Simple Storybook STEM: Going on a Picnic
Thursday, April 23 is National Picnic Day!

After reading One Hundred Hungry Ants, complete this hundreds chart to reveal a hidden mystery picture.

Simple Storybook STEM: Jellybean Tower to the Giant

Wednesday, April 22 is National Jellybean Day.

After reading Jellybeans for Giants, click here to see how jellybeans are made. Then, create a structure out of jellybeans and toothpicks to help George keep from falling from the sky on his way to reach the giant.

You will need: 
toothpicks

Simple Storybook STEM: Backscratcher to the Rescue

After reading The Itchy Book create your own backscratcher to help when you have an itchy spot you can't reach.

You will need: 
ruler
plastic fork
tape

Simple Storybook STEM: 

After reading Peanut Butter and Jellyfish, create a jellyfish in a bottle. Record a video of you demonstrating how your jellyfish floats to the top.

You will need:
scissors
blue food coloring
string, thread or yarn
clear plastic bag/baggie
Sharpie markers
water
cup

Head over to my TpT store to check out my latest freebies! While you're there, click on the Follow button in my store to get updates when I post new freebies, products and sales or click here to begin following. 

Saturday, April 18 is National Animal Cracker Day!

Simple Storybook STEM: Animal (Cracker) Habitat
After reading The Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers, design a triorama habitat for your favorite animal cracker animal.

You will need: 
square piece of paper
scissors
glue
items to add to your triorama
#distancelearning #librarydistancelearning #elementarylibrarydistancelearning #stemactivities #storybookstem #simplestorybookstem 

Simple Storybook STEM: Make Your Own Chair
After reading I Am Not a Chair, design a popsicle stick chair so the animals have somewhere to sit other than on giraffe. Your chair doesn't have to look like exactly like the one in the video, it's just an example.

You will need:
glue gun (Use with supervision)
popsicle sticks
ruler
scissors

Simple Storybook STEM: Changing Colors
After reading A Color of His Own complete this walking water experiment to compare how chameleons change colors and how the paper towels absorb the colors from the cups of water.

You will need:
7 plastic cups
paper towels
water
4 different colors of food coloring

Simple Storybook STEM: Parent Attention Getter 
After reading Llama Llama Red Pajama, create a chime to get your parent's attention when you need them.

You will need: 
hanger
tape
scissors
ribbon or yarn
metal objects (keys, washers, jewelry, etc.)

Simple Storybook STEM: Catapult the Laundry

Tomorrow, Wednesday, April 15 is National Laundry Day. After reading Mrs. McNosh Hangs Up Her Wash, make a popsicle stick spoon catapult to demonstrate a quicker way for Mrs. McNosh to get her laundry (and other things) up on her clothesline.

You will need:
6 popsicle sticks
3 rubber bands
1 plastic spoon
small items to use in the catapult
#distancelearning #librarydistancelearning #elementarylibrarydistancelearning #stemactivities #storybookstem #simplestorybookstem 

Last year I created a Google Site with book trailers and author bio links for the Mark Twain Readers Award Nominees and I really enjoyed having everything at my fingertips when I got ready to introduce my students to all the nominated books and authors, so I decided to do it again this year.

If you are a Missouri elementary librarian, you might find this beneficial, too. Even if you aren't, there are always amazing books on all of our state Readers Awards nominee lists and I am positive this year won't disappoint! Click here or on the picture below to take you to the site. One or two of the books doesn't have a book trailer yet, but I will add them when I notice they have been added to YouTube.

Simple Storybook STEM:  Rubber Egg'speriment'

Someone recently contacted me with the following message:

Simple Storybook STEM: Who Wants a New Room? 

After reading I Wanna New Room, watch How to Design Your Room Floor Plan Step-by-Step. Imagine what your dream room would look like and what it would include.

Like an architect, design a birds-eye view of a room floor plan for your dream room using the materials below.

Materials needed:
paper
pencil
ruler



#distancelearning #librarydistancelearning #elementarylibrarydistancelearning #stemactivities #storybookstem #simplestorybookstem 

Simple Storybook STEM: Is There Ever a Bad Seed? 

Many people consider the dandelion to be a 'bad seed' or weed. After reading the story A Bad Seed, watch this time lapse video of a dandelion going from a flower to a seed head.

Create your own time lapse video.  Video yourself finding a dandelion, picking it and blowing the seeds into your yard. 



Book used in this activity:  The Bad Seed by Jory John

Book used in this activity:  A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon


#distancelearning #librarydistancelearning #elementarylibrarydistancelearning #stemactivities #storybookstem #simplestorybookstem 

Are you unable to play the game at ABCYa? No problem! This easily becomes an art activity! Ask a family member to help you print the template below or create your own egg out of paper. You can decorate your egg using stickers, paint, markers, crayons, etc. Hide the paper egg or eggs around your house and let your family find them! 

Easter Egg Printable Template
Book used in this activity:  Pete the Cat Big Easter Adventure by Kimberly and James Dean
#distancelearning #librarydistancelearning #elementarylibrarydistancelearning #stemactivities #storybookstem #simplestorybookstem 

Yesterday, our governor and the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, announced the closing of all schools in the state of Missouri for the remainder of the school year due to COVID-19 precautions. This led me to start trying to come up with some fun educational activities in addition to what we are already sending to families as Specials Teachers.

My goal was to create simple STEM activities my students could do at home with materials that they likely already have around the house.  

Some of you might be able to use these, as well. You can find more Simple Storybook STEM activities at the top of my page under the Simple Storybook STEM tab. 

Simple Storybook STEM: Catch the Easter Bunny
After reading to How to Catch the Easter Bunny, create a cotton ball launcher to stop the bunny in his tracks!

You will need these items to make a cotton ball launcher:
short pencil
2 rubber bands
2 toiler paper tubes
duct tape
scissors
hole punch
cotton ball

You will also need:
tape measure

Use your tape measure to measure how far your cotton ball traveled. How close would you have to be to the bunny to stop it with your launcher?

Record a video that shows you launching your cotton ball at an object.