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Tag Archives: creativity for kids

STEM Challenge: The Tower of Random Things

One day as I was cooking, my daughter was next to me on her helping tower doing her own stuff. At one point I turned around and I saw she had made a tower out of some cans, a sponge and her toy pig. I thought to myself, what a great way to think outside the box! Of course, we can use building blocks and lego to make a tower because that is what they were designed for. But what happens when we don’t have this at hand? What happens when we just have some cans, a sponge and a toy hippo and we need to build a tower? A STEM challenge!

STEM challenge tower of random things

Coming up with solutions to a problem with the resources at hand is a challenge that many engineers face on a daily basis. Finding creative ways to use the things you have or to solve problems is linked to what Edward de Bono coined lateral thinking. Lateral thinking is a way of reasoning that involves breaking through preconceptions (we can only build a tower with our building blocks) in order to see things in a different way (random objects as “building blocks”). This activity is great if you want to help your child unlock their lateral thinking abilities and encourage them to think outside the box. In addition, you are getting them to work on their creativity and problem-solving skills through a bit of trial-and-error play.

Preparation

Before we start the activity we need to collect some random objects. Your kids can be involved in this part or not. If they are, don’t reveal what the objects will be for, just tell them you are collecting some things for a fun project you want to do with them later. Make them a bit curious about the big fun project you are preparing! As you collect stuff you can ask them what they think the project is going to be, get their minds working. You might even discover something more fun to do with a bunch of random things!

Here you have a list of suggestions when collecting the objects (sometimes totally random might be difficult, remember we are trying to create educational moments and we might need to guide the activity a bit):

  • Try to have both heavy and light objects so they can experiment with weight
  • Collect some objects that have flat surfaces and others with rounded or uneven surfaces so they can experiment with stability and balancing
  • Gather different materials; wood, plastic (tupperwares, toys, straws), cloth (cushions), tin (full or empty cans), cardboard (shoe boxes), sponges
  • Collect around 10 objects
  • For the challenge part, we are going to need an object that generates wind! A fan, or if you don’t have one, some cardboard pieces from a box. (We will use this to simulate a hurricane!)

The STEM Challenge

Ok, the moment of truth has arrived, we now have to use those crazy random objects you collected to build a tower! So here is the challenge:

Build the tallest tower, using as many objects as you can, that will withstand a hurricane

Try out different combinations and write down the measurements of the tower and the number of objects you used, then use your wind making devices to create some wind! See how well the tower does.

STEM guide

Children will learn through exploration on their own but there are ways you can guide the learning, directing their attention to certain aspects of the activity. For this STEM challenge, you could help them learn some basic building principles by asking questions as they explore and experiment with the different objects.

Example questions about stability:

  • What objects are better to use at the bottom or in other words; will make a good foundation?
  • Are they flat or have different shapes?
  • What objects are better to use at the top?
  • Are they heavier or lighter than the rest?
  • What size are they?

Example questions about materials:

  • What materials are better for the bottom? Top?
  • Which materials are difficult to use? Why?
  • Is it because of their shape? Are they too soft? Too hard?

Example questions about balance and support:

  • Can a same object be used in different positions?
  • What positions are best?
  • Where should you use light objects? heavy?

Follow-up Activities

Once they have experimented with building a tower of random things you can do some small follow-up activities. Here are some suggestions but feel free to change/adapt or invent some new ones:

  • Choose 5 objects and make a tower with the heaviest object on top
  • Choose 5 objects and make a tower with the biggest object on top
  • What 3 objects will make the most stable tower? You can then test stability by slowly rolling a ball towards the tower to see if it stays standing.
  • What 3 objects will make the tallest tower? Measure the tower with a ruler and write down different combinations of objects to determine which 3 objects create the tallest tower.  
  • Outdoor activities: Build a tower that will withstand an earthquake or flood using as many objects as possible. How many objects did you use? Recreate an earthquake by stomping around the tower or a flood by filling a bucket up with water and letting the water flow towards the tower. When doing the flood part make sure you are using objects that you don’t mind getting wet.

That’s it! It is a simple open-ended activity with many questions and many solutions which is perfect for inquisitive STEM minds! Let your children learn as they explore and let me know in the comments if you were able to complete the STEM challenge and what random objects you used.

For more information about STEM and how to transform your STEM activities at home, check out these posts:

  • 5 tips to transform STEM activities at home
  • What is STEM and why is STEM learning important?

Check out other fun STEM activities to sneak in some STEM learning:

  • STEM activity: Build a pyramid and learn about shapes
  • Math Art Project For Kids: Easy DIY Shape Stencils
  • STEM experiment: Scientific method float or sink activity
  • Beautiful Hands-on Activities For Preschoolers: STEM Nature Eggs
  • STEM project: Engineer a house out of natural materials

Happy STEM learning!

