Post by @preschoolvibes

Sometimes the best part of a STEM activity is when it doesn’t work exactly as planned! For this bridge challenge, I turned painter’s tape sticky side up and used craft sticks to build a bridge across it. The bridge worked at first, but eventually it started to fall. Instead of fixing it for him, I let Cash figure out what to do next. He went over to the block center, brought back wooden blocks, and started building a support structure underneath the bridge to hold it up. This is exactly why I love simple, open ended STEM activities. He was experimenting with balance, weight, stability, and structure while also practicing problem solving, persistence, flexible thinking, and cause and effect. The bridge falling wasn’t the activity failing. It actually created the most valuable part of the learning.