OTT 227: STEM for Halloween: 3 Ideas for Integrating Seasonal STEM Activities into the Classroom
As the air turns crisp and the leaves begin to fall, it's time to embrace the spooky spirit of Halloween in your classroom.
But why settle for boring old candy and costumes when you can infuse STEM magic and so much fun into this Halloween season? Get ready to turn your classroom into a makerspace filled with spine-tingling experiments, hair-raising challenges, and ghoulishly fun activities that will have your students shrieking with delight while learning valuable STEM skills through fun STEM challenges, a Makerspace extension and spooky chemical reaction or two. In this blog/podcast, we'll explore three wickedly awesome ideas for integrating seasonal STEM activities into your curriculum, ensuring that this Halloween is anything but ordinary.
Why STEM Activities are Important for Halloween
Halloween may be known for costumes, creepy crawlies, and candy, but it's also the perfect time to incorporate STEM activities into elementary students' celebrations. Makerspace moments can take a spooky twist as kids use their creativity and problem-solving skills to design and build haunted houses or create creepy crawlers using various materials. By engaging in these hands-on activities, students develop their critical thinking abilities and foster a sense of collaboration as they work with their peers to bring their terrifying visions to life.
Additionally, Halloween-themed STEM activities offer a unique opportunity for focused close reading. While children may eagerly devour Halloween stories from cover to cover, incorporating science or math-related texts related to the holiday can provide a valuable interdisciplinary approach. For instance, exploring the oozy goo and thick eyeballs is an excellent way for kids to explore matter during this holiday and enhance their reading comprehension skills on the topic of solids, liquids, and gases. Educators can captivate young minds by seamlessly integrating these subjects into the Halloween spirit while encouraging them to connect STEM concepts with real-world applications.
So this Halloween season, let's unleash our little scientists' inner monsters! Combining makerspace moments with focused close reading opportunities on spooky subjects like bats or cauldron chemistry can spark a love for STEM that lasts far beyond October 31st. Who knows? One day, these very same students will become inventors of ingenious gadgets that make trick-or-treating even more thrilling or discover innovative ways of tackling ghoulish problems like ghost repellents or zombie-proof shelters!
Idea 1: Halloween States of Matter Experiment for This Time of Year
With Halloween just approaching, it's time to start thinking about spooky activities to get into the festive spirit. Look no further than a Halloween matter unit explicitly created for 2nd graders - the perfect way to combine science and scares for one of our favorite holidays! Imagine mixing potions, creating bubbling concoctions, and witnessing magical transformations in your classroom or kitchen. This experiment is entertaining and educational, making it a win-win for both kids and adults.
One delightful twist you can add to this experiment is using everyday ingredients creatively. For instance, instead of using regular food coloring for your potion, why not try fruit juice or vegetable dyes? This will give your experiments an extra creepy touch with unexpected colors like beet red or spinach green, but it is also a healthier alternative (don't tell the kids!). You'll be amazed at how simple substitutions can elevate your Halloween matter experiment from ordinary to extraordinary.
In addition to engaging in traditional matter experiments with some eerie twists, think outside the box when it comes to presentation. After all, what fun would Halloween be without some visual theatrics? Try incorporating dry ice into your experiments - trust me; nothing says spooky quite like billowing smoke emerging from bubbling cauldrons or potions that seem alive with vapor swirling mysteriously! It's like having your own laboratory straight out of a witch's enchanted lair.
Idea 2: Makerspace Moments Focused on a Makerspace Activity or Two
If you've ever doubted the infinite possibilities of a simple popsicle stick, let me take a moment to enlighten you. As a Makerspace enthusiast, I've witnessed countless extraordinary creations come to life with just those humble wooden sticks. From architectural wonders that defy gravity to intricate kinetic sculptures that spark joy, these tiny slivers of wood hold immense potential in the hands of imaginative makers. Who knew that something as mundane as a popsicle stick could be transformed into a tool for engineering marvels?
After reading This is the House that Monster Built by Steve Metzger, one super fun Makerspace moment is creating haunted houses out of popsicle sticks. Kids have a creative blast creating their very own solutions to Monster's problem.
Another few more maker space moments that get kids thinking through the engineering design process while also having a blast with Halloween activities is I Need My Monster by Amanda Noll, Something Pumpkin by Scott Allen, and Skeleton for Dinner by Margery Cuyler.
In an age where technology often dominates our lives, seeing individuals engage with tangible materials like popsicle sticks and candy pumpkins and molding clay in such innovative ways brings back a sense of playfulness and creativity we might have forgotten we possessed. So let's embrace these Makerspace moments wholeheartedly and cherish every ingenious creation brought to life by those unassuming materials- because who knows what remarkable feats await us when we allow ourselves the freedom to explore? Fairy-tale castles? Wind-powered race cars? The sky is the limit!
Idea 3: A Spooky Halloween Tune With Halloween STEM Activities and Story Stations
Looking for a Halloween activity that will send shivers down your spine while engaging your little ghouls and goblins in some STEM fun? Look no further than creating a spooky Halloween tune with Halloween STEM activities and story stations. This idea combines the magic of music, the thrill of storytelling, and the excitement of science to create an unforgettable October experience.
First, gather some eerie-sounding instruments like a toy xylophone or keyboard and let your imagination run wild. Experiment with different combinations of notes to create spine-chilling melodies reminiscent of haunting tunes from horror movies. Next, set up various story stations around your classroom or media center where kids can explore spooky tales brought to life through props, sound effects, and interactive elements. As they move from station to station, encourage them to use their problem-solving skills by asking questions like Why do you think the main character made that choice? Or What would you have done differently in this situation? This hands-on approach fosters creativity and strengthens young minds' critical thinking abilities.
In this Halloween Makerspace Story Station Bundle, kids will have access to 10 different Halloween stories and ten different problems that characters face. By asking and answering questions about solutions, students will work in small groups to plan, create, revise, and reflect upon solutions. A digital choice build is included.
Finally, these story stations work to incorporate some STEM activities into the mix. Set up building blocks or LEGOs on a table and challenge your little monsters to construct solutions to the various problems they encounter in the story stations. Encourage them to think about how these solutions answer the problem in each story.
Conclusion: Benefits of Incorporating Seasonal STEM Activities for Elementary Students
In conclusion, the benefits of incorporating seasonal STEM activities for elementary students are manifold. First and foremost, these activities allow young scientists to apply their knowledge and skills to real-world scenarios while having a blast. Take, for instance, Halloween-themed experiments like spaghetti brains for a new look at solids or ghostly slime concoctions. They create an exciting learning environment and foster creativity and problem-solving skills as students use their scientific know-how to transform ordinary household items into spooky surprises.
Moreover, seasonal STEM activities provide a unique opportunity to engage students in hands-on learning experiences. Educators can capture their attention more effectively by making connections between scientific concepts and popular holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving. For example, building gingerbread houses may seem all about fun and sweets on the surface; however, it involves architectural engineering principles such as stability and balance—a tasty lesson indeed! By infusing STEM into festive occasions, teachers can cultivate a sense of curiosity among children extending far beyond the classroom walls.
Incorporating seasonal STEM activities into elementary education has proven immensely beneficial for young learners. It encourages them to explore the wonders of science through interactive experiments and empowers them with critical thinking abilities that will serve them well in the future.