5 Hands-On, Project-Based STEM Activities for the Young Scientists in Your Classroom
As educators, we face the challenge of preparing our learners to be successful problem solvers. Developing skills necessary for the careers of tomorrow requires that students have the opportunity to explore real-world problems today. If you’re looking for project-based learning opportunities for your classroom, look no further than the 3M Young Scientist Lab. This is an excellent destination for comprehensive problem-solving resources that can be easily integrated into any learning environment.
Developed in partnership with Discovery Education, the 3M Young Scientist Lab provides you with resources to engage students in real-world solution development with fun, hands-on activities and experiments.
If you really want to kick problem-solving into high gear, encourage your grade 5-8 students to enter the 2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge. If your students are curious, innovative, interested in impacting their communities – and they love science – this challenge is the perfect opportunity for them!
The 3M Young Scientist Challenge is the nation’s premier science competition for middle school students. This unique video competition has sparked a sense of wonder and discovery in hundreds of thousands of students and enhanced science, innovation and communication across the United States. It only takes an idea to get started, the entry process is easy and the grand prize is $25,000! All of the information you need to help your students enter is at your fingertips, including a step-by-step guide, FAQs and idea starters. The entry process is open through Tuesday, April 21, 2020.
Check out more of my favorite resources from the 3M Young Scientist Lab below:
- In Science at Work, take your students on a journey to learn more about 3M laboratory scientists. In a 3M lab, scientists come to work every day prepared to research information and explore new possibilities and propel innovation to make our world a better place. Get to know the 3M scientists personally and professionally, and explore STEM career opportunities with your students!
- Try the “brain boggling” experiments! These activities are designed to capture curiosity and engage students in the scientific thinking process while having fun! They are based on classic scientific discoveries – some dating back over 200 years! Students can download step-by-step instructions for everything from sandwich-bag dart boards to two-state balloon rockets, complete with explanations of what should happen during the experiment.
- Connect through interactive learning resources. Awaken curiosity with activities based on classic scientific discoveries we encounter science every single day! Made for the classroom or family time, students identify how science shows itself in the most unexpected places! These resources are super easy to link to or to introduce as part of a STEM community night, allowing families to learn and test scientific concepts alongside students.
- You can even take your students on a virtual field trip to explore how 3M scientists are using biomimicry — the prototyping and creation of materials and systems based on the biological world — to improve and invent new products for everything from healthcare to food science to adhesives.
There is no shortage of resources available in the 3M Young Scientist Lab to spark curiosity and innovation in the minds of your students. Maybe the next Young Scientist Challenge winner will be from your school!
To learn more about the 2020 3M Young Scientist Challenge or explore hands on STEM resources featured in the Young Scientist Lab, visit www.youngscientistlab.com.
