What are STEAM Minis?
Each mini unit is designed
to target two or
more STEAM
areas.
Each project
begins with an introductory project or activity and
includes a related video with discussion questions. Many
of the projects have extension activities to target
additional STEAM topics. Each project typically
takes 1-2 class periods to complete with some of them
lasting longer with the extension activities.
Projects
Available - Click
the links to skip to
those sections on
the page.
-
DaVinci
Bridge -
A twist
on popsicle
stick bridges
with an
exploration of
DaVinci as an
artist and
scientist.
-
Bubble Science
- Challenge
students to
indentify the
"secret" of
giant bubbles!
Digital Version
now available!
Click the link
to access the
teacher's
presentation
with a link to
the student
digital notebook
on the first
slide.
-
Super
Stackers -
A cup
stacking
challenge
with an
extension
activity to
identify
environmental
impacts of
plastic on the
Earth.
-
Soda
Straw Bridges -
The
basic soda straw
bridge with
extension
activities to
explore bridge
engineering
using online
simulations.
-
Consumer's
Challenge -
Students explore
the truth behind
"double stuffed"
Oreos and then
develop their
own experiment
to test an
advertising
claim
Digital Version
now available!
Click the link
to access the
teacher's
presentation
with a link to
the student
digital notebook
on the first
slide.
-
Science
of Rainbows
- Students learn
how to use
graduated
cylinders to
create a
"rainbow" and
then investigate
the science of
color.
-
Chromatography
Challenge
- Students learn
the basics of
chromatography
using markers
and filter paper
and then apply
it to fall
leaves.
The extension
activity allows
them to use
radial
chromatography
to "tie dye"
t-shirts.
-
Saving
Sam
- Students save
the "gummy bear"
Sam and then
learn how gummy
bears are made
plus investigate
what happens
when left in
water overnight.
-
Time to
Change
- Explores the
differences
between physical
and chemical
changes with
some "rocket
reactions" as
the extension
activity.
-
Hobby Huts
-
Students design
their own spaces
using a simple
activity and
online room
layout tools.
They also
explore
eco-friendly
building
designs.
DaVinci
Bridge
(Science +
Engineering +
Art)
One
of the first
projects I
do with my
STEAM class
and always a
challenge!
Students
need 18
jumbo
popsicle
sticks and
access to
the Internet
(or printed
instructions
from the
Instructables
page). Click
the project
name to
download the
presentation
with links
to the
Instructables
page with
step-by-step
instructions.
The final
slide shares
a You Tube
video with
background
about
DaVinci and
several
discussion
questions to
explore the
connections
between art,
science, and
engineering.
I
also have a
list of
tutorials
and related
videos on
the
Physics
page of the
Kid Zone.
Project
Resources:
PPT Presentation
|Back
to Top|
Bubble Science
(Science, Math, Art)
Students
investigate
different bubble
solutions to try to
determine the best
one for making giant
bubbles (a claim
made by many of the
bubble solution
companies).
Students blow
bubbles on top of a
lab table to make it
easier to measure
diameters.
They test at least 4
different solutions
and then try to
identify which
ingredients is the
"secret" one needed
for large bubbles.
More details are
included in the PPT
below along with
teacher notes in the
margin areas of the
slides.
Project
Resources:
PPT Presentation
- Links to
the
student worksheet
(PDF) and the
digital student
notebook are listed
on the first slide.
Bubble Science
Digital Version
- Look for the link
to the student
notebook on the
first slide.
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to Top|
Super
Stackers
(Science + Math
+ Engineering)
Another
fun project
with lots of
extension
ideas to
discuss
(renewable
vs.
nonrenewable,
recycling,
engineering
design).
Click the
project name
to download
the
presentation
with
basic
directions,
five
challenges
with varying
levels of
difficulty,
a YouTube
video
exploring
how plastic
cups are
made, an
extension
activity
related to
learning
about the
materials
used to make
the cups,
and a
challenge
for the
teams to
develop
their own
stacking
challenge.
Also check
out the
Cup Stacking
Collaboration
project at
Middle
School
Science
with task
cards and
more
questions to
extend your
lesson.
