I would like to pick your brains.
So far it seems like the PLIX activities benefit from having a facilitator.
One of my assignments is to create an additional Exploration Station with a STEAM activity.
The Exploration Stations we already have are: Marbles & Mazes, Simple Machines & Magnets, Coding & Robots, Drawing & Designing, and Building & Construction. Each of these is a passive self sufficient program.
The new Exploration Station cannot have consumables for budgetary reasons.
I would love to hear your ideas.
Thanks!
I have used a number of the NISE NET plans to set up passive exploration stations that are reusable. I really like Exploring the Universe: Imagining Life. In it, kids look at pictures of extremophiles and then try to imagine what life might look like on a “goldilocks” planet. The only thing you would need to provide is pencils or crayons, and a half sheet of paper. There are lots of other activities on the network website that can be reproduced with non-consumable items. I love how “turn-key” a lot of them are! They even have directions and signs that can be printed out and place on the table to make things easy. The other one I really like is their “Hide and Seek Moon” activity. Print out and piece together the moon poster, print a copy of the animal sheet on cardstock and laminate. Print out the sign, borrow a pair of binoculars to use for the station, and you are ready to go! It is are great network and I only wish they would allow public libraries to join and receive kits! Right now the kits are digitized, so some cannot be reproduced very easily.
The other suggestion I have is to try to find a grant use to purchase some Snap Circuits. These terrific toys are very durable and come with directions that can be used independently. We have some of the Beginner sets and the junior sets. You can even purchase adaptor kits that allow you to plug into the wall instead of requiring batteries. We have had our kits for about seven years and have only had to replace three parts, which were replaced for free by the company. One kit works well for one family or a pair of kids sharing together. Another fun electricity choice is squishy circuits. You can make the dough very affordably and use it over and over with different kids while it is still fresh. You will need to purchase the battery packs and LEDS, but they are also reusable, as long as you use a little sand paper to clean the anodes after use from corrosion. Again, this might need another grant to get started.
Another idea is to set up collaborative weaving and lacing stations. I have made popsicle stick looms with materials I had on hand. I added a basket with cut up strips of fabric and ribbon and made a sign instruction kids to empty the looms when they were done making their creation. You could take digital pictures of finished projects to post on the wall. You can also make round looms using yarn and old withdrawn DVDs.
I hope this helps!
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