Marvelous May Read Alouds and STEM Challenges
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Looking for some fun ways to engage in STEM and maker learning? This month’s read aloud selections offer hands-on learning that will keep your students exploring, thinking creatively, and designing for a purpose.
There are so many benefits to adding a read aloud to your STEM lessons. A STEM read aloud is a book that is read before a STEM activity to provide a context for the challenge. The purpose of the STEM read aloud is to provide students with background knowledge for the challenge as well as to set up the problem that students are going to be solving.
When you can captivate students by the possibility of something new and imaginative, it can easily lead to opportunities for learning in STEM, design, and making. This can happen by adding read alouds to your STEM challenges.
Any book can provide a context for making and you can implement these lessons at any time of year, but here are a few stories that are perfect during the month of May. Be sure to check out the monthly menus to find all sorts of activities to connect to each book.
The Watcher
The Watcher, by Jeanette Winter, is the story of Jane Goodall and her life with the chimps. You can adventure with young Jane as she watches the world around her change. Jane’s childhood curiosity lead to her dreams coming true of traveling to Africa to work with animals. The Watcher is a story of how Jane created a home living among the chimps to observe how they live and interact with one another. This story provides opportunities for students to engage in innovative thinking and creative expression with activities like these:
Make a pair of binoculars like Jane using toilet paper rolls and tape, or design your own using different recyclable materials.
Make an audio recording of outside sounds. What creatures can you hear?
Sketch or paint some creatures that Jane might have seen on her boat ride to Kenya.
Get the Read Aloud STEM menu for this book here.
Michael Recycle
Why is Michael recycling? This question and many more will be answered in the book Michael Recycle, by Ellie Bethel. Michael Recycle has a plan, but he needs help before trash takes over everywhere. He wants to make sure our world stays shiny and clean. Explore the theme of recycling with the following activities:
Using a plastic cup and a coffee filter, create a water filtration system.
Have you ever had a dripping faucet? Design a tool to stop the faucet from dripping or create something that can catch the drips so the water isn’t wasted.
Reuse paper to make something new. Papers at school, newspaper from home or even old mail can be turned into art, a paper wreath, or even a sculpture.
Get the Read Aloud STEM menu for this book here.
I Wanna New Room
Alex has to share a room with Ethan now that he has a baby sister and he doesn’t like it one bit. I Wanna a New Room, by Karen Kauffman Orloff, is a clever conversation between Alex and his parents written in letters back and forth. Alex’s parents aren’t willing to help with his problem, so he comes up with his own solution. Unfortunately, Alex’s solution wasn’t the best, but his Dad came up with a great idea. Together they built a tree house that belonged only to Alex. Turns out…he actually does like to share with his brother Ethan. Take your students on a designing adventure with activities like these:
Write a letter to your family persuading them to give you your own room (or something else). Include your reasons and any illustrations or evidence that will help convince them.
Make a floor plan for a brand new space for Alex. What should it include? What will it look like?
Create a design plan for a tree house. Where will it go? What materials will you need? How much will it cost?
Get the Read Aloud STEM menu for this book here.
Ojiichan’s Gift
As a young girl, Mayumi’s grandfather planted a garden for her. It wasn’t your typical garden. It was a garden of rocks and sand. As Mayumi grew up and spent time with her Ojiichan, she learned how to tend and care for the garden that was growing with her. As Mayumi’s grandfather aged, he was unable to care for the garden. Heartbroken after discovering the neglected garden, Mayumi decided to make Ojiichan his very own miniature garden to keep with him. Ojiichan’s Gift, by Chieri Uegaki, is a beautiful story of a grandfather and granddaughter’s love for each other and their passion for gardening. After reading this story, students can try some design-related tasks like these:
Make a rock garden in a shoebox using items you find outside.
Create a keepsake box to collect special outdoor items like Mayumi did in the story.
Design an outdoor play area for someone who is in a wheelchair. What can you create that will be fun to do? What activities can you do together?
Get the Read Aloud STEM menu for this book here.
Mossy
Mossy, by Jan Brett, is the story of a garden-growing turtle and her turtle friend, Scoot. Mossy and Scoot met at Lilypad Pond but were separated when Dr. Carolina and Tory discovered the beautiful garden growing on Mossy’s shell. Dr. Carolina thought Mossy would make the perfect addition to the museum, and she did. It didn’t take long for Tory to notice Mossy wasn’t happy in her new home. Mossy missed Scoot. Your students can find out how Tory helped Mossy return to Lilypad Pond while also being available to see at the museum. This story offers opportunities for creative thinking and design. Students can even do a little research and exploration with challenges like these:
Turtles can have lots of different shapes and patterns on their shells. Design your own turtle shell pattern.
Imagine that Mossy wants to escape the museum. Design an escape plan for her to get away and make it back to her pond.
Mossy has amazing things growing on her shell. Redesign the shell to showcase other things besides nature. What would your shell include?
Get the Read Aloud STEM menu for this book here.
A Nest is Noisy
A Nest is Noisy, by Diana Hutts Aston, is a great read aloud to explore the natural world of nests. Students will discover the many ways animals create their nests and protect their young. Turns out, birds aren’t the only ones who create nests. After reading the book, students can explore a variety of nest related challenges like these:
Build a bird’s nest using any of the materials named in the book. Leaves, twigs, and string can get you started. Add bits of paper, a candy wrapper, or pieces of cloth too.
Create an invention to protect your favorite animal eggs from predators.
Using recyclable materials like a milk carton or a large plastic water bottle, create a structure that could be the start of a nest or a home for a bird.
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 gardening or animal habitats. May is a month to engage in some hands-on maker learning experiences. For more May STEM ideas, check out our Read Aloud STEM menus.
If you need more ideas for implementing Read Aloud STEM virtually, check out the following resources:
Our May 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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