DIY Valentine's Day STEAM Projects
- Jan 24, 2017
- 2 min read
With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, I wanted to create a STEAM lesson that parents (moms in particular) could do with their children. So, I designed a challenge. The problem I identified was that students had candy to give their moms (located in the red cup) but they did not have a box to put the candy in. The task is to create a heart shaped box that can hold their candy. The constraints are that it can't be larger than 3 inches per side. Kindergarten students will test their results by placing their prototype inside the "tester" which is pre measured for them. 1st grade will have a ruler in their kit and measure those dotted lined sides (which will be 3 inches per side). 2nd grade will have a ruler and be required to create a square that is 3 inches on each side. So you see how differentiation is occurring but all students are learning that a square IS a square because all 4 sides are the same measurement. They will decorate the heart box template. They are required to use adjectives (the amount varies per grade level) that describe Valentine's Day to decorate the candy box. The box must open and close with a latch and be filled with exactly 10 pieces of Valentine's Day candy. There are 10 standards (which include science, technology, engineering, art, and math) that must be applied and can be assessed for mastery. The BEST part is...the kids think they are simply creating (which they ARE)! I've invited all the moms in the school to come in and participate in this activity with their child for free. Here is how you can do this at home with your little one(s).
You'll need:
A heart shaped box template (google it and choose your favorite)
scissors
crayons, markers, stickers(optional)
candy (of your choice)
A printer and paper(card stock works best)
That's it! Get creative. Solve problems together. Enjoy the end results!
Possible extensions: Can your child make a class set of these and pass them out on Valentine's Day?
Can you and your child make these for elderly moms in the community or nearby nursing homes?
Can your child make one for her teacher? Or a pediatrician?
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