March Madness Basketball STEM Challenges

March Madness is an exciting time of year for basketball fans all around the world. The NCAA college basketball tournament is a time of year when millions of people tune in to watch their favorite teams battle it out on the court.

Personally, we will be cheering for our Alma Mater, Purdue University! Boiler up!

However, March Madness is not just about basketball. It's also a great opportunity to incorporate STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities into the classroom.

Two of our favorite Basketball STEM Activities for March are The Basketball Shooter and Goal Challenge and The Basketball Coding Challenge.

Lesson Plans for both of these Basketball Activities are included in the STEM Teachers Club Membership.

Basketball Shooter and Goal STEM Challenge!

Basketball STEM Challenge by Carly and Adam

Material List:

  • Ping Pong Ball

  • Straws

  • Pipe Cleaners

  • Rubber bands

  • Popsicle sticks

  • Tape

  • Dixie Cup or condiment cup

  • Cardboard (optional)

March Madness in the classroom first grade second grade third grade fourth grade stem challenges for kids

Basketball STEM Challenge by Carly and Adam

The March Madness Basketball STEM Activity is designed for students in grades 1-4. It challenges students to design and build a basketball launcher using simple materials such as rubber bands, popsicle sticks, and plastic cups.

Students will then use their launcher to try and score baskets from various distances. This activity encourages students to think critically and creatively as they design their launcher and work to improve their accuracy.

Basketball Coding Activity

March-Madness-Activity-for-kids-unplugged-coding-activity-basketball-Activity-first-grade-second-third-fourth-by-carly-and-adam

March Madness Coding Activity by Carly and Adam

Material List:

  • Scissors

  • Paper

  • Binder Clips

  • Carly and Adam’s Coding Challenge Worksheets

The March Madness Basketball Unplugged Coding Activity is designed for students in grades K-5. It introduces students to the basics of computer programming through a basketball-themed game.

Students will work in pairs to develop a set of instructions for their partner to follow, with the goal of getting a basketball into a hoop. This activity teaches students about sequencing, debugging, and loops, which are all important concepts in computer programming.

One of the great things about this activity is that it requires no technology, making it accessible to all students regardless of their access to computers or other devices. It's a great way to introduce younger students to the concept of coding and get them excited about the possibilities of technology.

Both of these March Madness-themed STEM activities are great resources for teachers looking to incorporate fun and engaging activities into their curriculum. They provide a great way to get students excited about STEM concepts and demonstrate the real-world applications of these concepts.

So why not incorporate these activities into your March Madness celebrations this year and watch your students score big on their STEM learning?

You can get these 2 Basketball Lesson Plans and all of our STEM Challenges as part of the STEM Teachers Club Membership. Save $5 on your first month using coupon Code: CarlyAndAdamBlog.

We hope you have found this blog post helpful. To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!

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