Adele, from UK, sent in this great STEM activity for us to try.
What did you do?
Using spaghetti for some STEM learning opportunities! I set up an active STEM learning opportunity activity for my two boys. I gave them marshmallows and dried spaghetti and asked them to make some geometric shapes. My preschool-aged son has been learning his 2D shapes so he tried creating some 2D shapes and my older son who is in Year 2 at school, created 3D shapes. I asked them to try and find out which shape was the strongest shape. The triangle is the strongest shape so a triangular pyramid (tetrahedron)was easiest to build as it remained the most stable. We discussed the properties of the shapes such as edges, faces, vertices, and also looked a little at what shapes had right angles. They loved the sticky activity and of course devoured the marshmallows afterward!
If I did the activity again I would use mini marshmallows because chopping large ones into quarters was very sticky!
Do you have any other projects planned?
We have previously used spaghetti to paint with! If you put an elastic band around raw spaghetti and then place just the ends into boiling water, it becomes the perfect paintbrush! My next activity with spaghetti will be to dye it different colours for some sensory taste safe play for my youngest daughter.
Tell the Housebound With Kids community a bit about yourself…
My name is Adele and I am a mummy to three children. Leo aged 7, Louie aged 4 and Maisie aged 1. I have been teaching for over 12 years and my passion is improving learning outcomes through creative and active learning strategies. I also run an online learning, education, play and craft site called Mum’s School of Fun.
@mums_school_of_fun
How are you finding being housebound so far?
Being in lockdown with three young children has been interesting! I have loved the time we have been able to spend together as a family. You often hear the saying that you only get 18 summer holidays with your children, so this bonus time I am trying to treasure. Not to say it hasn’t been filled with tantrums and a seriously messy house! The constant snack demands are unreal! We are trying to spend as much time in our garden and at the beach!
Do you have any tips for other parents?
A tip from me to people housebound with kids is not to be too hard on yourself. Everyone is doing the best they can with their situation and circumstances. I heard a beautiful quote that said ‘children are unlikely to remember what they did or even much of what they learned in lockdown, but they will always remember how they felt.’ Keeping children safe and showing them the resilience they need in this crazy time is all that really matters. It is also so important to understand that any social media platform, like my own, is 10% of someone’s life. The other 90% is tantrums and hours spent on the trampoline!
Has this website and community helped you?
What a fantastic community, all in it together feel this website has!
