Preschoolers are naturally born engineers. They like to ask why things work!
Engineering for preschoolers is the process of building and designing something to solve a problem.
With a few simple materials, you can challenge your child’s thinking and grow their problem-solving skills.
Inspired by our Chicka, Chicka Boom Boom Alphabet tree, this engineering activity will have your child experimenting with materials to build an apple tree!
STEAM Challenge: How many apples can your apple tree hold?
Ask: How can you use the provided materials to build an apple tree?
Imagine: Give time for the students to experiment and play with the materials.
Plan: Collaborate together or work in small groups to create a plan to build your tree. What are the different parts to an apple tree?
Create: Build your tree.
Improve: How can you improve your tree to hold more apples?
Share: Draw a picture of your final tree. Share with other classmates or parents.
Younger Child Modifications: Use wide craft sticks along with bigger size pom poms.
Older Child Modifications: Cut the tube into sections. Stack the tubes to create your apple tree trunk.
To get the complete lesson that includes guiding questions and STEAM integrations check out our Apple STEAM Experience Bundle.
I’m very interested in steam. However I am not interested in being connected to Facebook and unfortunately that is where the videos are available. Could this be changed? I really would like access to the steam videos. Thanks!!
Thank you so much for the clear, easy stem additions to our classroom.
It will be easy to add the art part too. Jo Anne
Would love to see more ideas
If I were to do this in a classroom with a group of children, what would the timeline be to do the challenge? I am assuming that you wouldn’t do all the above activities in an afternoon. It would take place over a week or more, correct? For example, You would maybe introduce challenge (ASK) and let the children explore materials (IMAGINE) one day. The next day you put out the materials, but also take time to do research (PLAN)… Am I on the correct path?
My students love the lessons! I present a topic in the morning and the kids rotate through with eager anticipation! The parents are excited to hear what the children learned and experimented with everyday! Thank you for sharing these amazing activities!!!
I love simple hands-on activities like this for preschoolers. I can’t wait to try this with my niece the next time I see her.
I’m adding it to my apple STEM activity post.