STEM / STEAM KITS
Kits were purchased through a grant awarded by the Missouri State Library.
Little Red Riding Hood Problem Solving Kit
3 yrs. - 6 yrs.
Preschool - 1st Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Exploring quantities and counting
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Exploring weight and gravity
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Exploring volume, structure, and strength
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Developing possible solutions
Kit includes a story card that presents a dilemma for kids to solve. Children have to plan, create and test basket designs to hold Little Red Riding Hood’s apples!
Kit includes:
32 basket-building pieces, 10 plastic apples, 4 character figurines, 3 student cards with teaching notes, Story card with reproducible, Teacher's card with lesson plan.
Goldilocks & the Three Bears Problem Solving Kit
3 yrs. - 6 yrs.
Preschool - 1st Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Using the design process
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Exploring cause and effect
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Experimenting with structural stability, size, and balance
Students build a chair even Goldilocks can’t break! Our kit helps children discover the STEM in one of their favorite fairy tales—and naturally inspires them to explore a challenging situation until they find a solution!
Kit includes:
40 chair-building pegs, 36 chair-building platforms, 4 storytelling figurines, 3 student cards with teacher tips, Teacher's card with lesson plan, Illustrated story card with reproducible design process sheet.
The Three Little Pigs Problem Solving Kit
3 yrs. - 6 yrs.
Preschool - 1st Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Using the design process
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Exploring cause and effect
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Experimenting with structural stability, gravity, and force
Students design a house that can’t be blown down! Our kit helps children discover the STEM in one of their favorite fairy tales—and naturally inspires them to explore a challenging situation until they find a solution!
Kit includes:
36 wooden platforms, 18 house-building blocks, 4 storytelling figurines, 3 student cards with teacher tips, Teacher's card with lesson plan, Illustrated story card with reproducible design process sheet.
The Three Billy Goats Gruff Problem Solving Kit
3 yrs. - 6 yrs.
Preschool - 1st Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Using the design process
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Exploring cause and effect
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Experimenting with structural stability, gravity, weight, and balance
Students construct a bridge that keeps 3 goats safe from the troll! Our kit helps children discover the STEM in one of their favorite fairy tales—and naturally inspires them to explore a challenging situation until they find a solution!
Kit includes:
35 bridge-building blocks, 4 storytelling figurines, 3 student cards with teacher tips, Teacher's card with lesson plan, Illustrated story card with reproducible design process sheet.
Sink or Float Science Station Kit
4 yrs. - 6 yrs.
Preschool - 1st Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Exploring buoyancy
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Using scientific inquiry skills
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Using tools for observation and investigation
From making a raft sink to getting a sea star to float, our innovative STEM Science Station is packed with hands-on experiments that help children explore and understand the science behind buoyancy! It includes 8 cards that prompt students to perform simple experiments…with all the hands-on materials to complete each one. Plus, the station features an engineering activity to extend the learning—and build critical-thinking and problem-solving skills! Includes a guide.
Kit includes:
8 activity cards, Wooden card stand, 2 plastic boats, Wooden raft, 30 plastic gems, 20 plastic sea animals, 8 plastic frogs, 5 lily pads, Guide with engineering activity.
Motion Science Station Kit
4 yrs. - 6 yrs.
Preschool - 1st Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Exploring motion
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Using scientific inquiry skills
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Using tools for observation and investigation
Students get a hands-on understanding of objects in motion—as they race carts down ramps, launch “bugs” toward a target and more! Our innovative STEM Science Station encourages children to learn about motion through hands-on exploration. It includes 8 cards that prompt students to perform simple experiments…with all the hands-on materials to complete each one. Plus, the station features an engineering activity to extend the learning—and build critical-thinking and problem-solving skills! Includes a guide.
Kit includes:
8 activity cards, Miniature golf board, Target mat, 2 ramps, 2 foam balls, wooden card stand, 6 wooden blocks, 2 wooden carts, launcher, 9 plastic bugs, Guide with engineering activity.
Magnets Science Station Kit
Develops Skills In:
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Exploring magnets
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Using scientific inquiry skills
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Using tools for observation and investigation
4-6 years
PK - 1st Grade
Children use magnets to push cars up a ramp, move a magnetic mouse through a maze and more—as they learn all about magnetism & magnetic fields! Our innovative STEM Science Station encourages children to learn about magnetism through hands-on exploration.
Kit includes:
8 activity cards, Racetrack mat, Wooden card stand, 3 mouse mazes, Maze platform, 2 horseshoe magnets, 2 magnetic cars, 25 nonmagnetic fish, 50 magnetic fish, Magnetic mouse, Magnetic wand, Magnetic fishing pole, Guide with engineering activity.
