Storytime STEAM combines your favorite books with a simple STEAM challenge. This week we are exploring a Dr. Seuss classic, Ten Apples Up on Top.
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 the 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. In fact, for this preschool steam activity, you only need two materials. Read the full challenge below!
Objective: Build a structure that can support ten apples.
Materials: Blocks, Apples (real or fake)
Prior to starting the STEAM challenge we tried stacking our apples. We couldn’t get past two apples. We discovered stacking apples was a lot harder than when we stacked rocks!
STEAM Challenge: Can you build a structure that can support 10 apples?
Read the story, Ten Apples Up on Top!
Ask: How can we build a structure that can support 10 apples?
Imagine: Give students time to experiment and play with the materials.
Plan: Discuss and collaborate together or in small groups.
Create: Build your structure.
Improve: Discuss how you can improve your building. Allow students time to redesign their structure. Can you hold more than 10 apples?
Share: Draw a picture of your final structure. Share with parents or other classmates.
Apple STEAM Experience Bundle:
The full written lesson complete with guiding questions and STEAM integrations is included in our Apple STEAM Experience Bundle. Click here to learn more.
I can’t find where to download the lesson plan pack for Ten Apples…Is there a link?
What can I add for kindergarten?
Love, love, love! These activities fit so well into our thematic unit… and are so creative. Thank you.
Very happy I found your site. It looks like your ideas are the direction I need. I was just told I will be teaching Pre-K STEAM in September and I am in full stress mode. Not sure how to begin…feeling overwhelmed. This site calmed me down a bit. The activity seems easy to explain and will integrate nicely into the STEAM centers I need to have for 30 minutes, after 10 minute meeting on rug. I like that activities are on Pre-k level and highly independent with adult as facilitator. We work as a thematic approach, as do many NYC PreK’s, we follow The Creative Curriculum. Would love if you could incorporate these themes into your future lessons: All About Me, My Five Senses, Building Unit, Transportation, Clothing Unit, Recycling, Plants and Trees Unit and Transformation Unit.
Love your stuff!
Thank you very much!