Independent STEM activities for Literacy Centers/Daily 5- Kim Dempsey
Legos“Structures are___________.” Look around the classroom and build a model of a
structure. Take a picture of your structure, but make sure your name is written neatly on
the whiteboard and in the frame. In your journal, write a sentence telling what makes
your object a structure, and what it holds. If you have time, build a new structure that is
not in the classroom and take a picture.
Sun/Shade, day/night, light
Expectations covered: Knows the effects of sun and shade on the same object. Knows
that light can pass through some objects, but cannot pass through other objects. Knows
that the sky looks different during the day than it does at night. Poses questions, seeks
answers, draws pictures of observations, and makes decisions using information.
Using: flash lights, books, plays, observation charts, pictures.
Old-Fashioned Paper Dolls
Using a template or your own imagination, create a paper doll of a famous american we
have studied. Your doll must stand on it's own. It must have removable clothes that
match it's time period. Compare your doll with someone else's doll. Write a sentence to
tell how your famous americans are SIMILAR. Write a sentence to tell how your famous
americans are DIFFERENT.
Animal Coverings
Select one of the animal coverings from the bucket. In your journal, draw and label a
picture of your animal. Using the materials provided, build a zoo habitat that your animal
would enjoy. Think about the needs, wants and safety of the animals and the visitors.
Popups are a natural and inexpensive way to develop problem solving skills to use with
familiar texts and writing assignments. The only limit is your imagination! Providing a
simple design brief will allow students to work independently.
Explore Boxes give students a chance to become familiar with materials you will use
later on. This is an opportunity for structured play so that your whole-class time will be
used more efficiently. These boxes should only be out for a limited time as freeexploration, with the expectation that they will be used as building materials.
• Nuts & bolts
• Batteries & bulbs
• Popsicle levers
• Playdough
• Bottlecaps
• Etc.
Nature Boxes take inquiry one step further. Students practice classification skills with
objects from the natural world. Written work can add rigor and accountability; written
sort, adjectives, draw and label, list of uses, animals that might come into contact, etc.
• Pinecones
Independent STEM activities for Literacy Centers/Daily 5- Kim Dempsey
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Rocks
Shells
Animal Bones (cleaned with bleach)
Insects
Body coverings
Thematic Centers are a tried-and-true instructional model. Take it to the next level by
incorporating digital cameras to document work, providing a design challenge, and
including books on the topic. Teachers may also incorporate writing in each of these
activities. Teachers may also provide written index card challenges "What happens if
you..." (students make predictions, then conduct experiments). Non-readers can benefit
from tape-recorded directions
Land/air/water and environments
Expectations covered: Knows that life occurs on or near the surface of the Earth in land,
water and air. Knows that plants and animals are found in different kids of environments
and are often hidden.
Using: books, plays, stuffed animals, pictures.
Sun/Shade, day/night, light
Expectations covered: Knows the effects of sun and shade on the same object. Knows
that light can pass through some objects, but cannot pass through other objects. Knows
that the sky looks different during the day than it does at night. Poses questions, seeks
answers, draws pictures of observations, and makes decisions using information.
Using: flash lights, books, plays, observation charts, pictures.
Seasons, day sky, night sky
Expectations covered: Knows that the position of the Sun in the sky appears to change
during the day. Knows some of the objects seen in the night sky. Understands that
continuous patterns occur in nature.
Using: seasonal calendars, books, poems, plays, mini-books.
Building with Different Mediums
The students will explore different concepts of build. They will build with blocks, straws,
popsicle sticks and magnets.
They will document their buildings and recommend building methods to their peers.
Building with Lunch Milk Cartons
The students will explore different concepts of building with milk cartons. They will come
up with strategies to build the tallest tower and create them. They will document their
building methods and report to their peers.
Planting Seeds
The students will plant seeds, observe their growth and document their observations.
This can easily be done with soil, seeds and plastic cups.
Independent STEM activities for Literacy Centers/Daily 5- Kim Dempsey
Terrarium
The students will plants seeds in a terrarium environment. This will help them learn
about how different systems can be self-sufficient. This will also give them a concrete
way to observe roots, stem, leaves, and flowers.
Terrariums can be made in clean water bottles. This way each student can take one
home and have a great hands on experience in science centers.
Temperatures in Different Conditions
The students will use thermometers to discover the temperature of different areas of the
classroom. What’s the temperature in ice, water, air, by the computers, etc…
The temperature can be recorded on a chart and discussed as a large group after all
students have been to the science center.
Magnetic Vs. Non-Magnetic
The students will learn what materials are magnet through the use of discovery bottles,
toys and books.
To create magnetic vs. non-magnetic bottles, fill a bottle ½ full of sand, add nails, pins,
pipe cleaners, paperclips, toys, cotton balls or other small items. Provide the children
with magnets and see if they are attracted.
Push / Pull
The students will learn about push and pull on different objects.Provide students with
toys cars, balls, toy wagons, and other objects that require a push or pull to move. Have
the children sort them into groups, and test which take a bigger push or pull.
Cold / Ice
The students will learn about the effect of cold / ice on different items. What’s the effect
of ice on water, toys, crayons, and other items found in a classroom? Sort them into
items that changed, and items that did not change.
Rocks, Clay, Sand, Soil, Mud
In these science centers the students will learn about the different properties of rocks,
clay, sand, soil and mud. The children can use discovery bottles to help in this
exploration.
To make a sand bottle, add sand and water. Watch how it settles.
To make a mud bottle, add ½ cup of dirt, 2/3 full of water. (Soil from different locations
acts differently)
Beach, Desert, Ocean, and other Terrains
The students will learn about different terrains. The children can use discovery bottles to
help in this exploration along with pictures, toys and books.
To make a beach bottle, mix sand and shells.
To make a desert bottle place plastic animals, sand, and cactus together.
To make an ocean bottle fill the bottle ½ full of mineral oil, ½ full of water, and a few
drops of food coloring.
Independent STEM activities for Literacy Centers/Daily 5- Kim Dempsey
Effect of the Sun on Earth
The students will explore shadows on the surface of the Earth by using a globe and
flashlight. They will also explore how different parts of the Earth are warm and others
cold.
Day Time Sky
The students will study the day-time sky through books, pictures and observations.
They will create 3D “day” pictures with magazines, clay, and other resources.
Night Time Sky
The students will study the night-time sky through books, pictures and observations.
They will create 3D “night” pictures with magazines, clay, and other resources.
Insects
The students will learn about insects through books, pictures and real insects.
The children will help collect dead insects in the weeks before this lesson. They will be
placed into plastic cases for observation purposes. They will learn about the parts of an
insect’s body and living habitats in these science centers.
Living Vs. Non-Living
The students will explore the idea that there are living and non-living things on Earth.
They will use discovery bottles, pictures and books.
Camouflage bottles
The students will learn about camouflage through books, pictures and discovery bottles.
In your science centers you can create camouflage bottles by placing many items that
are the same color into a bottle. You can also make non-examples with several items
that are the same color and then one item that isn’t.
Paper Vs. Plastic
The students will learn about recycling and how most communities recycle paper and
plastic items. The children will sort materials for recycling and create recycling posters
to hang around the school.
5 Senses
The students will learn about the 5 senses. To do this the children will use books,
pictures and discovery bottles.
Touch: Put cotton balls or small toys into the bottles and have children grasp and pull
out.
Sight: Fill a bottle with corn syrup, add google eyes. Watch!
Smell: Poke holes in bottle and add potpourri. Smell.
Hearing: Put rice, beans, water, etc. in bottle. Wrap in a sock and shake. What’s that
sound?