February STEAM Kindergarten Package: Integrating Ontario 2026 FDK & US Common Core Standards

FEBRUARY KINDERGARTEN STEAM ACTIVITIES | 6 PLAY-BASED INQUIRY CHALLENGES

Bring meaningful, hands-on STEAM learning into your Kindergarten classroom with this complete February Kindergarten STEAM package from Sweet Little Learners.

Designed for Junior and Senior Kindergarten learners, this resource features six open-ended investigations that encourage children to wonder, plan, create, test, improve and share.

Each challenge focuses on learner thinking, collaboration, communication and problem-solving—not identical finished products.

FEBRUARY STEAM CHALLENGES

1. Shape Animal Design

Learners arrange, rotate and combine two-dimensional shapes to represent an animal. They explain their shape choices and improve their designs using observations and feedback.

2. Dinosaur Egg Model

Learners plan and create a textured dinosaur egg model while comparing size, shape and materials. They observe changes over time and explain how they strengthened or improved their models.

3. Dinosaur Feature Design

Learners design a wearable dinosaur-inspired feature using recycled and classroom materials. They consider the feature’s purpose, test their construction and make thoughtful improvements.

4. Constellation Models

Learners create and explain a model of a star pattern using dark paper, dots, craft sticks, straws or modelling dough. They explore patterns, positional language and storytelling.

5. Shadow Puppet Exploration

Learners investigate how light position and distance affect shadows. They create simple hand or object shadows, make predictions, test ideas and communicate their observations.

6. Teamwork in the Air

Learners collaborate to keep a soft object moving using fabric, a towel or a scarf. They develop a cooperative game, agree on roles and rules, test strategies and improve their teamwork.

WHAT’S INCLUDED

TEACHER IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT

• Monthly challenge overview

• Teacher Quick-Start Guide

• One-page implementation card

• Flexible four-week implementation calendar

• STEAM Inquiry Cycle poster

• STEAM thinking and questioning prompts

• Suggested preparation, grouping and pacing guidance

• Activity-specific safety information

• Differentiation and documentation suggestions

DETAILED CHALLENGE RESOURCES

• Six coordinated challenge overview pages

• Detailed teacher guides

• Child-friendly challenge questions

• Learning goals and intentions

• Success criteria

• Materials lists

• Suggested time

• Before-the-lesson preparation

• Step-by-step inquiry sequences

• Open-ended teacher prompts

• Assessment look-fors

• Differentiation and supports

• Extensions

• Safety notes

• Documentation suggestions

• Relevant curriculum connections

STUDENT RESOURCES

• Student STEAM planning template

• Coordinated I Can signs

• Challenge cards

• Photo-rich vocabulary cards

• Six-page Student STEAM Portfolio

The portfolio system includes:

• My STEAM Portfolio

• My STEAM Challenge

• My Design Changed

• My STEAM Learning Evidence

• My STEAM Reflection

• My STEAM Celebration

Learners may respond through drawing, labelling, dictation, photographs or emergent writing.

ASSESSMENT AND DOCUMENTATION

• Whole-class STEAM observation tracker

• Challenge assessment look-fors

• Learner quotation spaces

• Educator observation spaces

• Photo-evidence page

• Reflection and design-change prompts

• Evidence-of-learning prompts

BONUS EXTRAS

• Nine-choice STEAM board

• Family STEAM challenges

• Suggested read-aloud list

• STEAM Inquiry Cycle poster

• STEAM thinking prompts

• Reflection prompts

• Thank-you and recommended-resources page

STEAM INQUIRY PROCESS

The challenges use a consistent, developmentally appropriate inquiry sequence:

WONDER → PLAN → CREATE → TEST → IMPROVE → SHARE

Learners are encouraged to:

• Wonder and ask questions

• Make predictions

• Observe and compare

• Select and use materials

• Plan and communicate ideas

• Create and test

• Notice evidence

• Solve problems

• Collaborate with others

• Improve and redesign

• Reflect on learning

• Share discoveries

CURRICULUM CONNECTIONS

The activities support learning connected to the Ontario Kindergarten curriculum frames:

• Belonging and Contributing

• Self-Regulation and Well-Being

• Demonstrating Literacy and Mathematics Behaviours

• Problem Solving and Innovating

Relevant Kindergarten U.S. Common Core Mathematics and English Language Arts connections are included throughout the resource.

NGSS connections and engineering practices are included where they genuinely apply.

DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE KINDERGARTEN LEARNING

These investigations are:

• Play based

• Inquiry based

• Hands on

• Open ended

• Inclusive

• Adaptable

• Appropriate for Junior and Senior Kindergarten

• Suitable for individuals, partners or small groups

• Focused on process rather than perfection

• Designed for educator observation and documentation

DIFFERENTIATION AND ACCESS

The teacher guides include suggestions such as:

• Pre-cut materials

• Adaptive scissors and tools

• Visual vocabulary

• Reduced material choices

• Enlarged materials

• Partner roles

• Adult or peer scribes

• Drawing, labelling and dictation options

• Flexible sensory alternatives

• Extension opportunities

SUGGESTED CLASSROOM USES

Use this resource for:

• STEAM centres

• Inquiry blocks

• Small-group learning

• Whole-group investigations

• Weekly STEAM challenges

• Indoor learning

• Documentation panels

• Student portfolios

• Assessment observations

• Family engagement

• Early finisher choices

• Flexible February programming

Although designed as a coordinated February resource, the investigations are inclusive, non-religious and flexible enough to use at other times of the year.

PLEASE NOTE

This is a digital educational resource. No physical product will be mailed.

Colours may vary slightly depending on your monitor, printer and printing settings.

This resource is intended for use by one educator with the learners they directly teach. Please purchase additional licences if sharing the resource with other educators.