Use your favorite read aloud books to create fun and hands-on ways to challenge children’s thinking and problem-solving skills with Preschool STEM activities.
STEAM is the combination of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. STEAM activities help promote essential 21st-century skills, which is important in preparing our children for an unknown future.
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A STEAM challenge is designed for children to help inspire creativity, collaboration, communication, and encourage critical thinking, otherwise known as the 4 C’s.
You do not need expensive or fancy equipment to set up STEAM activities for children. Many STEAM challenges may be accomplished with simple classroom supplies. Check out our alphabet inspired STEAM challenge below!
STEAM Challenge:
Can you build an alphabet tree?
How many letters does it hold?
Objective: Build a three-dimensional Chicka Chicka Boom Boom alphabet tree that can hold the most alphabet letters.
Materials: Alphabet Letters, Craft Sticks, Blocks
Read the story, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom.
Ask: How can we build a tree that can hold different alphabet letters using these materials?
Imagine: Give students time to experiment and play with the materials.
Plan: Discuss and collaborate together or in small groups, on how to build a tree that can hold more than one letter. Students may wish to draw their design.
Create: Build your tree.
Improve: Discuss how you can improve your tree. Allow students to redesign their tree to try and hold more letters.
Share: Draw a picture of your final tree with the alphabet letters. Share with parents or other classmates.
Want the Chicka Chicka Boom STEAM lesson?
Im new to the group. Looking forward to seeing more of your creations and curriculum.Thanks for subscribing me.
I tried the Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Challenge with my class of 3 and 4 year old’s today it went FANTASTIC !!! It was so fun to see what designs they came up with and how excited they were to get some letters to balance on top. Having the Boom Boom part in the book helped with the disappointment of their own trees going Boom Boom now and then. I got some great pictures of the children with their constructions and sure was excited to share them with their families.
This was a great activity! My kinders were fully engaged! So much fun- thank you!
Thank you for these preschool ideas!
So doing!
Love it!
Simply amazing.♡♡♡
So exci red To implement these activities 🙂 thank you thank you!
I am new to all of this. Do you give each student materials or work in groups?
Love this! Thank you for sharing. I plan on adapting it a bit, and using it next year in my classroom!
Jamie,
Thank you for making this new to me, concept of STEAM stress free! That sound you heard was my big heavy sigh of relief. Your ideas are truly appropriate for preschoolers, whereas many I’ve seen are geared for older children. I especially love the tie in to the story books. I think they provide a great jumping off point, and a vision to help get the concept in the children’s minds. I’ve joined your Facebook page, looking forward to this new adventure! So thankful I found you!
Thank you, Jamie!
I love your ideas and how they relate to books! I would like to enroll in your group but access was denied.
I loved your steam for the book. I Like Myself. The kids had a great time making their faces
Thanks for s great idea.
I think I made a mistake with my email in box to subscribe
I am an autistic support teacher K-3
I can’t wait to try it in my classroom with my students
Thank You!
I have been both an art and science teacher. I have taught STEAM for several years: K-8. I am currently both a K-8 art teacher, and a Pre-K-5 STREAM teacher. I am struggling to find age appropriate STEAM/STREAM activities for 3 and 4 year olds.
great idea perfect for homeschooling