Activity Cards
Children will love performing the activities found on the 10 double-sided cards. Each card, based
on the scientifi c method, follows the same format: it begins with a real-world problem to solve,
followed by a prediction (or hypothesis), hands-on experimentation, and data collection, and
ends with children drawing a conclusion about their fi ndings. Although each activity includes
diff erent components of STEM/STEAM, the end of each activity off ers yet another opportunity
to incorporate science, technology, engineering, math, or art. Please note that because children
at this age are emergent readers, the cards are intended to be read by an adult to direct, guide,
and prompt the child along the way. Of course, this won’t stop them from toppling that tower of
blocks or revving a car down the ramp during experimentation!
Support Materials
Use the reproducible sheets found in this guide in conjunction with the activity cards. Using these
open-ended templates, children can record predictions or data while conducting experiments.
These support materials are intentionally light on text to allow plenty of space for children to
write or draw, or for customization according to the child’s learning needs. For example, you can
customize the data sheet, whether children are recording distance or other variables. The included
sorting cards also help support and extend some force and motion concepts, and can be used
independently, or as a way to assess understanding.
Glossary
The words below are key concepts taught throughout the activities. On the activity cards, these
words are bolded the fi rst time they appear in an activity. Children can better understand these
vocabulary-building words when they are used within the context of real, hands-on experiments.
o energy the ability to do work
o force any push or pull
o friction a force that acts when two things rub together
o gravity the force that attracts an object toward the center of Earth
o inclined plane a slanted surface, such as a ramp, that makes it easier to
move a mass from a low to a high point
o motion a change in position over time
o push applying force to move an object away
o pull applying force to move an object toward you or with you
o weight a measure of the pull of gravity on an object
2822 STEM F-M SET GUD 3.indd 3 9/25/15 3:12 PM
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