STEMsparks

Try solving one of our STEMsparks below! The goal of these tasks and activities is to SPARK your learning of concepts related to STEM. We will post a new STEM Spark each week.

Inspired by Dan Meyer's Three-Act Math Tasks, we have created videos to introduce and wrap-up each STEM Spark. The videos help introduce these challenging tasks visually. We encourage you to be creative and persevere in solving them. We hope they SPARK your interest in STEM and exploring other STEM-related resources.

STEMspark #19: Energy

from the Tickle College of Engineering

Learn about the conservation of energy through two interesting experiments!

STEMspark #18: Hover Craft

from the Tickle College of Engineering

Learn how make a mini hover craft and test it out!

Part 1: Make a Mini Hover Craft

Part 2: Test Your Hover Craft

STEMspark #17: Density Spark

from the Tickle College of Engineering

Learn about density through a fun experiment!

STEMspark #16: Bowling

from the Tickle College of Engineering

Learn about momentum through a bowling activity!

STEMspark #15: Ants

This STEMspark connects STEM and literacy. First, watch the video below or read the The Life and Times of the Ant by Charles Micucci. Then complete the three activities below by gathering the materials listed and watching the instructional videos.

Read The Backyard Bug: Book for Kids or watch the video below.

The Life and Times of the Ant read by Carlos.mp4

Ant Song

Ant song by Jessi.mp4

Materials Needed:

none

Ant Spelling Numbers

Ant spelling numbers activity by Megan.MOV

Materials Needed:

white sheet of paper
4 popsicle sticks
cup
tape
crayons or colored pencils
scissors
1 marker

Parts of an Ant

Parts of An Ant .MOV

Materials Needed:

1 popsicle stick
1 straw
3 crayons (colors of your choice)
1 Marker

STEMspark #14: Insects

This STEMspark connects STEM and literacy. First, watch the video below or read the The Backyard Bug: Book for Kids by Lauren Davidson. Then complete the three activities below by gathering the materials listed and watching the instructional videos.

Read The Backyard Bug: Book for Kids or watch the video below.

The Backyard Bug_Book for Kids read by Nick Kim.mp4

Insect or Not Activity

Insect or Not by Chris v1.mp4

Materials Needed:

2 cups
Crayons or markers
Paper
Scissors
Bug stickers
Dot stickers
Pen or pencil

Make an Insect

Making an Insect by Kolton.mov

Materials Needed:

3 popsicle sticks
Snap cubes/blocks
Crayons
Pencil or pen
Dot stickers
Tape
2-3 straws
Scissors

STEMspark #13: Praying Mantis

This STEMspark connects STEM and literacy. First, watch the video below or read the My Awesome Summer by P. Mantis. Then complete the three activities below by gathering the materials listed and watching the instructional videos.

Read My Awesome Summer or watch the video below.

My Awesome Summer by P. Mantis read by Carlos.mp4

Make a Praying Mantis Mask

How to Make a Praying Mantis Mask by Benjamin Bridges.mov

Materials Needed:

Sheet of paper
Scissors
Crayons or markers
Glue
Popsicle stick

Praying Mantis Camouflage

Praying Mantis Camoflauge by Jakob.mp4

Materials Needed:

Pencil or pen
Crayons, markers, or coloring pencils
Tape
Piece of paper

Praying Mantis Yoga

Praying Mantis Yoga by Jessi.mp4

Materials Needed:

Yoga mat or blanket

STEMspark #12: Flies

This STEMspark connects STEM and literacy. First, watch the video below or read the Diary of a Fly. Then complete the three activities below by gathering the materials listed and watching the instructional videos.

Read Diary of a Fly or watch the video below.

Diary of a Fly read by Jessi.m4v

Skip Counting and Place Value Activity

Flyvideo_skipcountingandplacevalue_Pugh.mp4

Materials Needed:

paper
page of circle stickers
crayons
marker
pencil

Making Flies and Skip Counting

Making Flies and Skip Counting by Kolton.mov

Materials Needed:

4 plastic cups
Page of circle stickers
Crayons
insect stickers

STEMspark #11: Dragonflies

This STEMspark connects STEM and literacy. First, watch the video below or read the Are you a Dragonfly. Then complete the three activities below by gathering the materials listed and watching the instructional videos.

Read Are you a Dragonfly or watch the video below.

Are you a Dragonfly? read by Carlos.mp4

Make a Dragonfly and Learn About how they Grow

Craft Time with Katelyn - Dragon Fly.mp4

Materials Needed:

tape or glue
scissors
2 popsicle sticks
Markers or crayons
a piece of paper

Learn about a Dragonfly's Special Eyes

Dragonfly Eyes by Chris v1.mp4

Materials Needed:

Plastic cup
Crayons
Marker
Pen
a piece of paper

Learn About the Anatomy of a Dragonfly

Dragonfly_activity.mp4

Materials Needed:

Piece of paper
permanent marker
Crayons

STEMspark #10: Butterflies

This STEMspark connects STEM and literacy. First, watch the video below or read the A Butterfly is Patient. Then complete the four activities below by gathering the materials listed and watching the instructional videos.

Read A Butterfly is Patient or watch the video below.