Stay Afloat! Real-World Challenge Kit
5+ yrs.
K - 1st Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Experimenting with buoyancy
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Making observations and predictions
Children learn to think like real scientists & engineers—as they design, build & test a floating raft! Students will plan, build, test and then improve their designs until they are successful.
Kit includes:
Student challenge card, STEM careers card, 30 logs, 10 planks, 40 rubber bands, 4 foam pads, 4 weighted people, stopwatch, Teacher's card with lesson plan, Reproducible worksheet
Keep the Rain Out!
Real-World Challenge Kit
5+ yrs.
K - 1st Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Exploring properties of water
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Comparing the properties of materials
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Making observations and predictions
Children learn to think like real scientists & engineers—as they design, build & test a leakproof roof! Students will plan, build, test and then improve their designs until they are successful.
Kit includes:
Student challenge card, STEM careers card, House box, 10 planks, 16 vinyl strips, 2 roof frames, watering can, Teacher's card with lesson plan, Reproducible worksheet.
Parachute to Safety!
Real-World Challenge Kit
5+ yrs.
K - 1st Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Exploring the properties of air
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Experimenting with gravity and resistance
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Making observations and predictions
Children learn to think like real scientists & engineers—as they design, build & test a working parachute! Students will plan, build, test and then improve their designs until they are successful.
Kit includes:
Student challenge card, STEM careers card, 3 parachute tops, 3 parachute baskets, 3 basket cushions, 4 weighted people, Teacher's card with lesson plan, Reproducible worksheet.
Survive the Quake Engineering Kit
4-11 yrs.
PK - 6th Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Exploring engineering
Put your building skills to the ultimate test…the earthquake test! Our earthquake simulator creates quakes in 5 levels of intensity…and comes with 30 plastic building bricks in a variety of shapes & sizes—so you can test tons of different structures to see if they topple or stand strong! Kit includes an activity book that gives kids a look into the world of earthquakes and engineering.
Kit includes:
Earthquake simulator, Activity book, 30 building bricks in 5 sizes.
Flash Flood Real-World Challenge Kit
7-8 yrs.
2nd - 3rd Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Practicing using the Design Process
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Using scientific inquiry skills
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Using tools for observation and investigation
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Understanding water flow and properties of liquids
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Discovering properties of materials
Kids save a town from a flash flood, —building STEM problem-solving skills along the way! Students plan, build, test and then improve their designs…while teachers use the detailed lesson plans to explain key concepts and help students troubleshoot design flaws.
Kit includes:
Teacher's card with lesson plan, Reproducible worksheet, STEM careers card, River tray, Wire stand, Measuring cup, 15 plastic houses, 10 logs, 10 rocks, Putty.
Well Rescue
Real-World Challenge Kit
7-8 yrs.
2nd - 3rd Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Practicing using the Design Process
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Using scientific inquiry skills
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Using tools for observation and investigation
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Understanding distance and length
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Practicint with tools and material properties
Kids rescue a toy bear from a well —building STEM problem-solving skills along the way! Students plan, build, test and then improve their designs…while teachers use the detailed lesson plans to explain key concepts and help students troubleshoot design flaws.
Kit includes:
Teacher's card with lesson plan, Reproducible worksheet, STEM careers card, Student challenge card, Well tube, Teddy bear, Tube manipulatives, String.
Bridge the Gap
Real-World Challenge Kit
7-8 yrs.
2nd - 3rd Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Practicing using the Design Process
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Using scientific inquiry skills
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Using tools for observation and investigation
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Understanding balance and structural stability
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Understanding weight distribution and gravity
Kids guide a family safely across a bridge—building STEM problem-solving skills along the way! Students plan, build, test and then improve their designs…while teachers use the detailed lesson plans to explain key concepts and help students troubleshoot design flaws.
Kit includes:
Teacher's card with lesson plan, Reproducible worksheet, STEM careers card, Student challenge card, 20 bridge connector pieces, 24 planks, 4 plastic people, Tape measure.
John Henry Problem-Solving Kit
7-8 yrs.
2nd - 3rd Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Understanding structure and stability
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Understanding rotation and direction
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Understanding distance and measurement
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Developing possible solotions
Kids explore the legend of John Henry—then build a working conveyor belt to help him race a steam-powered drill! Our kit helps kids discover the STEM in a classic folk tale—inspiring them to use hands-on materials to design, build and test a conveyor belt that really hauls rocks…then improve their design like real engineers!
Kit includes:
Teacher's card with lesson plan, Reproducible design sheet, 3 student cards with teaching notes, story card, Conveyor belt-building materials for one or two students (102 pieces), Crate and 10 rocks, Mountain facade, Ruler.
