My 2nd graders just got done with their air and weather unit. I wanted to do something fun with them so I chose one of my STEM activities out of my new
STEM Fall Into Thanksgiving Pack. I did this with older kids last week and I gave them more supplies. This week I tried it with littles and fewer materials made better trees. I love how they problem solved after we drew the parts of a tree in our notebooks and labeled the parts a tree has...
Take a look at their tree creations...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1GKtHYLoAOlvr1ugYwRmhaamxsuosPoP5p_eDe3yGc8gd_vfJ4gmn9SssC7eCSXI_PZznOkPY5jVOQaUkLYDuI6HIQw28EAttujoXSYFdVLGL-LDV0vmT7kIJwhAMCT_Sa8GpVzx59SL/s320/oak1.jpg) |
This tree's branches were sagging. I asked them what kind of tree it would be...we agreed either a tree knocked over by a tornado or a weeping willow. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhai2sF2uql9dkRvV8HTt9WEP5JjMD4hW-nJfie48k2mF9iHf-nE0lGPn0u-Hou5Im55C_ZOuygUaVNsKLywaRH7aXrt7inz-O-Ycxbsya3xfP_JBgVlDlsrnE0VeQjy35ejFTlHkQpvK_l/s320/oak3.jpg) |
This group struggled...but on their final attempt....the acorns and pine cones sat on top. They told me that the branches were together and didn't spread out. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRzLVUt6A96cbYl920JVE3JdOdZuxrbMsV-j3GkvUJxP0bKqVgxxQufNoxV4hw3LkxxcDkIDtmJJ_TKXs3N6MaEJK3zdzsWUeQy-n8gauXi2tDkH_W8RQMMrOV7-bOjyx04aVw161z3WZP/s320/oak4.jpg) |
I love how they started using the parts of the tree to describe what they still needed to include! |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFFSSCl-q4fcSmBOujDTBlc-lKwBvD8rzkj1-XBPx5cr_nnW8sb9T4gunwA9L9zzpI07ZF8N0lb2beMtXZVqX0Ko-x05ppCbcWnAzdxz52acF8qHpEGOse5-ToCkh5ne9PJ-iGifm7pBjs/s320/oak5.jpg) |
My two buddies on this STEM team started building a forest! They were able to make two and they were so proud of themselves! |
The part I liked best is that I could let my students work on a quick and easy activity during this fall season. I am handing off the supplies and a fun book to my first and third grade friends for next week's first Paw celebration!
If you interested in this or 3 other STEM activities for Fall and Thanksgiving check out this pack!
Here is a treat for you...leave me a comment...I never get them...and I will pick one lucky winner to receive this pack for free!