Teacher Guide
STEM Showdown is a weekly 1-hour (approximately) challenge run over a term.
Every worksheet must be signed/stamped by the teacher for each part completed. Each signature/stamp is worth 1 point.
Speed bonuses are awarded for tasks that can be completed at different rates:
- 1st to finish: 3 points
- 2nd: 2 points
- 3rd onwards: 1 point
Student scores for each activity can be recorded in the spreadsheet provided. Additional awards are given for:
- Creativity
- Persistence
- Encouragement
To record this, add comments to worksheets that reflect the value that was shown, such as “Great persistence!”, then simply count up these comments to track each student’s progress towards these additional awards.
STEM boxes are highlighted to show which STEM components are the focus of each activity.
The CDFS boxes highlight which cognitive skills are employed. These four skills are:
- C – Computational thinking is a problem-solving approach that teaches students to break down complex problems, recognise patterns, create step-by-step solutions (algorithms), and use logical reasoning.
- D – Design thinking is a student-centred, creative problem-solving approach that encourages learners to empathise, define problems, generate ideas, prototype solutions, and test them through reflection and iteration.
- F – Futures thinking is an approach that helps learners explore possible, probable, and preferred futures, develop long-term thinking skills, and make informed decisions in the present by anticipating change and uncertainty.
- S – Systems thinking is an approach that helps learners understand how parts of a system are interconnected, recognise patterns and relationships, and analyse how actions in one area can influence the whole.
