The Best First Day of School STEM Challenge (Name Tag Challenge)
The best beginning of the year STEM challenges have 3 things in common:
1.) They help students get to know one another and start building teamwork and collaboration.
2.) They allow students to start practicing classroom procedures.
3.) They are incredibly fun and get students excited about STEM!
Name building and name tag challenges check all of those boxes.
Name Building STEM Challenge
The name building STEM challenge is a great way to introduce STEM while at the same time helping students learn the names of their classmates.
To complete the name building challenge students can use the following materials:
-Straws
-Popsicle Sticks
-Recyclables
-Pipe Cleaners
-Blocks and Other Building Materials
The name building challenge is also a great way for younger students to practice fine motor skills. For younger students (pre-k through first grade) you may want to have their name written out for them on an index card to help with spelling.
Modify the challenge by having students just make the first letter of their name or their initials. Make this activity more challenging by having students build their first and last names.
Need more ideas to introduce STEM in K-2?
Grab the full intro to STEM challenges in our Teachers Pay Teachers store:
or get them all in The STEM Teachers Club Membership.
Name Tag STEM Challenge
For older students challenge them to create their own name tag. The name tag must stand on its own and clearly display the student’s name.
The name tag should be the student’s favorite color and display at least 3 of their favorite things.
As an added challenge see if students can create a pencil holder on their name tag.
To complete the name tag challenge students can use the following materials:
-Pipe Cleaners
-Markers
-Crayons, and/or Colored Pencils
-Colored Paper
-Hole Punch
-Tape
3D Name Challenge
Want to step up your name tag challenge? Challenge students to create a 3D version of their name.
Students will build their names on a piece of paper and each letter of the name should be standing upright (not laying flat).
3D name challenge materials:
-paper
-scissors
-tape
Wearable Name Tag Challenge
Instead of a desk name plate, another idea to add some rigor to this challenge is to have students create a wearable name tag.
The name tag must clearly display the name of the student. It can be worn around the neck or on the shirt.
Wearable name tag materials:
-pipe cleaners
-scissors
-paper clips
-1 piece of paper
-string
-glue stick
Need more ideas to introduce STEM in grades 3-5?
Grab the full intro to STEM challenges in our Teachers Pay Teachers store:
or get them all in The STEM Teachers Club Membership.