Project
Resources:
PPT Presentation
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Soda Straw
Bridges
(Science +
Engineering +
Technology)
This
activity
comes from
Teach
Engineering
and involves
the
challenge of
making a
bridge out
of plastic
straws.
Click the
project name
to download
the
presentation
I use
for this
project.
The slides
include an
overview of
the project,
links to two
videos from
Kahn Academy
about
bridges, and
follow-up
discussion
questions.
The project
also
includes
links to
online
challenges
for bridge
building,
which are
also
available on
the
Physics
page of the
Kid Zone.
Project
Resources:
PPT Presentation
|Back
to Top|
Consumer's
Challenge
(Science
+ Math)
The first
activity
involves testing
the truth of the
"double stuffed"
Oreos by
measuring and
comparing the
mass of each
type of cookie.
The related
video discusses
controlled
experiments
along with
independent and
dependent
variables.
The extension
activity is a
challenge for
students to
identify an
advertising
claim that could
be tested with a
controlled
experiment, such
as the strength of
paper towels or the
effectiveness of a
stain remover.
They work with a
partner to
design and
conduct the
experiment.
At the end of
the unit,
students present
their results to
the class for a
peer review.
Project
Resources:
PPT Presentation,
Student
Worksheet
Also check
out the
full Consumer's
Challenge
project and Old
Wives Tales
lesson on the
General Science
page!
Digital Version
now available!
Click the link to
access the teacher's
presentation with a
link to the student
digital notebook on
the first slide.
Alternate
Version: Do
your students need
practice with
measuring mass?
Try this version
with a section added
to review using
scales to find mass
- click here for the
PPT Presentation
&
Student
Worksheet
Need a review of
how to use
triple-beam
balances?
Check out this
activity from
middleschoolscience.com
for more details.
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Science
of Rainbows
(Science + Math
+ Art)
The first
activity
challenges
students to
create a
"rainbow" by
accurately
measuring
colored water
into 6 test
tubes. If
they measure
correctly, they
will have six
colors and with
the same volume
in each test
tube. The
related video
discusses the
science of
rainbows and
extension
activities
challenge
students to
identify primary
and secondary
colors.
The extension
activity
involves
students picking
a "cool color"
challenge (ones
from the YouTube
video or others
they find
online).
The students
provide the
materials to
recreate the
challenge and
then explain
their
observations in
scientific
terms.
Project
Resources:
PPT Presentation,
Student
Worksheet
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to Top|
Chromatography
Challenge
(Science + Art)
During the
introductory
activity,
students learn
about
chromatography
and create their
own
chromatograms
using a variety
of water-soluble
markers to
identify
different
pigments used to
make the
different colors
of ink.
The video for
the unit
explores the
color of leaves
in fall and
challenges
students to use
a variety of
leaves to see
the pigments as
they separate on
filter paper.
An extension
activity allows
students to use
"radial
chromatography"
to decorate
white t-shirts
(or any white
cotton fabric)
using permanent
markers and
rubbing alcohol.
The project
could also be
done with round
filter paper and
used as a
decoration.
Project
Resources:
PPT Presentation,
Student
Worksheet
Also check
out the
chromatography
activities on my
Forensic Science
page!
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to Top|
Saving
Sam
(Science + Math
+ Technology)
The first
activity for
this unit is the
classic saving
the gummy worm
Sam after his
boat capsizes.
The related
video and
discussion
questions
explore how
gummy candy is
made. The
extension
activity
challenges
students to
predict what
will happen to a
gummy bear if it
is left in water
overnight.
They have to
make
measurements to
collect data
that can be used
for the
before/after
comparison.
Project
Resources:
PPT Presentation,
Student
Worksheet
(w/ additional
teacher info)
|Back
to Top|
Time to
Change
(Science + Math
+ Technology)
The first
activity for
this unit
reviews physical and
chemical changes
The related
video challenges
students to identify
both types of
changes and then
create a video using
their own examples
from the schoolyard.
The extension
activity involves
using AlkaSeltzer
tablets and film
canisters to create
"rockets".
Students explore the
variables involved
with the reaction as
they complete the
experiment and
record their data.
Project
Resources:
PPT Presentation,
Student
Worksheet
