ECE – STEM Toys – STEMAZing Systems Thinking

Loop-the-Loop and Other Explorations with Die Cast Cars

Materials (for four testing stations) 4 Name Brand Die Cast Cars (Hot Wheels™ or Matchbox™) 4 Generic Die Cast Cars 16 Hot Wheels™ Track Sections and Connectors 4 Hot Wheels™ Loop Accessory and Track Section 4 Hot Wheels™ Car Launcher with Connector and Short Track Section Masking Tape Key Question How can we use data…

Tik Tiki Toy from Trash

A modified version of the Tik Tiki from Arvind Gupta’s Toys from Trash – we replaced the button with a wooden bead. The crown cap can be replaced with a plastic lid or metal cap of any kind. Lots of variations to test! Find directions for assembly here: https://www.arvindguptatoys.com/toys/crowncap.html

Flying Butterfly

Materials Butterfly Templates (found below) Tape (transparent or masking) Double Stick Tape or Glue Bakers Twine or similar string Large Craft Sticks (also known as tongue depressors) Plastic Drinking Straws Markers or Crayons or Colored Pencils Pushpins Scissors Key Question How do friction and gravity help the Flying Butterfly toy work? Learning Objectives Young scientists…

Wobble Walkers

Folk toy turned engineering and STEAM project! Start with noticing and wondering using the first 12 seconds of the video below and then let students explore this pHun phenomenon. Templates for small, medium (original scale), and large Wobble Walkers can also be found below. Cut out as rectangle first and then round off feet to…

Magnets: Float Like A Butterfly, Sting Like A Bee

Learning Objectives Children will… • have an opportunity to test their creativity in this open-ended activity in which children will use magnets and other materials to build systems that defy gravity. Key Question How can you devise a system that defies gravity? (Lección disponible en español AQUÍ) Materials Magnets, large number of strong ones Tape…

Magnets: Fish Tales

Learning Objectives Children will… • make a fishing game. • quantify the strength of magnets by how many big fish and little fish they capture. • use their imaginations to tell stories about their fishing experiences. Key Question How many big fish compared to small fish can you catch? (Lección disponible en español AQUÍ) Materials…

Spin Top Spin, Mix Color Mix

Key Question Can you create a top that spins? What happens when you make changes to the top? Learning Objectives Children will… construct a simple spinning top. learn to use and experiment further with the spinning top. make observations about how colors on the top combine as it spins.

Screaming Balloon

Engage young children with sound explorations using balloons with various things put inside them which you then roll around the inside of the balloon. The ECE Notice and Wonder Journal is a great resource to use with students during this lesson. The virtual version of the journal allows pre-writing students to use Voice Typing to…

Projectile Popper

Build this Projectile Popper using an empty 32 oz Gatorade bottle, a string, rubber bands, drill (other options), scissors, goggles, bead, ping pong balls, and a box cutter (or knife). (NOTE: Adults should prep the Gatorade bottle by cutting it with the box cutter and drilling the hole in the lid for young children.) Once…

Pool Noodle Rocket

Build this Pool Noodle Rocket using, you guessed it, a pool noodle, duct tape, rubber bands, scissors, cardboard from a cereal box, a sharpened pencil, plastic knife, rocket fin template, ruler, sharpie, string, and a bead. Launch it using your thumb or use a meter stick to launch it and collect data on variables you…