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To prepare for this STEM challenge, I printed out the STEM cards (free down below) and gathered the building supplies. My requirements for the building supplies were that they were open ended (could be used in lots of different ways) and we had them on hand.
I gathered toilet paper rolls, corks, toothpicks, marshmallows, index cards and thick popsicle sticks. I also went through our animal collections and pulled out animals that we would find at the zoo.
We LOVE the Toob animal collections that you can find at Michael's, Joann's and on Amazon. I don't think we have a set that is specifically zoo animals, but we have safari animals, farm animals, and jungle animals that I picked through. The endangered species toob would be another good one for zoo animals.
I gathered toilet paper rolls, corks, toothpicks, marshmallows, index cards and thick popsicle sticks. I also went through our animal collections and pulled out animals that we would find at the zoo.
We LOVE the Toob animal collections that you can find at Michael's, Joann's and on Amazon. I don't think we have a set that is specifically zoo animals, but we have safari animals, farm animals, and jungle animals that I picked through. The endangered species toob would be another good one for zoo animals.
She pulled the giraffes out of the pile and got to work creating with toilet paper rolls and index cards.This one was easy for her!
Our next challenge was a little more, um, challenging. K picked out the "build a bridge" card. With this challenge the animals needed to be able to walk under the bridge while people walked on top.
She quickly set to work creating a bridge using toilet paper rolls and index cards. I went in search of "people" and found a few princesses.
She quickly grabbed the popsicle sticks. She started laying them horizontally but then went back and made them vertical as well. She even made some weave in between the others.
After that challenge, she quickly whipped up this one which was supposed to be a building where the workers could go. She made a building out of corks and index cards. This was easy compared to the bridge where she had to think and try out different solutions.
These are just a few of the 12 zoo challenge cards that I created. I love this activity because it is open ended. It challenges children to build and create but gives them some limitations and challenges to focus their creating. My girls LOVE creating and also loving playing with little characters and animals, so this was a perfect fit for them.
Do you want to try these zoo themed STEM challenges with your little learners? Just click to download, enter your information and the challenge cards will be emailed directly to you. Looking for some more STEM challenges? Try our Princess Themed STEM Challenge Freebie.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT:
Editable Name Puzzles // Playdough to Plato
It's a Zoo Graphing Game // Stay at Home Educator
Zoo Themed STEM Activity // Sara J Creations
Interactive Animal Alphabet Flashcards // Science Kiddo
Zoo Sight Word Book // Still Playing School
Zoo Small World Busy Box // Play and Learn Every Day
Zoo Animals: Tracing Lines // Liz's Early Learning Spot
Letter and Number Matching Puzzles // The Simplified Classroom
Zoo Busy Box // Teach Me Mommy
Zoo Pom Pom Mats // Fairy Poppins
Invitation to Make Dear Zoo Small World // Adventures and Play
Zoo Number Puzzles // The STEM Laboratory
Zoo First to 20 and First to 50 Math Game // A Dab of Glue Will Do
I opened all your zoo activity links on this page and two of them-- I don't know which ones, but one was near the middle of the list and one near the end-- resulted in scam websites (I'm assuming the linked blogs had been hacked) that were trying to implant viruses. I had to wrestle with my computer for quite a while just to get the tabs closed, but I did and I did system restore, so hopefully it's ok now. But just so you know! Some of your links have been messed with :(
ReplyDeleteThanks for letting me know. I will look into it and delete the links and notify the bloggers who have been hacked. Sorry about that. So frustrating!
DeleteI am trying to use your very cute activity but your links are not working and I can not download the activity cards.
ReplyDeleteClick the "Click to download" button that has my signature roses on them. Then you will need to enter your name and email address and they will be emailed directly to you.
Delete