STEM challenge tower of random things
tower random things
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Hi! We are Anni and Stefan, a mix of engineering with a dash of education and a pinch of social work, blended together and turned into parents who have a passion for creating lightbulb moments. We want to help you bring STEM learning into your home in a way that is fun, educational and challenging enough so that children can develop their thinking skills. ♥

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astemfulmind

Anni | STEM + Nature Learning
The wonder of simple experimentation ✨ When you The wonder of simple experimentation ✨
When you let the child lead you never know what will happen. Sometimes nothing really happens, and that's ok too. But then there are times when you bring out some materials and "tools", add a bit of water and you suddenly have a full on experiment station on your hands!
I saved some pumpkin seeds from a pumpkin I had baked, thinking they might come in handy some time. I didn't have anything in mind, but when my 5-year-old said she wanted to do an experiment I offered them to her. 
She directly asked for water to check if pumpkin seeds sink or float. So we gathered water, some containers and a few extra tools (just some kitchen utensils). Turns out some actually sink and others float! We discussed why this might be happening and then I asked her if she thought she could find a way to separate them with the tools we had… this led to some critical thinking, some trial and error and a lot of experimentation and conversations. She was engaged, on a mission, and she had initiated the experiment herself. 
💜 I love watching these moments unfold and they just further convince me that experiments don't need to come with flashy reactions, or bright colors. They can be simple, like this one. Experiments should make us think, tickle our minds with questions about what we see and drive us to test possibilities that will reveal answers, solutions or rethink our questions. And childhood is full of moments like these if you look close enough.
The art of noticing the small details 🐚✨ A s The art of noticing the small details 🐚✨
A simple activity with natural materials and a magnifying glass. I just set this up on the table and we started looking at each material and paying attention to what we could see. It made us think and wonder about patterns, irregularities and just other things we might not notice otherwise. 
We learned to pay attention to details and that things might look different depending on how close you look. And these observations lead to questions and these questions lead to a search for answers, discovery, learning. 
And all it takes is a magnifying glass and some nature 🤎🧡
DIY OOBLECK BLOCKS 🧱🌽💧 These Oobleck blo DIY OOBLECK BLOCKS 🧱🌽💧
These Oobleck blocks are so easy to make and were a perfect addition to our dry Oobleck play as it gave us the chance to build structures and create small worlds. 
Materials you'll need:
🌽Cornstarch
💧Water
🧊Ice trays
🧘‍♀️Patience
To prepare the Oobleck you mix 2 parts cornstarch to 1 part water. If you have never tried Oobleck you are in for a fun treat! It is a great sensory experience for kids and really engaging as it behaves both like a solid or fluid depending on the pressure it's under. 
Once you are done experimenting with Oobleck try filling some ice cube trays with it and then let it dry (it can take some days, which can be tricky for little kids but is also a great opportunity to practice patience).
❗A lot of ours cracked and broke so make sure you prepare enough. We made 3 trays.
🧱 That's it! We crushed some of the broken blocks and used the other ones to create, nurturing some STEM skills through play. 
For more ideas for STEM and nature play follow along!
"If children are to keep alive their inborn sense "If children are to keep alive their inborn sense of wonder… they need the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering the joy, excitement, and mystery of the world we live in." Rachel Carson
These words truly resonate with me.
Sharing the path of learning and discovery with our children is so beneficial and not only for our kids. It is so positive for us too! It reawakens our inner child, our own sense of wonder. It allows us to slow down, to play. 
We explore together, we seek out the answers to our questions, we experiment and play, we struggle to find solutions, we persevere and through these experiences we learn. About the world, about each other, about ourselves, giving us the chance to bond over something beautiful.
👉 Follow along for inspiration on family activities that nurture curiosity and drive learning
Have you ever let Oobleck dry? ☀️ Letting Oob Have you ever let Oobleck dry? ☀️
Letting Oobleck dry is the best way to clean it up but it also gives you the chance to use it again in a different way. 
I like to leave it in a tray or cooking pan so it spreads out and dries faster. Once it's dry you can just poke it and scrape it out.
It crumbles and cracks nicely between your fingers and has a lovely texture that my kids (and I) really enjoy.
You can keep it dry or combine it again with water to get the gooey, slimy, and fascinating Oobleck back.
👉 I'm also testing a different way to use dry Oobleck so make sure you stay tuned!
DIY STONE STACKING GAME 🌈🪨 Stone stacking h DIY STONE STACKING GAME 🌈🪨
