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Simple Challenges with STEM Bins® Learn and Play Packs

Simple Challenges with STEM Bins Learn and Play Packs: packs with task cards on a wooden table

There are countless benefits to STEM education: real-world problem solving, hands-on engagement, meaningful collaboration, and so much more.

As advocates for all things hands-on learning, hand2mind and I wanted a simple, open-and-play way to bring the magic of STEM Bins® to one or two students at a time, so kids can create and explore on their own.

In this post

  1. What’s in a Learn & Play Pack?
  2. Ways to Use Learn & Play Packs
  3. Weekly STEM Bins® Routines
  4. What Teachers Say
  5. Whole-Class and Fairy Tale Challenges

1. What’s in a Learn & Play Pack?

Our STEM Bins® Learn and Play packs are filled with a variety of construction manipulatives that are perfect for 1–2 students in grades K–5! Paired with the 6 double-sided task cards with photos of real-world structures, kids can combine materials in unique ways to create models, structures, and inventions. There is also a write-and-wipe blueprint card and marker included for students to draw and write about their creations.

See the Learn & Play Pack on Amazon

What's in the bins: bricks, snap cubes, pattern blocks, mini cups, straws and connectors, Play-Doh, task cards and a blueprint card
Kids building with Learn and Play Pack materials on task cards

STEM Bins® Learn and Play packs are sold individually. They also make wonderful birthday gifts for elementary-aged kids!

A Learn and Play Pack with its write-and-wipe blueprint card

2. Ways to Use Learn & Play Packs

Best of all, Learn and Play packs can be used in the classroom in so many different ways!

Ways to use STEM Bins: early finishers, centers, morning work, indoor recess and makerspace exploration

3. Weekly STEM Bins® Routines

You can also set up consistent daily routines for Morning Work or Centers.

STEM Bins weekly routines: Maker Monday through Friend Friday

4. What Teachers Say

Here’s what teachers are saying about STEM Bins®:

hand2mind STEM Bins results: what teachers say

5. Whole-Class and Fairy Tale Challenges

The provided task cards are a great way to challenge students, and STEM Bins® Learn and Play packs can also be used for bigger whole-class challenges.

Simple STEM challenges: playground, chain reaction, maze, landmark, habitat and setting

You can even add an engaging, hands-on component to your literacy block by incorporating fairy tale or folk tale STEM challenges.

Fairy tale and folk tale STEM challenges table

We are so excited about the possibilities of our STEM Bins® Learn and Play Packs at home and in the classroom!

STEM Bins® was created by Brooke Brown, NBCT, of Teach Outside the Box. STEM Bins® and STEAM Bins® are registered trademarks of Teach Outside the Box, LLC. STEM Bins® kits are also available from our partner hand2mind.

This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, Teach Outside the Box earns a small commission at no cost to you.