STEAM in Action Hour
Asa G. Hilliard Elementary School
Pre-Kindergarten
"Pre-Alphabet & Sculpting Fossils"
{Letter/Word/Name Recognition Standards}
Materials Needed:
- Play-doh
- Plastic Animals or Letters
Step 1
Lay some Play-Doh out on a hard surface and flatten it out a bit with the palm of your hand.
Step 2
Press a shell, small tree branch or leaf into the Play-Doh to make an impression of the object.
Step 3
Pull the object out of the Play-Doh very gently so you will not alter the impression at all.
Step 4
Observe with magnifying glass.
Step 5
Repeat process with different impressionable objects & observe.
Alternative End Step
Solidify fossil with glue and allow to dry.
Kindergarten
"Living Chromatography Spring Flight w/Butterflies"
{Living vs. Nonliving / Life Cycle Standards}
Materials Needed:
- Coffee Filters
- Washable Markers
- Chenille Stick or String
- Water
- Plastic Bowl
STEPS:
- Have each student draw color circles in the center of his/her coffee filter with different marker colors. Time to get up and observe.
- Fill bowl with 1/4 c. of water. Have students predict what will happen if you add a drop of water to coffee filter. What will happen to the marker circle? Will the color spread? Will it stay the same?
- Have the kids place drops of water in the marker circle and observe the water spread. Add more drops when the water stops spreading. Repeat until you can see all the pigments that were in the marker. Do you predict that different colors will spread differently?
- Let the coffee filter dry. Then accordion fold it from top to bottom. This creates wings for the butterfly. Wrap the chenille stem around the center of the folded coffee filter. Bend the tips to create antennae and fan out the wings to complete your butterfly.
First Grade
"Ace Blue Grass Concert Musicians & Astronautical Observers" {Light & Sound Standards} Materials Needed: Harmonica~ Step 1: Cut straw into three equal parts and space/place between the two popsicle sticks. Step 2: Assemble the two popsicle sticks and straw pieces together with one rubber band on each end of the popsicle stick. Add tape or glue as needed. Step 3: Test out sound by blowing through straws. Make a special melody. Constellation Telescope~ Step 1: Students will research different constellations in the universe. Step 2: Draw a circle outline of the plastic cup onto construction paper. Step 3: Poke holes with pencil or toothpick on the dots. Step 4: Turn lights off in room and cut on flashlight. Step 5: Place flashlight in cup, facing up. Cut out circle of constellation and cover top of cup. Step 6. Observe constellations! Step 7: Repeat process with different constellation creations.
Resource: https://www.woojr.com/constellation-worksheets-lesson-for-kids/
Second Grade
"Oobleck MATTERS in Slimy Situations"
{MATTER Standards}
Materials Needed:
- Cornstarch
- Water
- Food Coloring
- Baggie or Bowl
- Glue (optional)
Step 1: Read the story of Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss.
Step 2: Place 1/3 c. of water in a cup and add food coloring of choice.
Step 3: Add one teaspoon of corn starch at a time until gooey substance has been achieved.
Step 4: Observe stages of solids and liquids.
Resources: Bartholomew and the Oobleck by Dr. Seuss
Third Grade
"ROCKing Back to the Future"
{Weathering/Erosion/Pollution Standards}
Materials Needed:
- Plastic Baggie
- Vinegar
- Baking Soda
- Spoon
- Palmolive Dish Liquid
Steps:
1. Pour 8 caps of vinegar into the plastic cup.
2. Add one spoonful of baking soda to the vinegar.
3. Add 2-3 drops of dish liquid.
4. The volcano should erupt when you add the dish liquid!
5. Try to add more dish liquid and see what happens.
6. Record your observations and come up with some “What If?” statements.
https://gosciencegirls.com/erupting-volcano-prehistoric-small-world-play/
Fourth Grade
"We're a Force in Motion"
{4th graded Force & Motion Standards}
Materials Needed:
- (1) Car Box
- (1) Balloon
- (1) Straw
- (4) Bottle Caps/Toy Wheels
- (4) Axle Sticks
- Tape
Steps:
I. Unfold & Construct box.
II. Assemble bottle cap wheels through the holes onto the Axle Sticks and box of the car construction.
III. Tape the balloon to the end of straw.
IV. Tape the straw to the top of the box.
V. Blow up your balloon
VI. Test out your force in motion!
Fifth Grade
"My STEM Circuit Backpack is Electrifying!"
{Electricity Standards}
Materials Needed:
- Personalized STEM Backpack
- Toothbrush Bristle Bot
- BrownDogGadgets.com
MOID
"How does my Garden Grow?!"
{K-5 MOID Living vs. Non-living Standards}
Materials Needed:
- A plastic zip top baggie
- One paper towel
- A few bean seeds
Steps:
1. First, fold up the paper towel so that it fit easily inside the plastic baggie. Get it wet with water and slip it into the baggie.
2. Grab a few seeds and place them inside the baggie right on top of the paper towel. Any variety of dried bean should work (pinto, black, lentil, navy, etc.). Green bean seeds can also be purchased at a gardening store.
3. Tape baggie to the windowsill of the classroom or home window.
4. Observe daily and record observations.
Resources: Jack and the Beanstalk, Observation Recording Sheet