Earth Day Adventures STEM+C will engage young learners in STEM and computer science through a set of five integrated Storytime STEM+C challenges.  6 Bee-Bots are included in this package.


1. Because of An Acorn

STEM+C Concepts

Science: Growth and Development 

Computer Science: Develop programs with sequences to address a problem

This challenge starts with reading the book Because of an Acorn, describing the events set in motion by an acorn on the forest floor. Children learn more about the development of a tree and then program Bee-Bot to visit an oak tree and fruit trees on the colorful Earth Day vinyl mat. Symbol cards are provided and help children keep track of and debug their programs.

2. We are the Gardeners

STEM+ C Concepts

Science: Growth and Development

Computer Science: Develop programs with sequences to address a problem

This computer science challenge starts with reading We are the Gardeners, following a family as they plan and plant a garden. Children learn about structure and function of plants and program Bee-Bot to water vegetables and plants in the garden, planning out their own paths on the Earth Day mat.  

3. Bee Dance – Model the Dance

STEM+C Concepts

Science: Information Processing

Computer Science: Develop programs with sequences to address a problem

This integrated challenge starts with children reading Bee Dance, a beautifully illustrated children’s book that follows a honey bee scout as she finds a patch of prairie flowers and communicates their location to her hive mates by performing a dance.  Acting out the story, children program Bee-Bot to move from the hive to flowers and then dance to indicate the distance they traveled.

4. Bee-Dance – Design a Hand Pollinator

STEM+C Concepts

Engineering Design: Developing and optimizing design solutions

Science: Independent Relationships in Ecosystems

Referring back to the Bee Dance book, this adventure engages children in exploring the relationship between plants and honey bees, and challenges them to build, test, and improve a hand pollinator, choosing from several provided materials.

5. Design a Pollinator Garden

STEM+C Concepts

Engineering Design: Developing and optimizing design solutions

Computer Science: Develop programs with sequences to address a problem

This culminating challenge asks children to reflect on how honey bees help people. Drawing on what they learned about plants and honey bees, it challenges the children to help honey bees by planning a pollinator garden and use Bee-Bot to share their solution by visiting story cards they created.

Included in this set of five integrated STEM+C challenges above, you'll find:

Each of the challenges takes approximately 45 minutes to complete.  These STEM+ computer science challenges are suitable for grades PreK-2.