Toothpick Tower STEM Challenge Task Cards for K-2 | Engineering Activities

Description

Get students building, testing, and improving with these Toothpick Tower STEM Challenge Task Cards for K-2. This hands on STEM resource includes 24 task cards in 3 differentiated levels so students can work through simple tower builds, creative design challenges, and problem solving tasks using easy to prep materials.

Students use toothpicks and soft connectors such as mini marshmallows, clay, or gumdrops to complete each challenge. These cards are great for STEM bins, centers, fast finishers, partner work, Fun Friday, back to school, and end of year activities.

This resource also includes a student response sheet and a simple rubric to help you track student thinking, effort, and understanding.

What’s Included

• 24 toothpick tower STEM challenge task cards
• 3 differentiated challenge levels
• student response sheet
• simple teacher rubric
• directions for setup and use

Students Will Practice

• engineering and design thinking
• problem solving
• building and testing
• critical thinking
• fine motor skills
• perseverance
• collaboration

Materials Needed

• toothpicks
• mini marshmallows, clay, gumdrops, or other soft connectors
• optional clipboard and pencil

Great For

• STEM centers
• engineering activities
• classroom makerspaces
• early finishers
• small groups
• partner challenges
• enrichment
• morning tubs

Why Teachers Love It

• low prep
• easy to differentiate
• engaging and hands on
• simple materials
• flexible for different times of year
• includes accountability with a response sheet and rubric

This K-2 STEM activity is a fun way to get students thinking like engineers while building towers that are tall, wide, strong, stable, and creative.