Initially, the idea of using STEM with three and four year olds may seem difficult. It may seem like the concepts of science, technology, engineering, and math are too complex for preschoolers. However, one of the key elements of STEM is making it relatable to the real world. Therefore, STEM can be taught to students of all ages by making it relatable to their immediate world. Click here to learn more about teaching stem to preschoolers.
Holidays are great for creating STEM challenges related to real world topics! Even if some students don’t celebrate certain holidays, they are still usually familiar with themes around those holidays. However, if you prefer to not discuss specific holidays in your classroom you can still create themes based on the month.
Preschool Fall STEM
We love Fall STEM activities because they set teachers and students up to use STEM all year long. You don’t have to jump into STEM right away. Take the first month or two of school to get settled into your routine. Take time to get to know your students. Establishing effective routines and positive relationships are important to having a classroom environment that’s set-up for STEM.
While STEM is an important way to teach elements of science, technology, engineering, and math, it is also great for teaching students how to work together. Preschool is one of the first places kids meet their peers; therefore, social development is just as important as academic growth.
STEM challenges for preschoolers are an excellent way to develop social and academics skills at this age!
Are you ready to explore STEM with your preschoolers?! Check out our favorite four fall themed preschool STEM challenges!
Fall Mobile STEM Challenge
Get preschool kids excited for Autumn with this Fall Mobile! Students will love building a mobile that represents the season. You will love seeing students engaged in learning. Not to mention the student centered decorations you will have to hang in the classroom!
Football STEM Challenge
This November Football Game STEM exploration helps young learners explore, plan, and create using common, everyday materials. Students will love this activity because it involves not only building the “footballs” but moving them across the goal post!
Turkey STEM Challenge
Even if your students don’t celebrate Thanksgiving, they will still enjoy working together to traps Tom the turkey! Students will explore and learn about how a cage is used to keep animals from getting away. Then they will build their own cages to keep Tom from escaping!
Thanksgiving Dinner STEM Challenge
In this preschool STEM challenge, students are presented with a potential problem for Thanksgiving dinner. The hosts of Thanksgiving dinner, students will need a sturdy table to hold the weight of all of the yummy food!
Provided with materials you can find in your classroom, students will work together to solve this problem and build a table to hold the feast.
How to Make Teaching STEM Easy
With these four STEM challenges you can include one a week for the entire month of November! Whether you choose one STEM challenge or all four to explore with your students, we have provided you with everything you need to implement them easily!
- Step-by-Step lesson plans
- STEM Exploration Process posters
- Fall STEM Event and Exploration posters
- Printable Nature Objects templates
- Vocabulary Cards
- Explore science connections with QR codes and an infographic
- Materials List
- Planning Poster
- Recording Sheets
- Reflection Sheets
In addition, each challenge is created with the intention of using materials you already have access to in your classroom or can find easily (and inexpensively).
November is just the start of the holiday season. Introducing students to STEM at this time is a great way to set yourself up to keep using STEM in December! Nothing beats having easy, engaging, and ready to teach activities during holidays!
Want to get started with STEM even earlier? Back to school and Halloween are amazing STEM themes to explore with preschoolers.
If you’re looking for more STEM activities for Preschool you can visit our shop or you may be interested in these blog posts such as:
