Easter Egg  Stem Activity

The week before spring break can be challenging. You and your kids are ready for a much needed break. Let's be honest....you really just want to put a movie in to have a little quiet time for yourself and keep your kids calm. I totally understand this feeling. However, why not try something fun and educational....a team building activity....something the kids can learn from and enjoy. You don't have to do much but observe and discuss the activity. Your kids do all the work. Sounds great right? 

Here's the activity I did with my kids the week before spring break to get them thinking and working together. I was shocked at what they told me they learned from this activity. I had one of those O.M.G I can't believe you are saying this...I'm gonna cry...WOW! moments. It was amazing.  This is the website where I got this idea but I put my own twist to it...

Easter Egg Stem Activity

Step 1: You will need to gather the materials needed which cost me all of around 5 to 10$. 

Materials:

4-5 tubs of play-dough (a tub of play-dough for each group)

2-3 bags of Easter Eggs (20 eggs for each group)

Box of Peeps (you can use really whatever you choose)
paper and pencils for brainstorming

5 Rulers or Yard sticks

the floor or a desk

kids

energy and excitement (weave the magic baby, make your kids excited by your excitement)

Once you have the materials you should sort them out so that they will be easily available for your groups. I had 5 groups with 3-4 kids in each group. So each group gets a tub of play-dough, 20 Easter Eggs, yard stick/ruler, paper and pencils. 

Step 2: Explain to your kids that this activity is all about teamwork and building friendships. This is an activity to help you learn how to work together and encourage each other. We have been working on kindness in my classroom and this was a great way to extend that lesson. 

The Hook: I told my kids that they were going to build an Easter Egg tower using 20 eggs and the play-dough. They had to figure out a way to make the eggs stand 12 inches tall. They can use the eggs ANYWAY they want...yes this means they can open them and break them apart. The point is that the Easter Bunny is coming after the chick (peep) and it needs a place to hide. We have to build a tower that is 12 inches tall and will stand after placing the chick (peep) on top.  Ya'll my 4th graders ATE THIS UP! It's all about getting them excited! 

Step 3: Brainstorm: Give the kids some time to discuss how they might want to build this tower. They can draw it out and write down ideas about how it could work. What could the do to make the eggs stick together and stand up.

Step 4: Begin working on their tower.  I originally set the timer for 20 minutes but we ended up working on this for around 45 minutes. It's totally up to you how long you want your kids to work on this. Once the groups build their towers and they stand 12 inches then you can give them a peep to place on top of the tower. If it remains standing then they have won the challenge! Just keep in mind this is difficult! Some of my kids were frustrated because they couldn't get it to work. THAT IS OKAY!!! They learn through the struggle! They need to learn that sometimes you don't always get the answers right but as long as you try that is all that matters. We can always learn from our mistakes. This is something I stress with me kids on a daily basis. This can be turned into a history lesson where you can bring in all the people that failed through their lives but became famous or accomplished great things in their lives.

Step 5: DISCUSSION! Ask your kids questions about this activity! Let them tell you the problems they had and how they addressed them. What did they learn? What made it difficult or easy? How did your group solve problems or how did you work together? How could this have been different? What would you have done differently if we did this another time? How did you make your tower work? This can be turned into a great writing piece about what they learned or even used as a HOW-TO writing assignment.  You could use a cause and effect graphic organizer to discuss what happened as well. 

My kids told me that they really learned how to work together and when someone wanted to give up they encouraged each other to try again. I didn't hear any arguing among the group members but a few heckling and trash talk between some groups who were close to being finished. My class is super competitive! They told me they had fun even though some of my groups weren't able to complete the challenge. They learned it's okay to try and fail. They were able to explain the process they used to make their tower stand and explain to the groups who didn't make it how they could have changed their design. 

This was a great experiment for my students and one they loved doing. We enjoyed it on our last day before spring break. Hope you try this with your kids or it gives you an idea of what you could possibly do in the future. Thanks for reading.

Here is another great Easter Stem activity to try...I will have to do this in the future.

Building with Jelly Beans

Spring Break is Finally Here!

 This is my first blog post so I wanted to share a few things about me and where I teach. I am a fourth grade teacher in my city. This is my third year teaching. I taught fourth grade my first year, 2nd grade my second year (LORD BLESS THE YOUNGER GRADE TEACHERS), and now I'm back in fourth grade. It is my absolute favorite grade to teach. My kids are pretty sweet for the most part and enjoy learning. They love me and genuinely want to please me. I enjoy being their teacher. I am so thankful for each one of my kids. I can't think of anything else I would want to do in life other than teach. It brings me true joy and satisfaction other than the amazing love and saving grace of my Savior. I am so blessed to have a job and work with amazing coworkers who love our kids and want the best for them. We work hard to provide the best education for our students.

 Most of my students come from poor socioeconomic situations and homes. I cringe when I think about what some of my kids have to deal with on a daily basis when they aren't with me. It breaks my heart that many of them have had to go through situations that no one should have to go through. This is why I do what I do. I want to make a difference in these kids lives. I want to be their safe zone and their protection when they are with me. I wish I could take these kids away from the hurt and pain that many go through but I can't and it truly breaks my heart. I can pray and I can love them EVERY. DAY. Those days when I have a tough time going to school my attitude immediately changes once I get there and see those smiling faces and get huge hugs or a "I missed you over the weekend Ms. Peoples". Kids sure do know how to make you feel loved and wanted. They are amazing and they actually change my life and teach me things daily. I am a better person for knowing each of my students.

Even though I love my kids I have been counting down the days to Spring Break and it is finally here. I am enjoying Netflix and sleeping in. Teaching is tough and it can wear you out. Taking time for yourself is important.

Spring Break Must Do's 

1. Sleep Late or Sleep In:

You need rest. You've been teaching your heart out for weeks and you haven't truly rested yourself. Sleep later than you normally would during the school week. Be crazy and take a nap during the day! Remember you don't have to set an alarm because it's Spring Break. Take time to just rest and enjoy down time. Soak up all the Z's you want because you know you are going to need them to make it to summer break. 

2. Make Time to Enjoy Something for Yourself

This is very important! Do something for yourself that you don't normally do during the school week. Let's face it, you have been all about 24 other little lives plus the lives of your family members. It's time for you to do something just for you.  Get a pedicure, take a walk with your dog, enjoy the sunshine, go shopping for some spring clothes you have been wanting, go on a nice vacation to your favorite place with family or friends, read a good book while cuddled on the couch with a blanket and your puppy and enjoy a glass of wine or a coke icee. Coke Icee's are my guilty pleasure! Do something for you! Take time to relax and enjoy you time. 

3. Forget the School Work

Say what???  Yah! I said it! FORGET IT! At least for a little while. Don't spend your whole break working on school. I know it seems like a great time to get all those things done you have been wanting to get done but you need a break from school. Forget about the kids and all the paperwork that needs to be completed. I know it is super hard to do all that. Believe me! Take at least three days away from school work to just focus on you and enjoy resting. You will thank me later! Go on a date with your hunny or with girlfriends to keep your mind off of school. Netflix binge and eat whatever you want! Put down that red pen! 

I hope you all have a wonderful Spring Break and take some time for yourself. You will feel refreshed and ready to finish out the school year teaching your heart out. Owl always love teaching but first let me enjoy my Spring Break!