Who in their wildest dreams could have imagined a school year like 2020?
Educators around the world have spent hours learning how to provide distance learning to their students, while helping their own children learn at home, taking care of family members, providing healthy meals and more.
Being an educator myself, I have quickly responded to requests for materials to be used with Boom Learning and Google Classrooms.
Electronic resources though are but one solution to distance learning.
Reasons to Love STEM Choice Boards
Reason 1: Starting with the obvious, what kid doesn’t prefer to have choices? Especially now when life is so topsy turvy, it is easier to encourage a child to do a task when given options. My STEM choice boards have so many fun options though, they might want to do them all!
Reason 2: Not all families have Wi-Fi or devices need to be shared with other children or working parents. These STEM choice boards are print and go! What could be easier?
Reason 3: The activities can all be done with just about any materials readily found in most homes. Playdough, blocks, building bricks, cardboard, milk cartons, paper clips, rubber bands, plastic spoons and forks to name just a few.
Reason 4: And last but not least, for young children, many distance learning resources focus on the basics of reading and math. STEM choice boards provide them with an opportunity to think creatively and engage in the engineering design process.
Related: 4 Reasons to Love STEM Choice Boards
What's Included in Each Packet
Each of my I Can Create STEM Choice Boards has a theme and comes with nine choices (the middle one being free choice). The topics in each packet are all subjects commonly addressed in PreK, Kindergarten and First Grade.
A planning sheet is included with the packet. Children love these. They feel very grown-up using them, just like a real engineer. As an added bonus, assessment sheets and completion certificates are included. You can provide parents with these to help them feel more ownership with the assignment.
As children complete their STEM Choice Board assignments, ask parents to submit a photo and create a virtual bulletin board for classmates to admire their friends work. They might even want to submit a short video explaining their creations.
I have a variety of STEM Choice Board resources available in Jewel’s School Gems Club, including an alphabet, a monthly and even a Bible edition. I have also just added an Around the World Edition! Check it out under NEW! resources.
Having these will help you quickly get ready if at home learning becomes a part of your school again.
STEM Choice Boards are also perfect for use in the classroom or library makerspace. Use as a center or have available for early finishers.
Test drive my STEM Choice Boards with the FREE STEM Choice Boards (Seasons Edition) below.
Related: FREE STEM Activity, Anyone?
What Happy Teachers Have to Say
These are so easy to use with distance learning! The students really got involved with the projects and loved the choices. Thank you! – Jennifer R.
I love these STEM choice boards! I was struggling to figure out how to continue STEM projects via distance learning. I love the choice board concept. I introduced it to my students and I’m looking forward to seeing what my students create each week. I’m excited that my students can continue to create fun, STEM project at home. Thank you! – Alisa L.
This was great to add to my distance learning resources. I love the fact that students did not have to have any specific items, but could you the resources they had available in their home to create one of the items from the board. I will definitely be using it again this year. – Jennifer C.
Thank you for making my distance learning experience a little bit easier…and the kids love them too! – Erin H.
STEM Choice Boards with Jewel's School Gems Club
Download all these STEM Choice Boards below when you sign up for an annual membership in Jewel’s School Gems Club. For just $47, you can download all these, as well as all existing resources on the website. Sign up today!
