March Maker Read Alouds and STEM Challenges
The following is a guest post from Dr. Jacie Maslyk.
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Digging into a great book can happen at home or at school. Connecting with interesting characters, learning about new places, and discovering new ideas can all happen when we become readers. Books can be even more fun when we extend our learning through hands-on experiences.
Maker education is the opportunity for learners of all ages to use different materials and processes to create something. This can be in response to a design challenge, in connection with a piece of children’s literature or just to have fun.
This post will share some read alouds for the month of March. Check out the March Read Aloud STEM menus for more ways to extend the learning after reading these books with your class or at home.
Fiona’s Luck
With all the luck in Ireland taken away by the leprechauns, Fiona might find a way to get it back. She devises a plan to trick the leprechauns and return the luck to the people. This imaginative story offers opportunities for creative thinking and design. Students can even do a little research and exploration.
Leprechauns are much smaller than “big folk” in the story. Design a home for a leprechaun with miniature-sized items.
The leprechaun magician did a trick for Fiona. Plan your own magic trick and perform it for someone.
The king challenged Fiona to a game of chess. Make your own game and challenge someone in your family to play it with you.
Get the Read Aloud STEM menu for this book here.
Allie’s Basketball Dream
When she gets a new basketball, Allie goes to the playground to practice her shots. She is discouraged by other kids, but quickly proves that she has the skills and determination to be successful at the sport. A great story to read in conjunction with March Madness basketball tournaments, students can try some sports-related design tasks like these:
Design a new sport using a jump rope, a ball, and a garbage can. How does your game work? What are the rules? How do you win?
Create an invention that will retrieve Allie’s rebounds so she can practice on her own.
Julio comes by on his skateboard. Sketch a design for your own skateboard. Use cardboard and other materials to create a prototype.
Get the Read Aloud STEM menu for this book here.
Margaret and the Moon
From a young age, Margaret was fascinated with learning science, math, and beyond. Based on the life of Margaret Hamilton and how she used her knowledge to save the first lunar landing. With lots of connections to STEM topics, this book is a great one to focus on during Women’s History Month.
Create a model of a lunar module using recycled materials.
Learn about the moon then create a model of it based on your research.
Design a new way to get to the moon. Sketch or build your vehicle. How will you power it? Who will navigate it?
Get the Read Aloud STEM menu for this book here.
There are plenty of other STEM ideas for Margaret and the Moon available through Carly and Adam. Need more ideas for Women’s History Month? Check out these resources!
There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed a Clover
This circular story follows the old lady who swallows all sorts of St. Patrick’s Day items, culminating in a rainbow display. Students will like the silly nature of this story, especially when combined with different hands-on activities connected to the ideas in the book.
The old lady swallows a fiddle. Tinker with making some musical instruments using recyclable materials.
Design your own gold coin (or any color you want!) Draw it or mold it out of clay. What will it look like? What’s its value?
Get messy using outside materials (leaves, twigs, mud, etc.) and build a bird nest.
Get the Read Aloud STEM menu for this book here.
Woodpecker Wants a Waffle
Benny is a woodpecker who decides that he wants to try waffles. He sees them inside a diner window but can’t get in. He tries different ways to get to the waffles with a little help (or not) from his friends. Students will enjoy brainstorming and designing solutions to solve Benny’s problem.
Design a plan for Benny to sneak into the diner. Sketch out the plan or create a tool that will help him get in.
Pretend you’re the diner owner. Create an invention that will keep Benny out.
Design a bird feeder for the birds in your yard or neighborhood.
Get the Read Aloud STEM menu for this book here.
The Doctor with an Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath
An inspiring story about a young girl who grows up to help others. She uses her kindness and knowledge to focus on caring for the blind and visually impaired. This true story will provide learners with an example of another great woman in history, but also to learn more about the work that goes into a career in STEM.
Patricia helped individuals who were blind. Plan a birthday party for a visually impaired friend. What will you include? How will the party meet the needs of your friend?
What invention can you create that might help someone see? Sketch 3 ideas, then choose one to build and prototype.
Build or draw a model of an eye. What parts will you include?
Get the Read Aloud STEM menu for this book here.
This month, take some time to explore these (and other) great books. Whether learning about famous women in history or having fun with St. Patrick’s Day traditions, March is a month to engage in some hands-on maker learning experiences. For more March STEM ideas, check out our Read Aloud STEM menus.
Our March Read Aloud STEM Menus are full of activities for each of these books that will keep your students engaged and asking for more! Get the STEM Menus Here!
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