Group

Names
Ask How can I make a pipeline
that is watertight and strong
enough to stand the water
pressure running through it?

1 stick hot glue

Imagine Share ideas as a
group.

Design Write or draw a picture of your plan.

Create Give each person a job and work together.

Improve What is one improvement you made from your
original plan?

Test How well did your project stand the test?

%Why I Love Tuesdays^
The clock shows just a little past 11 when I break the silence, “All right, everyone
come and get your popsicle sticks!” They each grab a stick and make a big show of
keeping secret which color they got. But soon they’re divided into groups, and the
hubbub starts. Straws are counted out, tape is stretched from desk to desk, and
diagrams are drawn. I observe from a distance… I see a bit of craziness, giggling
girls, and boys poking and prodding each other of course, but mostly I see creativity.
I see three different groups with same challenge and the same materials, making
three completely different things. And I see teamwork. I see everyone sharing ideas.
I see the boys and girls learning to work together, and children who are total
opposites standing side by side, gluing popsicle sticks, bending straws, and tying
string. All focused on creating something. Finally, everyone is finished, and it is time to
test the projects. I see their enthusiasm, and I see them complimenting each other.
I see them getting excited about a good idea that was not their own, but someone
else’s. On Tuesday mornings, I see what my students could grow up to be someday.
That is why I love Tuesdays.

%Teaching Tips^
 Group your children randomly each time. I have popsicle sticks with the ends
painted three different colors, and they each draw a popsicle stick and work
together with the ones who draw the same color as them. These projects
work well for groups of three to four.
 Put all your supplies in a cupboard or a cart and mark them so the children can
get their own materials.
 Structure STEM class the same way each time, and make sure they fill out the
worksheets. Have them draw out their plan before they start randomly
slapping things together. Make sure everyone is included. You need to treat it
as an important subject if you want them to take it seriously and not just get
crazy.
 Have your children take apart and save anything that can be re-used.
 Display the projects somewhere for a week or so… I have Moms that come in
every week to check out all our cool creations!
%Materials for the teacher^
 Exacto knife for cutting Styrofoam and cardboard
 Dish tub for each group for getting half-finished projects out of the way and
for water challenges
 Aquarium rocks or weights of some sort for testing things like boats, towers,
etc.
 Small measuring cup for water
 Low-temp hot glue gun for each group (under $5 at Wal-Mart)
 Yardstick for measuring tape
 Lego-men for each group
 Marbles
 Ping-pong balls

%Basic Materials to keep on Hand^

 Straws
 Popsicle Sticks
 Toothpicks
 Cheap string or yarn
 Masking tape (it comes apart easily, is waterproof, and is 50 cents a roll)
 Cardboard boxes and toilet paper rolls (ask parents to save them)
 Wooden blocks (I have a bucket of old toy blocks of different shapes and sizes
that I got at a thrift store)

%pipeline^
This was our first STEM challenge of the year, and it’s a great simple one
to get you hooked on STEM. They can go for the tallest pipeline or the
longest pipeline, and there will be something good about everyone’s for you
to point out. There are no special materials, and the challenge is easy, so
everyone will most likely be fairly successful.