Are you an elementary school teacher looking for ways to integrate STEM into your classroom without using the same worksheets? Then this article is for you! Below are five unique homework assignments elementary school students can do to foster their STEM interests.
- Recycled Monsters!
This activity serves as a great way for students to improve their motor skills while being creative and learning about recycling.
Grades: K-3
Materials Needed: Recycled Materials (Cardboard, Water Bottles, 2L Bottles, etc.), Googly Eyes, Markers, Chenille Pipe Cleaners, Construction Paper
Instructions:
- A few days before the activity, have your students bring recyclable materials from their home (that’s the homework assignment!).
- Once all materials have been collected, prepare for the activity by dividing your classroom into three stations.
- The first station will have all of the recycled materials; this is where the students will choose the body of their monster.
- The second station will have glue, scissors, and construction paper.
- Once students have created their monsters, they can move to the third station containing the googly eyes and markers.
- All that’s left to do is for students to decorate their monsters and bring them to life!
- The Five Senses
This activity will take your lesson into the real world! Students will be able to use their five senses and share them with the class.
Grades: K-3
Materials Needed: N/A
Instructions:
- Have students write down 5 things they can see, hear, touch, smell, and taste at home.
- To make it more fun for the students, ask them to bring in one of these objects.
- Have a show and tell!
- Code.org®
Code.org® is a free online coding tool focused on expanding access to computer science. You can sign up as an elementary school teacher and assign their suggested activities to students. Since Code.org is for all ages, it would be beneficial to encourage students to make their accounts to continue learning about computer science throughout their educational career.
Grades: K-12
Materials Needed: Computer/Laptop, WiFi
Instructions: Up to you!
- Math Playground
Are your students tired of the same boring math homework? Then try Math Playground.
Math Playground is a free online tool for first to sixth-grade students aimed at making math fun for kids. You can choose the grade you teach and have students play a specific game as homework.
Grades: 1-6
Materials Needed: Computer/Laptop, WiFi
Instructions: Up to you, but here’s a suggestion.
- Choose your grade(s) on the home screen and pick a game that aligns with your lesson plan.
- Have students get to a certain level of difficulty and discuss it more in-depth during class.
- To log their progress, have students fill up a chart.
- My Favorite Animal
An easy way to integrate tech into the classroom is by having kids record themselves talking about their favorite animal and show it to the class.
Grades: K-5
Materials Needed: Computer/Laptop/Tablet/Phone, WiFi
Instructions:
- Have students pick an animal in class to make sure there are no repeats.
- They should sit in front of a camera and talk about their favorite animal.
- To make it more challenging, give them a time limit and ask them to use a single special effect (slow motion, add pictures, add a title, put music in the background, etc.).
Written By: Isamarie Hernandez Arroyo, NSTEM PR
