November STEAM Challenge: It's a Balancing Act

November/December STEAM Challenge
Lesson Plan: (CLICK HERE to access these directions
in a HyperDoc)

Once again I am stealing the challenge from one of
my favorite bloggers: Sarah from Frugal Fun for
Boys and Girls

https://frugalfun4boys.com/4-engineering-challenges-kids/

CLICK HERE for the Slides to present

the challenge

This month’s challenge has three materials:

• Plastic Snack Cups (Walmart)- 
• crafter sticks (Dollar Tree) - CLICK HERE
• Wooden cubes (Amazon) - CLICK HERE

Children’s Books that are a great spark:

Balancing Act: CLICK HERE

Balance the Birds: CLICK HERE

SPARK: Defying Gravity With Korea’s Premier
Balance Artist

(It is in Korean but there are subtitles which are great for the
students’ to read!)

CHALLENGE: (I’m giving you 3 to choose from)

Challenge #1: Build a structure with one cube as the base.
Yes, just one cube!
I’m providing a picture but don’t show
it to the students unless you have to… let them struggle and
figure it out!
Here is an example from the Frugal Fun for Boys and
Girls Blog:

Challenge #2: Using any size base, build the tallest
possible structure.
I’m providing a picture but don’t show it to the students unless
you have to… let them struggle and figure it out!
Here is an example from the Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls
Blog:

Challenge #3: What can you build with just one cup as the
base?
Here is an example from the Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls

Blog:

INFORMATION:

Center of Gravity - A basic explanation - CLICK HERE

Balancing Objects - CLICK HERE

APPLICATION: Here is another interesting activity
that would be a good extension for older kiddos or for science
buddies where older kiddos help the younger ones: CLICK HERE

Challenge #4: Feats of Balance. Make something stick
out in an impressive way!
Here is an example from the Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls
Blog:

REFLECTION:
CLICK HERE and make a copy of the reflection Google Form.