Force and Motion Activity Lab Kit
8-10 yrs.
3rd-5th Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Identify and explain that energy has the ability to cause motion or create change
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Identify familiar forces that cause objects to move, such as pushes or pulls, including gravity acting on falling objects
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Understand that the greater the force applied to an object, the greater the change in its motion.
Students develop a concrete understanding of gravity, energy, friction and more…as they experiment with forces & learn how they affect motion! Children just follow simple instructions to complete 7 hands-on experiments—from creating pendulums and experimenting with friction to measuring pull forces and building inclined planes!
Kit includes:
7 experiment cards, 2 ramps, 2 launchers, wooden stand, 2 spring scales, 2 tumblers, 2 pom-poms 34 marbles, 2 jars, 2 pulleys, 2 felt pieces, 2 measuring tapes, pulley cord.
Electricity
Activity Lab Kit
8-10 yrs.
3rd-5th Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Understand electricity as a form of energy
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Convert electrical energy
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Design and build circuits
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Identify objects that conduct electricty
Our classroom-safe lab makes electricity concepts easy to grasp—with hands-on experiments & ready-to-use tools! The 29 pieces come with 7 cards featuring step-by-step experiments, from testing for conductors to creating a simple switched circuit. Plus, the back of each card has background information on the scientific concept covered by the experiment—so children learn important facts as they work!
Kit includes:
7 experiment cards, 4 "D" battery holders, 2 sandpaper squares, wooden stand, 2 knife switches, 2 plastic combs, Red bell wire, 2 fans, 2 buzzers, 6 lightbulbs and 4 bulb holders, 2 red alligator clips, 2 blue alligator clips.
Simple Machines
Activity Lab Kit
8-10 yrs.
3rd-5th Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Understanding how simple machines help move objects and make work easier
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Recognizing that machines convert energy to motion
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Building and using simple machines to make work easier
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Knowing that tools and machines are used to apply forces - pushes and pulls - to make things move
Students discover how simple machines make work easier…as they build realistic models & perform hands-on experiments! Our lab includes high-quality, extra-durable beechwood components, plus 7 hands-on experiment cards that walk students through how to build & use a pulley, an inclined plane, a wheel & axle, and more. The cards even include information on back that explains each machine & how it’s used in the real world! Comes complete with 39 experiment pieces.
Kit includes:
7 experiment cards, lever (arm and fulcrum), wheel and axle, fixed pulley, movable pulley, 2 inclined planes and landing base, four-ounce weight, 2 eight-ounce weights, string, 6 plastic hooks, 20 rubber bands, ruler, wooden display stand.
Magnet
Activity Lab Kit
8-10 yrs.
3rd-5th Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Identify properties of magnets
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Use a compass
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Recognize that magnets have poles that repel and attract each other
Our ready-to-use lab has everything students need to explore magnetism—hands on! You get 7 easy-to-follow experiment cards with skill-building investigations on front and scientific information on back…plus all the materials students need for unlimited exploration and discovery—including bar magnets, compasses, electromagnets and more. Lab comes with 50 experiment pieces.
Kit includes:
7 experiment cards, 2 blue trays, 2 compasses, 20 steel-ringed chips, 2 ring magnet stands, 8 ring magnets, 2 canisters of steel shapes, wooden stand, 4 brick magnets, 2 bar magnets, 2 battery cases, 2 electromagnets, 2 red wires with clamps, 2 blue wires with clamps.
Water Shortage
Project-Based Kit
8-10 yrs.
3rd-5th Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Completing the engineering design process
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Gathering & analyzing information from multiple sources
Students combat the water shortage crisis by using STEM skills to turn saltwater into clean freshwater! Our kit includes an attention-grabbing card that introduces the water shortage crisis, 4 student booklets that help kids explore the issue in depth…plus materials for a real-world project. After conducting their research, students use a plastic tub, mirrors, angle blocks and more to build a working solar still to desalinate water. The kit comes with an extensive 24-page guide with 10 detailed lesson plans—from introducing the topic to assessing students’ final project presentations.
Kit includes:
Teacher's guide with lessons, Infographic card, 4 student booklets, Clear tub, Clean water collector, Blue dye, Beaker, Metal marble, Vinyl cover, 6 mirrors, 6 angle blocks, Black sheet, White sheet.
Oil Spill
Project-Based Kit
8-10 yrs.
3rd-5th Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Completing the engineering design process
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Gathering & analyzing information from multiple sources
Students use STEM skills to clean up a mock oil spill! Our kit includes an attention-grabbing card that introduces oil spills, 4 student booklets that help kids explore the issue in depth…plus materials for a real-world project. After conducting their research, students use a tray, foam pieces, absorbent fabric, oil dispersant and more to build a working oil containment boom. The kit comes with an extensive 24-page guide with 10 detailed lesson plans—from introducing the topic to assessing students’ final project presentations.
