What are STEM Bins?

STEM bins are filled with consumable and reusable materials such as Legos, KEVA planks, index cards, tape, etc. as well as design-challenge task cards. Task cards activate students' prior knowledge and engineering skills as they modify and improve versions of existing architectural structures as well as create original designs.

STEM Bins are a developmentally appropriate form of engineering for elementary aged students. STEM Bins encourage students to expand on original ideas and revise plans. 

Intended Outcomes

• Students will develop an engineering mindset while engaging in the engineering design process.

• Develop and increase FCPS Portrait of a Graduate skills:

  • Collaboration: students will learn strategies for sharing ideas, listening to the ideas of others, and

  • Communication: students will use a variety of strategies and formats to share their thinking with others.

  • Critical & Creative thinking skills: students will ask questions about a topic, gather information from other sources, and generate multiple solutions to a problem.

  • Ethical & Global Citizen: students will consider different perspectives when solving problems to meet the needs of their community.

  • Goal-directed and resilient individual: students will have a growth mindset and practice persistence while solving problems.

STEM Bins at Bailey's 

STEM Bins were created using funds awarded from the FCPS Region 2 Team Development Grant. Each classroom, PreK-2nd grade, has access to STEM bin materials for a week long period, two times throughout the school year. STEM bins create an experience that encourage cross-curricular connections where students will plan, collaborate, interact and reflect on their experience using STEM Bin materials and task cards. 

A special thanks to Brooke Brown, from Teaching Outside the Box, for your STEM Bin inspiration!