As a homeschooling parent, have you ever tried to make certain learning experiences not just enjoyable, meaningful, but unforgettable? I have the solution for you! As a former elementary school teacher turned homeschooling parent, I am constantly scouring online sites for captivating STEM lessons that my entire crew can take part in and walk away with feeling successful, knowledgeable and most importantly, a memory that will not be forgotten anytime soon.
I was excited for the opportunity to sample a STEM unit from Evan-Moor’s book: STEM Lessons and Challenges (available for grades 1–6.) My daughter and I decided to do a STEM challenge: “Build a Mousetrap” from the unit called “Simple Machines” in the grade 5 book.
STEM Lessons and Challenges provides 15 STEM challenges that are based on life, earth and physical science concepts. It’s available for grades 1–6. I was surprised and delighted at how in-depth each unit went for every topic covered. Each unit includes:
- Directions, supply list and tips for completing a STEM project
- A reading passage about the concept taught
- Real-life examples with pictures
- A STEM challenge
- Design process worksheets
- Redesign worksheet
A side note on how we tested the mousetrap with a live mouse
When I discussed building a STEM mousetrap with my child, the only thing she wanted to know was if she could keep the mouse. (Note: every STEM lesson in STEM Lessons and Challenges goes through a testing phase. The mouse trap STEM challenge requires a live mouse in its test phase.) You can only imagine my reaction and answer to this question. Having previous experience with mice and knowing they multiply practically overnight, I quickly thought of a great “plan b” — enter the great people of PetSmart!
Before my child and I sat down to start brainstorming on what STEM ideas would be possibly capable of trapping a mouse, I called the manager at our local PetSmart and asked if we could possibly come into the store one day and “borrow” one of the mice to see if the assembled trap would work. Guaranteed, he is still laughing to this day from my phone call (and I’m sure the rest of the employees!), but I’m just a typical mom doing anything for their child, right? Or just going to great lengths to ensure something super small with a long tail does not make it back to the house…
Mouse Trap STEM Challenge: Planning stage
The mouse trap STEM unit for fifth grade from STEM Lessons and Challenges focuses on the science concept of “simple machines that move.” After reading the informational passage and looking at the examples of moving machines from the STEM Lessons and Challenges unit, my daughter and I used the design worksheets included within the unit to sketch out ideas for building our mousetrap.
In the beginning stages of brainstorming our STEM trap, I was envisioning something involving a paper towel holder with a flap-like piece at one end that would be connected to a string and plastic fruit cup that would lower once the mouse would scurry through. She absolutely surprised me by declaring she was thinking of another route with taking a shoe box and cutting a whole in the middle to trap the mouse as it would try to cross over to get to the treat. I thought her approach might need more technical aspects ensuring the mouse would stay put once caught, but naturally there is nothing better than a child to prove to their parents that they are in fact correct and the parents are not!
My daughter was standing firm in her decision, so I thought what better way to decide which direction would be wiser than to run over to PetSmart and show the employees what she had created and asking if it would work. I AM SO HAPPY that we did this. They were incredibly patient with my daughter and explained to her how they would also glue walls to the sides of where the opening was cut since the mouse could possibly walk on the edges to get to the food.
Mousetrap STEM Challenge: Building Phase
Upon our arrival back home, she took another shoebox and literally shred the lid into two pieces for the walls. Hot gluing was the ideal way she thought to attach the walls, but for some reason they were not staying upright. Masking tape was brought out and fixed the dilemma quickly. The trap was placed in a plastic tub ready to go!
Mousetrap STEM Challenge: Testing Phase
If you are thinking of having your local pet store help with this STEM lesson by borrowing one of their furry friends, I highly suggest not going on the weekends. We opted to try it out on a Monday evening after dinner was finished. I had called ahead and the manager said it was the perfect time to head over. In all of the excitement, we almost left the house without the bait! We ended up bringing two in case the mouse was persnickety in their food options- a scoop of peanut butter and a handful of shredded Asiago cheese.
Upon our arrival, we set up shop right next to the containers and got the trap ready with the Asiago cheese first. I stood by (oh yes, there was going to be some distance from me and the mouse!) taking deep breaths, and got the camera ready to click away… and nothing! Turning in all directions possible, this little critter was stumped how to cross over to get to the cheese. My daughter quickly added the scoop of peanut butter, but the same result occurred, so the employees (we had three watching eagerly!) placed mouse #1 back in its home and brought out #2. This mouse must have been hungry smelling the tantalizing aroma of Asiago cheese and peanut butter mixed together because once it was placed in the container, it quickly fell in the trap and realized it could not get to the treat. My daughter was THRILLED!!!! The mouse was quickly picked up and placed on the one side of the shoe box to see what would happen a second time and the same thing happened again.
Mousetrap STEM Challenge: Redesign Phase
Every STEM challenge in STEM Lessons and Challenge has a redesign page included. This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to re-design a failed STEM challenge. Although we didn’t need to use this part of the unit on our mouse trap I really appreciate that it was included. One of the most important concepts behind STEM challenges is to see failure as part of the learning process. Allowing your child the opportunity to redesign a failed mousetrap is a wonderful learning opportunity that teaches him/her to embrace failure as a teaching tool and not as a negative outcome.
This was a fantastic STEM lesson for my child and completely surprised me in how she went about planning her trap. I was so proud of her for believing in herself and not wanting my assistance with my ideas. To see your children accomplish something and to have it happen the way they envisioned, is so heartwarming for any parent. I am thankful for the assistance the PetSmart employees provided us as well! The best part for sure, no mice came home with us!!!
I hope you have enjoyed reading this and I highly encourage completing the STEM units from Evan-Moor’s STEM Lessons and Challenges, as it does not disappoint on making memories with your kiddos!
Try a free sample lesson from STEM Lessons and Challenges here. Each grade level provides a different STEM lesson. (Grade 5 is the Mousetrap STEM Lesson.)
If you are interested in a homeschool STEM curriculum, Evan-Moor’s Homeschool STEM and Critical Thinking Bundle is 25% off right now!
Best,
Emilie
Emilie H. is a former elementary school teacher who currently homeschools her children. She has a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education (K-5) and Learning and Behavior Disorders (K-12). She is very passionate about planning and mapping curriculum and creating meaningful experiences for her children!