The Ugly Duckling Fairy Tale STEM Challenge
Fairy tales are a great way to engage students in STEM learning!
The classic story of The Ugly Duckling provides a perfect opportunity for a hands-on engineering challenge that encourages creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
The Ugly Duckling STEM Challenge by Carly and Adam
The Story of The Ugly Duckling
Hans Christian Andersen’s The Ugly Duckling tells the tale of a little bird who is different from his siblings. He faces challenges and rejection until he grows into a beautiful swan. This story teaches important lessons about perseverance, self-discovery, and transformation.
The Ugly Duckling STEM Challenge by Carly and Adam
The Ugly Duckling Fairy Tale STEM Challenge
In this challenge, students will help the “ugly duckling” float on water by designing and engineering a floating device.
The Problem
Can you design and build a device that will keep the duckling afloat?
Material List:
Popsicle Sticks
Straws
Tape
Tin Foil
Pipe Cleaners
Printable Duckling with a Binder Clip
A Tub of Water for Testing
A version of The Ugly Duckling (optional)
The Ugly Duckling STEM Challenge by Carly and Adam
The Engineering Design Process
Ask
What do we know about floating and sinking? What materials might help keep the duckling afloat? What challenges might we face?
Imagine
Brainstorm ideas for how to build a floating device. Will it be a raft? A boat? A nest-like structure?
Plan
Draw a sketch of the design and decide what materials to use.
Create
Build the floating device using the materials provided.
Test
Place the duckling cutout with a binder clip onto the floating device and test it in water. Does it stay afloat?
Improve
Make adjustments to improve the design. What worked well? What could be better?
The Ugly Duckling STEM Challenge by Carly and Adam
Classroom Discussion
What design features helped the duckling stay afloat?
What changes did you make to improve your design?
How does this challenge relate to real-world engineering?
Extension Activities
Science Connection: Learn about the life cycle of ducks and swans. Compare and contrast their characteristics.
Literacy Connection: Read two versions of The Ugly Duckling and use a Venn diagram to compare them.
In this STEM challenge, students will harness creativity and critical thinking as they design and test floating devices, helping the duckling navigate his journey. This hands-on activity blends fairy tale magic with the excitement of STEM exploration, making learning both meaningful and engaging.
Looking for more Fairy Tale STEM Challenges? Check out our Fairy Tale STEM Bundle!
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