The Snow Scoop STEM Challenge is the perfect fit for all your winter activities!
The basic idea:
Individually, or in partners/groups, students design a snow scoop to designed for maximum capacity and/or maximum efficiency. Success can be evaluated in one or both of the following ways:
– Largest possible scoop capacity
– Time to clear a 1-inch path in the snow (or to clear the entire yard of snow)
This resource includes two (2) downloadable files: a print-ready PDF and an editable PowerPoint file of the student handouts. Please note these are downloadable files only. No physical items will be sent to you.
Inside the resource, you'll find:
- NGSS aligned standards, Grades 2 – 8
- Teacher Tips
- Links to a video walk-through of the challenge & my 5-part video series on getting started with STEM challenges
- Premise & Set-up
- Materials and timing
- Modifying Criteria & Constraints to adjust challenge difficulty
- Measuring results
- Post-design extension activities list & links
Student Handouts
- Criteria and Constraints list (EDITABLE)
- Design Analysis Handouts (2-page regular spacing and 4-page expanded spacing for primary students included in color and black & white) (EDITABLE)
- Discussion Questions (EDITABLE)
Extension templates
- Process Flow Map
- Math Extension
- Classifying Levers Notes (editable)
- Classifying Levers Practice (with answer key)
Suggested Materials are easily modified. You do NOT need all of these items; just use what you have available (not included/digital download only):
- Snowy Yard (~ 12in. X 8 in. x 2 in. pan or box lid with ~2 lb. bag of white rice or 1 bag of mini marshmallows)
- Paper plate or bowl (to hold the snow from scoop designs for weighing)
- Craft sticks (3-5)
- Straws (3-5)
- Pipe cleaners (3-5)
- Masking tape (12 – 24 in.)
- 3x5 in. index card (1)
- Scissors
- Scale (if choosing the capacity challenge goal)
- Stopwatches (if choosing the time to clear snow challenge goal)
Optional:
- Binder clips
- Clothespins
- Rubber bands
- String