The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes Activity
Mistakes are an important part of learning—especially during STEM!
This hands-on activity pairs perfectly with The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes by Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein. After reading the story, students use the engineering design process and a growth mindset to build, test, and improve their own broom and dustpan.
The STEM Challenge
In the story, Beatrice makes a surprising mess during the talent show. Students are challenged to design a broom and dustpan that can help clean it up!
Working in small groups, students use simple classroom materials, including:
Construction paper
Popsicle sticks
Pipe cleaners
Tape
Scissors
Students begin by brainstorming individually before working with their team to create a plan. They then build a prototype and test how many small items—such as pom-poms, paper clips, or paper scraps—they can sweep into a cup in just 10 seconds.
There is one important rule: students cannot touch the pieces of “trash” with their hands!
Learning Through Mistakes
The best part of this challenge happens after the first test. Students reflect on what worked, identify problems with their designs, and create a plan for improvement.
They then rebuild and test their broom and dustpan again. This gives students an authentic opportunity to see that their first design does not have to be perfect. Mistakes provide valuable information that can help them create a better solution.
Practice the Engineering Design Process
Throughout the activity, students move through the steps of the engineering design process:
Ask
Imagine
Plan
Create
Experiment
Improve
The included STEM journal pages guide students through planning, testing, recording results, and reflecting on their designs. This lesson also supports collaboration, creativity, problem-solving, and communication.
Create a Growth Mindset Display
Extend the lesson by inviting students to write or draw about a time when they made a mistake and what they learned from it. Display their responses with the included “Mistakes Help Us Improve” bulletin board pieces.
This meaningful display reminds students that failure is not the end of learning—it is often the beginning of improvement.
This low-prep read-aloud STEM challenge is perfect for growth mindset lessons, STEM centers, elementary makerspaces, back-to-school activities, or any time your students need encouragement to take risks and keep trying. The complete lesson is available in Carly and Adam’s store and is also included for members of the STEM Teachers Club.
How to get the STEM Challenge:
Spend Less Time Planning and More Time Teaching!
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