STEM with Pumpkins

Happy weekend!  I wanted to share a fun STEM activity we did this past Friday that would be perfect for this week too because we use pumpkins!

But not pumpkin pumpkins......these are called Ju Ju Pumpkins and my teammate found them at Walmart (Thank you Ash! I know, I know...I'm welcome!)  They come in little tubs....I'm a spaz and didn't think about taking pics until it was too late:/  We went through 6 tubs of the pumpkins and boxes of ROUND toothpicks.  I saw this idea on Pinterest. It's from Lemon Lime Adventures:)  You can read more about it HERE.

For this challenge I let the kids work in partners:) I even let them choose their partners....I know, I know....living on the edge..lol.  I wanted to give them a little more freedom with this challenge as opposed to our last challenge....all that I "required" was that it had to be a 3-d, free standing structure.

 

They started the challenge with 5 minutes of brainstorming, planning and sketching:)

It is SOOOOO neat to walk around and watch and listen to their minds at work:)

Then they were set free to build:)

I am absolutely blown away with what they came up with!!!

Each design so unique and different!

They had a blast doing this!  With each STEM challenge we do, we are getting better and better at designing and then more importantly, when we are done, looking at what worked, what didn't and what we would do differently. 

Hope this is something you can use this week!

May we all survive "Halloween" week!!  Eek!

I also wanted to let you know I am having a sale on all my Fall related items!

20% off until midnight:)

Have a blessed week!

 

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Monday Made It - October:)

It's that time again and YEP, it snuck up on me!!!



Don't forget to link up:)  You can link up any time during the month:) 

My first made it is just in the beginning stages....I am starting to plant my fall pots:)

I wish I had more done to show you but this was all I got done:/  I also just had to share this video.  Gardening is like therapy to me:)  Now that our Florida weather is cooling off a little...high 80s I want to be outside all the time.  This little guy visited while I was sitting in the back

I made a new set of task cards:) 

Lots of addition and subtraction practice:) 

If you would like to read more about them, they are HERE:)

We will be using these during math workshop:)

I have been in desperate need of making some new multiple choice fans!  The set I have been using have lasted a few years and are starting to split and get dirty!

I got some new colorful sticks and some stickers:)

I put the stickers on the sticks and hit them with a coat of mod podge.  Then hubs joined in the fun and drilled little holes in the ends and put them together with little bolts and nuts:)

The kids will be thrilled!  We use these almost daily in small groups:) 

I am kinda bummed because I don't think they are as cute as my last sets....the stickers looked cuter with the white background....but they will work just fine;)

My last made it.....I didn't make.  I printed, laminated, and cut out.  It is from my bud, the Fab Farley!

This is AWESOME!!!!  I can't wait to give it to my kids!  It's multi-step word problems!

I LOVE it!  The graphics are adorbs and I love how she included a little "book" for the kids to do their work in.  I'm actually going to hand this out this week and give them until Halloween to get it done.  They can work on it any time they have a few free minutes.  I am also going to add it to our math workshop:)  Check it out HERE!!!

 

Ok gang!  That does it for me!  Can't wait to see what ya'll have in store this month:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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STEM and STUFF...5 For Friday!!

Yes!  It's been a while since I have had time to sit down and blog!!!  Ugh!  Where does all the time go?!  I am linking up with my bud Doodle Bugs for 5 for Friday:)

 

Here's a peek at my week and 5 random things:)

I had a wonderful weekend up at FSU seeing my girl and going to my first FSU game!!!!

 

 

 

              
 

We have really been working hard on our "Think Math".  This AMAZING idea is from Scholastic.  You can read all about it HERE!  The kids are really getting the hang of it and they love figuring out more than one problem to go with the answer.  I love that about this activity!

 

We did a super fun STEM challenge from Get Caught Engineering:)

                



                

They had to design the tallest tower with spaghetti and marshmallows:) 

                   

They loved this and I loved listening to their plans and thinking:)

 

I got an amazing timer in the mail this week from ThermoWorks and have had a blast using it!

I use a timer for math workshop and Daily 5!  Love this one!  It's called the TimeStick:)

 

 

We had fun using our IPads during small groups taking notes and highlighting our text (THANK YOU ASH!!)

 

 That's a little bit of randomness from my week!  Have a blessed weekend everyone!

 

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