March
is an important learning month! It also seems to pass by so fast, parent-teacher conferences, third quarter ends and the fourth quarter begins, Spring Break, and it’s about a month
before standardized testing!!
SO, IT’S CRUNCH
TIME!!
It’s important to make learning fun, but also purposeful. One activity I love
using is my Basketball STEM Challenge, it’s perfect since college basketball is
starting their March Madness Tournament. Connecting important skills to my
students' interests is critical in making learning fun and engaging. Students love shooting hoops and learning how
to record their data. A good book to
connect is Crossover by Kwame Alexander.
fractions, collecting data in a table, averaging, writing, engineering, and critical thinking.
March STEM Challenges
include: Gold Coin Catapult Challenge, Penny Towers, Penny Water Drops
Experiments, creating a Leprechaun Trap, and creating a Leprechaun House. Also, available in K-2 St. Patrick’s Day STEM.
St.Patrick’s Day Coding is also a fun way to introduce students to coding. Coding is a skill students need to be familiar with. In a workshop I attended last week, an entrepreneur was asked, “What do educators need to make sure they teach their students to be successful in the future?”The entrepreneur answered, “Coding, coding, coding, and coding!”
I
got the point, coding is extremely important for our kids’ future. So, to get my students started, I have
developed STEM Coding Challenge in a School Box. Included in the resources are some coding
worksheets and some suggestions on how to make coding hands on. Students make coding bracelets or
garlands.
Other
Fun March Activities:
