jewel’s School Gems

This post on Thanksgiving STEM Challenges originally appeared at Jewel’s School Gems.

You Might Also Like:

  • FUN FALL STEM ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS (Plus FREE STEM Posters)FUN FALL STEM ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS (Plus FREE STEM Posters)
  • Thanksgiving Thankful Mix
  • 12 Days of Gratitude Jar!
  • Thanksgiving Riddles

About Jewel's School Gems

Jewel Pastor is the teacher-author behind Jewel's School Gems. She is very passionate about STEM. She also loves helping busy elementary school teachers like you save time so you can focus more on your teaching and enjoying your hours after school.

« Free Halloween Alphabetical Order Worksheets
Free Multiplication Mystery Picture »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Pin Us!

Proud Member of:

PEN Group Online, Inc.

SPECIAL COPYRIGHT NOTE
This site is copyright protected. Nothing can be reposted on this site (excluding the button features) without written permission from the author. This includes writing, photographs, images, and downloads. This blog is a collaborative blog written by a group of individuals, and each author owns and is accountable for his/her postings. Disclosure: There may be affiliate links in this post. If you click through and make a purchase, the author may receive a commission at no additional cost to you. For questions about this blog, please use the contact form link located HERE.

*Privacy Policy*

Copyright © 2023 PEN Group Online, Inc.