Thanksgiving is just around the corner! If you’re like me, you love incorporating seasonal activities into your instruction. If you need a quick, easy to prep activity to do in the weeks before Thanksgiving break, I have a super easy STEM challenge for you!
This STEM challenge is super low prep and uses materials you probably already have. If you don’t, however, you can get everything you need with one quick trip to the dollar store. (You know I’m all about sticking to that budget!)
What You Need
For this easy STEM challenge, all you need is some index cards, tape, and a can of corn (or other vegetable). I recommend splitting students into teams. Each team will need a set of index cards, but not necessarily an entire pack. You can easily split one pack of index cards between each team — if they do it correctly, they won’t need more than 6! Each team will also need some tape, but the can can be shared between all teams.
Easy STEM Challenge Directions
In this challenge, students will make a “Thanksgiving table” out of index cards that can support a can of corn. I’ll be completely honest – I had to Google how to do this the first time I tried it! I did a similar challenge with my third graders several years ago, and I do NOT have an engineering brain…so I turned to the internet to find the best solution.
If your students are like mine, they will struggle at first! Depending on the age of your students, you might have some figure it out. But, that’s my favorite thing about this easy STEM challenge – it’s challenging!
The goal of the challenge is to support the can. If you have multiple teams that figure it out, you might extend an extra challenge to see who did it with the least amount of index cards.
By the way, here’s the solution if you’re like me and have no clue how to do this.
The Solution
So, there may be other solutions that work, but by far this seems to be the best and easiest way.
Students make several cylinders by rolling their index cards and securing with tape. Cylinders are very strong and will be able to support the can! Place the cylinders upright. I put another index card on top of the cylinders to make it look more like a table. Place the can on top and voila! A Thanksgiving table.
More Easy STEM Challenges
If you enjoy this STEM challenge, click here to view more easy stem challenges for Thanksgiving! All STEM challenges include instructions, pictures, reflection sheets, and design sheets that take students through each step of the design process as they work.
If you’d like a sample of this resource, sign up below to receive the instructions and reflection sheet absolutely FREE in your inbox!
Want more fall activity ideas? Check out these posts!
24 Comments
Amanda
This is such a great idea! Thanks for sharing 🙂
The Average Teacher
You’re welcome! Thanks for reading, Amanda!
Amanda
Your welcome! It is a great read!
Allie
I love STEM challenges, and I use them frequently as community builders during morning meetings!! Thank you for this idea – it’s perfect for this month!!
The Average Teacher
Thank you Allie, I agree – STEM challenges are great!
Robin
Going to do this with my 8th graders! Love it! Thank you for the free resource:)
The Average Teacher
You’re so welcome! Enjoy!
Loren
I’m not in the classroom at the moment but now you’ve got me wanting to try this. I’m thinking I may set up the challenge for my husband and preschooler!! 🙂
The Average Teacher
Yes, do it! My husband thoroughly enjoys my STEM challenges!
Caroline
I love how simple this is to set up! I could also work great with a canned food drive. Thank you for sharing!
The Average Teacher
Great idea! It would definitely go well with that!
Rachael
This is such a great STEM project! I like that it doesn’t require a lot of materials, but it still requires the same amount of problem solving. I’m definitely doing this with different teams, and each will have a different can of food! Great idea!
The Average Teacher
Thank you, Rachael! Yes, low prep is my jam!
Ashley
This is great! I have been looking for some fun STEM activities for my second graders. I love that the materials needed are things we already have on hand. Can’t wait to try this next week.
The Average Teacher
That’s great, Ashley! I hope it goes well!
Ashley
I have been looking for some fun STEM activities for my second graders. I love that the materials needed are things we already have on hand. Can’t wait to try this next week.
Brooklyn
These are some really great & easy ideas for the classroom this month. Thank you!
The Average Teacher
You’re welcome, thanks for reading!
Victoria (CrazyCharizma)
That’s super easy! Thank you for sharing!
The Average Teacher
You’re welcome!
Jessica Witoski
I love the simplicity of this STEM challenge! And an added plus that it’s a low cost activity!
The Average Teacher
Yes, I am a big fan of anything low cost! Thanks for reading!
Katarina
Love this idea! I find STEM challenges always require materials I don’t necessarily have on hand, so this is a great idea. Quick, simple, and effective!
The Average Teacher
Yes, I’ve found the same! That’s exactly why I’ve come up with ideas that are easy and inexpensive!