We always look for bargains and items we can use in STEM class! I know you agree and I have some great ideas for you- from a dollar store! A few years ago I discovered I could save money on STEM materials. I know you want in on this little secret about bargains for your STEM Class, but I imagine you already know about Dollar Tree. Well, did you know I can find 28+ items we use all the time? That’s right! Twenty-eight must-haves for STEM class- all at bargain prices! “In this post, for your convenience, you may find Amazon Affiliate links to resources. This means that Amazon will pass on small ..read more

Looking for something engaging? How about 3 STEM challenges featuring experiments and using test results to create the ultimate flying machine! I know I say this all the time- but when I place the word “Airplanes” or “Helicopters” or “Hoop Flyers” on our agenda board the kids are immediately engaged. They love to fly anything. So, let’s fly away with these 3 flight projects! “In this post, for your convenience, you may find Amazon Affiliate links to resources. This means that Amazon will pass on small percentages to me with your purchase of items. This will not create extra costs for you at a ..read more

Are you looking for an engaging alternative to a book report? This idea is perfect! I call it The Book in a Bag Project! This little project was invented to have students share a book with their classmates in an interesting and personal way. If you have ever listened to students reading their ‘book report’ aloud then you know exactly what I am talking about! “In this post, for your convenience, you may find Amazon Affiliate links to resources. This means that Amazon will pass on small percentages to me with your purchase of items. This will not create extra costs for you at all! It will help ..read more

The three books in this review post are in the top ten of Best Books Ever! Amazing, beautiful, heartbreaking, hopeful. Oh, so good! This month was a weird one for me. I have only 3 books I finished. I have 4 marked DNF. Those were purely awful, too confusing, or I could not pay attention. The 3 reviewed here are the ones you need to read. “In this post, for your convenience, you may find Amazon Affiliate links to resources. This means that Amazon will pass on small percentages to me with your purchase of items. This will not create extra costs for you at all! It will help me keep this blog ru ..read more

Let’s take off on an exciting adventure exploring the world of building cars in the STEM Lab. Get ready to design, construct, and race your cars while learning about motion, mechanics, and even Newton’s Laws! We have built several different types of cars in the STEM Lab. We have loved them all. Let’s take a closer look at each style. And, of course, I have tips along the way! “In this post, for your convenience, you may find Amazon Affiliate links to resources. This means that Amazon will pass on small percentages to me with your purchase of items. This will not create extra costs for you at ..read more

I have some great books to share- each was amazing in different ways. Do you ever find yourself with a month of reading when all the books are long? like long, long… Mind you, I love long books with lots of details, but… a 400-500 page book is work. However, on a good note, if the book is really, really good it’s okay! “In this post, for your convenience, you may find Amazon Affiliate links to resources. This means that Amazon will pass on small percentages to me with your purchase of items. This will not create extra costs for you at all! It will help me keep this blog running!“ Wellness b ..read more

This STEM event is just perfection! Students love it, it is engaging, it is challenging, it is fun, and it is competitive. Plus I have fabulous tasks to pair with the STEM Activity! The first time we tried the basketball challenge I had so much fun watching students use the materials. I also enjoyed how excited they were about the project! Let’s look at each part of the project and ways to add more fun to the event! “In this post, for your convenience, you may find Amazon Affiliate links to resources. This means that Amazon will pass on small percentages to me with your purchase of items. Thi ..read more

Let’s get ready for Mazes Week in the STEM Lab! I try this project every year with different grades in the same week. Students love seeing all the different mazes created by other classes. It’s an exciting time as they trade mazes and try the paths. But the best part is trying an escape room before we build the mazes! “In this post, for your convenience, you may find Amazon Affiliate links to resources. This means that Amazon will pass on small percentages to me with your purchase of items. This will not create extra costs for you at all! It will help me keep this blog running!“ Escape the M ..read more

If you need a highly engaging STEM activity I have the PERFECT one! Students adore this challenge to build a bloat! So, here’s the truth about the Boat Challenge. One day I walked into the STEM Lab and decided that my plans for third grade were not going to work and I needed to throw something different together quickly.   Looking around I spied my blue dish pans and decided we could build boats. (Yeah, I know that is the unlikeliest decision ever, but it worked!)   Then I started pulling junk out of the cabinets. Seriously. “In this post, for your convenience, you may find Amazon A ..read more

Using straws in STEM class is such a great way to have students build quickly. They are easily cut, bent, and shaped to become part of many structures. Using straws in STEM Challenges has become so routine that  I asked for straws to be added to our school supply list one year! I filled one entire cabinet with straws. Just for fun, we counted the boxes one day and there were 40. FORTY. That is 4000 straws, just in boxes. There were also smaller boxes and bags, and more bags, and even more boxes. Well, I asked for them! Right? But why? Straws are easy to manipulate, can ..read more