Stone stacking has many benefits, for both kids and adults. It encourages patience, creative processing, concentration, focus, and hand-eye coordination. We love doing this when we are outdoors and in nature, it gives us a moment to stop and relax. 
This simple DIY is inspired by all those stone stacking moments and adds a bit of a challenge to nurture those skills even more. 
👉 This is how we prepared it:
We collected stones and selected 6 of them for the game, we painted them using acrylic paints, and borrowed a color dice from one of our board games. If you don’t have a color dice just add stickers to a normal one.
👉 How we played:
Players take turns to roll the dice, find the stone that matches the color and place it on the stack. 
🌈 It’s pretty simple, but it adds a new layer to simple stacking, as you navigate having to put bigger and heavier stones on top. It also encourages problem solving, conversations and observations which are key drivers of learning. 
💫 For more simple nature and STEM play you can take outdoors and that nurtures learning make sure to follow along
Motherhood is definitely reawakening my childlike Motherhood is definitely reawakening my childlike curiosity and wonder 💫🌱🦴 
As we were on one of our nature walks one day we found some animal bones in the forest and our reaction was… wow!! Let’s take them home! After packing them in a bag, we decided it would be a good idea to clean them before examining them.
A quick google research revealed that we could use hydrogen peroxide to clean and whiten the bones. Gloves on and to work!
With great care we handled the bones and the hydrogen peroxide, saw the fizzy bubbles come out and observed the reaction (a bit of chemistry at play here!) We talked about what was happening and about the bones themselves, how they are different from ours, what type of animal they could be from according to their teeth (herbivore?) and a lot more.
This process of curiosity, hands-on exploration and discovery is a key part of childhood. Children are naturals at this, and if we follow along and support this process who knows what amazing things we might discover together. What is certain is that by exploring together like this we are nurturing their natural curiosity, cultivating a love for discovering new things and giving them the tools to drive their own learning. 
Never would I have thought that cleaning bones would turn into a great hands-on learning experience. But I have learned that following my children usually leads to moments of discovery like this.
OOBLECK WITH NATURAL MATERIALS 🐚🪨💫 Oobl OOBLECK WITH NATURAL MATERIALS 🐚🪨💫 
Oobleck will never cease to amaze me! This fascinating sensory STEM play is always a win in our home. 
👉 For those of you who have never tried it, Oobleck is a mixture of cornflour and water (the ratio should be about 2 cornflour to 1 water). I always keep extra cornflour around cause my kids love making the mixture themselves and they usually add too much water.
👌 What is special about Oobleck is that it behaves differently depending on the amount of pressure you put it under. It can behave like a solid or a liquid!! 
➡️ Try rolling it into a ball and it will more or less keep its shape as long as you keep putting pressure on it. As soon as you stop, it will flow out of your hands.
➡️ Try to poke it really, really fast and your finger won't go through, do it slowly and you can dip your finger in it. 
💫 Oobleck by itself is a great way to encourage observation skills and critical thinking. Most of the time I let my kids prepare it and as they try to get the perfect consistency, they test it out and decide if they need more water or cornflour. It is also just a great sensory activity!
🐚 We love adding natural materials and color to the mix. One day it became snow, another it was a beach… There are so many possibilities. And many times that involves my kids letting it drip over their arms and legs 🙈 yes… Oobleck can get quite messy, but that's part of the fun!
Have you tried Oobleck before? 
👉 Follow along for more simple STEM and nature play 💫🌱
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SKELETON PUZZLE 🦴🧩🦴 Puzzles are a wonder SKELETON PUZZLE 🦴🧩🦴
Puzzles are a wonderful way to nurture your child's memory, problem solving and critical thinking skills, spatial awareness and attention to detail. We even discovered a few extra games to extend the learning even more! 👇
🧩 Simple puzzle: sort out the pieces and recreate your skeleton
🧩 Correct your skeleton: identify what is wrong and correct it, takes turns to build an incorrect skeleton
🧩 What is missing?: Find out how many pieces are missing and try to name them. Take turns taking the pieces away
We had so much fun with this activity. I had seen it on @one_little_project and thought it would be perfect to try it out for some STEM play, and it did not disappoint! Not only are puzzles and games a great way to cultivate important STEM skills, but this specific skeleton one also encouraged some great conversations about how our body works and the names of different bones. We tried feeling the bones in our body and had fun creating funny skeletons.
❓ Can you think of any other ways to use this in your play?
🧩 This just came to mind while writing… What about having two skeletons and playing a copycat game!?
For more simple STEM play make sure to follow along 🤗💫
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