A Butterfly is Patient Read by Megan.MOV

Butterfly Anatomy

Butterfly anatomy by Jakob.mp4

Materials Needed:

Scissors
Crayons
Tape
Pen or pencil
1 popsicle stick

Butterfly Stages

Butterflies stages by Layla.mov

Materials Needed:

3 plastic cups
popsicle stick
marker or pen
pencil
crayons
stickers (insects and page of circle stickers

How to Draw a Butterfly

How to Draw a Butterfly by Benjamin Bridges.mov

Materials Needed:

a piece of paper
Crayons, markers, or coloring pencils

Stages of a Butterfly

Craft Time with Katelyn - Butterfly(working on sound).mp4

Materials Needed:

2 plastic cups
2 pieces of paper
Crayons
Black marker
Tape or glue
Scissors

STEMspark #8: The Color Taste Test

Do we taste with our taste buds or do we taste based on what we see? Try this Color Taste Test to find out.

Materials:

Cup of water
5 clear cups
Food dye
Sprite or another clear drink

Your Task:

Pour Sprite in each of the 5 clear cups and put a different color of food dye in each cup.
Ask a volunteer to participate and take a drink of water to cleanse his/her taste palette.
Ask the volunteer to keep their eyes open and take a sip of each cup and drink of water after each sip.
Ask the volunteer the following questions:
- What was your favorite drink?
- Did you taste any different flavors?
Then have the volunteer close their eyes and take a sip of each cup and drink of water after each sip.
Again, ask the volunteer the following questions:
- What was your favorite drink?
- Did you taste any different flavors?
Compare the volunteer's answers.
Finally, reveal to the volunteer that all the cups have the same drink. Have the volunteer take a sip from each cup again after being aware that all the cups have the same drink.

Sliwa_STEM_Spark_Color_Taste_Test_720p.mp4

Intro

Sliwa_STEM_Spark_Color_Taste_Test_Part_2_720p (1).mp4

Wrap-Up

STEMspark #7: Index Card Tower Challenge

Inspired by Matt Farrell's YouTube STEM Challenge.

Your Challenge:

Using 12 index cards, build the tallest tower that you can.

BrownE_Video 1_4_9_2020 copy.mov

Intro

BrownE_Video 2_4_9_2020 copy.mov

Wrap-Up

STEMspark #6: Plastic Audit Challenge

Protect our Planet Challenge:

This Earth Day challenge was shared by the Tennessee STEM Innovator Network. Although, Earth Day has passed, it is always good to find ways to protect our planet. Students participate in this challenge to protect our planet by engaging in a plastic audit. How can you reduce plastic waste at your home?

Watch the video below for an introduction to the Plastic Audit Challenge and examples of simple ways to save plastic waste.

Your Task:

Go around your house and find places in your home where you use plastic.
Identify ways you can swap the plastic items for other reusable or recyclable items that would save plastic waste.
Write about or draw a picture of ways you can reduce plastic waste in your home. Please share your ideas with us using the Google form.

For more Earth Day challenges, visit EarthDay.org

STEMspark #5: Design a Recycled Prototype of a Business that Allows for Social Distancing

Design Challenge:

This design challenge was inspired by Stephanie Prince's tweet. The grocery store prototype created by one of her 3rd graders at Adrian Burnett Elementary School is shown in the picture below.

We would like you to create a prototype of a business that allows for social distancing using recycled materials. You can choose a business from the following list or select a different business:

restaurant
grocery store
healthcare clinic
veterinary hospital
convenient store or gas station
auto-repair shop
post office

Suggested steps:

First choose a business.
Next, design a plan for how your selected business can allow for social distancing
Gather recycled materials
Create your prototype
Finally, take a picture and share it with us!

STEMspark #4: Is Rock, Paper, Scissors, Fair?

Use this handout to complete this STEM Spark.

Is Rock, Paper, Scissors Fair?.docx

STEMspark #3: Microplastics in East Tennessee

Your Task:

We would like you to come up with a plan to eliminate or reduce the microplastics in the TN river. Your plan should include:

method of microplastic removal
estimated cost to implement your method
projected timeline of success
plan for sustainability after method is initiated

You will record your final ideas on the paper or on a computer and share it with your friends, family, or back to us.

References:

STEMspark #2: The Game of NIM

Three Rules:

You need 10 small objects in a line.
This game requires two players (take turns).
When it is your turn, you will pick up one or two objects.

The Winner is the person who picks up the last object or two objects!

Your task:

Play several times and try different strategies. Come up with a strategy that allows you to win every time!

Remember: STEM is problem solving. STEM is thinking about strategies and trying them!

We were inspired by the Family Math book. Check out this book for additional information about NIM.

Purchase the Family Math book

Check out the Nrich site for another version of NIM and other similar games that involve strategy thinking: https://nrich.maths.org/1204

STEMspark #1: Cut-A-Card Task

Materials Needed:

3" X 5" Index cards
Scissors
Practice paper (optional)

This task comes from the Family Math book by Stenmark, Thompson, and Cossey (1986). You can purchase this book to see this task and many other engaging tasks by clicking the button below.

Purchase the Family Math book

For more tasks to develop visualization skills, visit Jo Boaler's YouCubed website.