Learning Activities
Our amazing facilitators, educators, Seedlings alumni, and community partners share activities and ideas for literacy-themed or STEM/STEAM project-based learning.
STEAM Ideas from our Workshops
Socks & Seeds: An Adaptation Exploration
The objective of this activity is to help students understand the different ways that seeds adapt in order to be transported for dispersal and species survival.
Fiddler Crabs: Science, Observation & Inquiry
This activity asks students to make observations and inquiries about animal behavior and can be adapted for a wide range of grades, from kindergarten through middle school.
Earthquake! A STEAM Activity
In this architecture and engineering activity, students will be tasked with using index cards to form a construction that will withstand an “earthquake.”
Save the Lighthouse! A STEAM Activity
The goal of this activity is to explore how landscapes are impacted by different natural and man-made influences.
Project-Based Learning
Ideas and Best Practices for Incorporating Indigenous History
Ideas and examples for integrating native history into your classroom studies. Learn how to find authentic information and text for research, as well as indigenous-run organizations and voices.
Watch Students Explore Gravity Concepts And Problem Solve through STEM
J.S. Martinez Magnet School’s STEM Resource Teacher Alyssa Granata-Basso welcomed Seedlings Educators Collaborative to observe students don their engineering hats in a hands-on problem-solving lesson exploring gravity. In teams, students designed, built, tested, and re-engineered a traveling vehicle to protect Alyssa’s friend “Eggbert” from the impact of landing.
“I Need a Break” Classroom Activities from Author and Fifth-Grade Educator Kimberly Behre Kenna
We all have those times when we need a short “fall-back” activity in our pocket to give us or our students a quick break in order to get back to originally scheduled programming. Educator and author Kim Behre Kenna offers up some of her favorites in this interview.
The Duckling Zip Line Challenge
This STEAM challenge asks students to design a device that safely delivers ducklings from their nest in a tree to the ground. Our 2022 Summer Workshop participants loved this activity–watch this short recap video and then see below to see how you can implement in your classroom!
Animals in Winter: Student-Driven Learning to Explore Habitats
Jen Wilson’s kindergartners learn about shelter, safety, food (incorporating science, nature, math, engineering, literacy and art) through play- and project-based learning.
Motion and Stability Themed Activities
Veteran science educator Leslie Long shares engaging activities for pre-k to grade 5 students learning balancing and other physics-related themes within Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
Kite Making Teaches Seasons, Weather and Other Targeted Science Skills
Jen Wilson’s kindergarten class studied and built kites to study weather and motion through inquiry, observation, research, and design. Students also learned imported social-emotional skills like overcoming frustration, perseverance, quelling anxious feelings.
Literacy & Literature
Kindness Art Activity: Fostering Kindness and Creativity in the Classroom
The classroom is the perfect place for this memorable and moving book. Jacqueline Woodson’s Each Kindness has teachable life lessons that might include bullying, judgmental attitudes, the power of kindness–specifically –including others, peer pressure, and the differences in our socioeconomic situations.
Jane Yolen’s Owl Moon Provides Launching Pad for Art, Science, and Writing Activities
Jane Yolen’s Owl Moon, is a terrific book to pair with language-related activities, including similes and metaphors. Find activities that may be used as for a variety of situations from stand alone lessons to a “let’s take a break” sessions.
Thunder Cake: Explore Weather, Feelings of Fear and More
Patricia Polacco’s story can be a springboard for many activities including weather studies and conversations about students’ personal fears and concerns.
ELA, STEAM, Social Studies, and Other Curricular Areas for the Brave Girls Book Series
Author and educator Kimberly Behre Kenna has compiled activities grouped by a variety of curricular areas, including ELA, STEAM, Social Studies, and more.
Ideas for Teaching Writing to Elementary School Students
Author and educator Kimberly Behre Kenna offers up some ideas for teaching writing, writing prompts, writing-related activities, and encouraging peer editing.
Miss Rumphius: Ideas for Discussion and Classroom Activities
Find prompts for discussion and writing and art activities to pair with Barbara Cooney’s Miss Rumphius
Change Sings by Poet Amanda Gorman, with Activity Ideas!
Change Sings is lyrical, uplifting, and beautifully rendered. The book launches into both community-building and integrated learning across the disciplines. Check out some activity pairings and community connections!
STEAM Project Ideas to go with Bear Came Along
Bear Came Along can be a lead-in to community-building, exploring nature, and embracing the journey. Here are some teacher-developed project ideas that integrate the disciplines and get students outdoors.
Connecting Literature with STEM at Six-to-Six Magnet School
Seedlings Facilitator Eva Kibby connects STEM with children’s literature in this 3-5 day lesson sequence focusing on recycling.
