4 Fun and Engaging STEM Activities for Kids

by Julianna Sheeran

I love to incorporate books into my STEM classroom. We often use them as a jumping off point for our learning. Here are four STEM activities that are tied to different children’s books You can read the story to your children or watch a recording on YouTube, and then ask questions about it

Science

The book “Alaska’s Three Bears” by Shelley Gill discusses the three bears that are native to Alaska polar, black, and grizzly bears This activity allows you to learn about one adaptation that polar bears have that helps them survive and swim in cold water BLUBBER We are going to be creating a blubber glove and use it to see the difference it makes when submerged in ice water.

Materials:

Crisco or other vegetable shortening

Two Ziplock bags

Duck tape

Tub with ice water

Two Thermometers (optional)

Instructions:

1.

Fill one Ziploc with Crisco, spreading it out to create a layer.

2.

Put the other Ziploc bag in the bag with Crisco, so students can stick their hands into the Crisco without touching the fat.

3.

Duct tape the edge so that the Crisco does not go out

4

Fill the tub with ice water and put the blubber glove in the ice water without getting water inside

5

Have kids put their hands in the ice water for about 15 seconds

6

Dry their hands off and talk about how it felt

7.

Then have them put their hands in the blubber glove for 15 seconds and talk about the difference between the two.

8.

Optional: Place one thermometer in the water and one in the blubber glove and look at the temperature difference between the two