There’s nothing quite like the October season. For a single month, everyone is allowed to be weird. We dress up in costumes, fill our neighborhoods with spooky decorations, and make room for the things we normally consider strange. After all, “strange” and “weird” are often just synonyms for “curious” and “creative”.
Every educator knows the importance of weirdness. Our world needs students who are motivated by natural curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. The boy who spends his free time studying tree bark could one day be a leader in climate restoration. Meanwhile, the little girl with no filter has the potential to become our nations’ next great orator. So, let’s take advantage of the season and help students embrace the side of themselves that’s a little strange.
Here are just a few fun activities that will get students thinking outside the box while enjoying the spooky ambiance:
- EEK-O-Systems: Nature is filled with many fierce, frightening, and fantastical creatures. Teach students all about things that swim and slither in this interactive QR quest! This activity won’t just introduce your students to important environmental knowledge, it will also challenge them to think critically about the natural world.
- Gak Attack: What lesson isn’t improved by the presence of slime? In Gak Attack!, students use their curiosity to launch simple scientific investigations that help them to think and act like scientists in a fun, hands-on way! The result is a slippery, scientific solution that students will love.
- Rock Candy: What’s October without candy? With just a few basic materials, teachers can lead students in creating their own rock candy. Let students indulge their sweet tooth with an experiment that teaches them all about the science of crystallization. Talk about a trick and a treat!
- Microwave Lightning: Teach students to think like mad scientists. When a grape is placed in a microwave, something truly unexpected occurs. What do students see? Why do they think this happens? Use this activity to introduce students to the subject of molecules and plasma.
- Hold My Blood: Teach students about the human body and how our blood is more than it seems. Using a mason jar with different candy substances, students can represent the different components of blood and be able to explain how those parts function. In the process, they’ll learn about platelets, circulation, and the important roles of red and white blood cells.
If you found these activities helpful, be sure to check out the Blue Apple Timely Topic: Spooktacular STEAM. In Spooktacular STEAM, classrooms explore 5 free lessons inspired by the October month to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. Be sure to also check out Keep Curiosity Alive and help students foster inquiry and engagement at home. October is the season of weirdness and there’s no better place for it than the classroom. So, take advantage of this strange STEM and celebrate the season with some fun classroom discovery!
For more free educational resources, check out these free tools and strategies from Blue Apple!
*Image courtesy of Dinkun Chen via Wikimedia Commons.