Kit includes:
Teacher's guide with lessons, Infographic card, 4 student booklets, Clear tray, 5 rocks, 5 sea animals, bag of feathers, spoon and baster, 30 foam pieces, nylon cord, beaker, scrub brush, 4 polypropylene fabric rolls, oil dispersant (soap), "Crude Oil mix" (cocoa powder).
Energy Crisis
Project-Based Kit
8-10 yrs.
3rd-5th Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Completing the engineering design process
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Gathering & analyzing information from multiple sources
Students combat the energy crisis by using STEM skills to explore alternatives to fossil fuels! Our kit includes an attention-grabbing card that introduces the energy crisis, 4 student booklets that help kids explore the issue in depth…plus materials for a real-world project. After conducting their research, students use solar cells, rechargeable batteries and building pieces to create a 7" house and a solar panel system that collects, stores and uses solar energy. The kit comes with an extensive 24-page guide with 10 detailed lesson plans—from introducing the topic to assessing students’ final project presentations.
Kit includes:
Teacher's guide with lessons, Infographic card, 4 student booklets, 8 wall panels, 2 roof panels, 2 roof panels with solar cells, 4 roof angle tabs, Battery holder, 2 "AA" rechargeable batteries, 2 lightbulbs and holder, 2 alligator clips.
Hydraulics Engineering Kit
8-10 yrs.
3rd-5th Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Designing devices that convert energy and motion
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Comparing possible solutions with models or prototypes
Kids explore the mechanical power of liquid in motion—as they build their own hydraulic machines! Our kit includes 4 step-by-step activity booklets and all the reusable building pieces kids need to create 4 different hydraulic machines—from a working drawbridge to a crane that really lifts objects. Plus, we’ve included syringes and tubes kids fill with water and connect to each machine—learning how to convert energy as they set each machine in motion!
Kit includes:
Teacher's guide, Guide, 4 activity booklets, 4 bases, 20 risers, 28 axles, 22 bars, 24 caps, 16 connectors, 8 syringes, 4 tubes.
Quake Safe
Real-World
Challenge Kit
9-10 yrs.
4th-5th Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Practicing using the Design Process
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Using scientific inquiry skills
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Using tools for observation and investigation
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Discovering balance with size and shape relationships
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Understanding structural stability
Construct an earthquake-safe structure! Students plan, build and test their designs, and then improve them until they are successful. Kit comes packed with everything you need to work through the challenges…plus a detailed lesson plan that makes it easy to focus students’ learning & explain the STEM concepts behind each challenge. You even get a careers card that applies what kids are learning to the real world!
Kit includes:
Teacher's card with lesson plan, Re[producible worksheet, Student challenge card, STEM careers card, 50 building sticks, 300 rubber bands, Shake table, Hook & loop straps, Tape measure.
Freshwater Filter
Real-World
Challenge Kit
9-10 yrs.
4th-5th Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Practicing using the Design Process
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Using scientific inquiry skills
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Using tools for observation and investigation
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Discovering size relationships
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Exploring the properties of water and filtration
Engineer a filter that purifies water! Students plan, build and test their designs, and then improve them until they are successful. Kit comes packed with everything you need to work through the engaging challenges…plus a detailed lesson plan that makes it easy to focus students’ learning & explain the STEM concepts behind each challenge. You even get a careers card that applies what kids are learning to the real world!
Kit includes:
Teacher's card with lesson plan, Reproducible worksheet, Student challenge card, STEM careers card, 2 filter tubes with caps, 5 filter tubes with caps, 5 filter sheets, Filter balls, Colored sand, 2 measuring cups.
Robo Hand
Real-World
Challenge Kit
9-10 yrs.
4th-5th Grade
Develops Skills In:
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Practicing using the Design Process
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Using scientific inquiry skills
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Using tools for observation and investigation
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Understanding simple machines
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Discovering object properties and differences
Design a robotic hand that can pick up a ball! Students plan, build and test their designs, and then improve them until they are successful. Kit comes packed with everything you need to work through the engaging challenges…plus a detailed lesson plan that makes it easy to focus students’ learning & explain the STEM concepts behind each challenge. You even get a careers card that applies what kids are learning to the real world!
Kit includes:
Teacher's card with lesson plan, Reproducible worksheet, Student challenge card, STEM careers card, 40 building panels, 80 nuts and bolts, 3 balls, 4 felt pads, 40 rubber bands, Tape measure.