Fridays are always a favorite in my first grade classroom! One of the highlights of our week is STEAM Choice Tubs, where students get to build, create, explore, and challenge their brains. It’s a fun way to end the week while encouraging creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork!
What Are S.T.E.A.M. Choice Tubs?
S.T.E.A.M. stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math. I teach at a STEAM school. My STEAM Choice Tubs are filled with hands-on activities that encourage creative thinking, building, problem solving, and creating while working with classmates in a fun and low pressure environment. Students can choose from a variety of activities based on their interests and work independently or with a small group. It’s a great opportunity for students to learn through play while practicing important thinking and teamwork skills!
⭐⭐⭐ I’ve collected my materials over the years (20+ years!) through classroom grants, Donors Choose, dollar stores, sales or good deals, giveaway tables, and other opportunities. I definitely didn’t purchase everything at once! You don’t need a huge collection of expensive materials to get started. Begin with what you already have and add new activities as you can.
How Friday S.T.E.A.M. Choice Tubs Work in My Classroom
Our Choice Tub time is about 15-20 minutes on Friday. Students who have had a satisfactory week in behavior and participation get to enjoy STEAM Choice Tubs. Rarely does anyone miss Choice Tubs for behavior. If they have had a rough week, however, I meet with them to talk about the issues and they usually get a shortened Choice Time. We use ClassDojo to help track their behavior and participation progress throughout the week.
To get started, the kids who have the “Assistants” job set out the tubs in designated spots around the room. Up to five students can work at each station, except for our art station, which accommodates up to eight students at a larger table. I let the students work out any disagreements if there are too many at a station. I’ve taught them to talk it out and make a deal or they can do “rock paper scissors” to help them make a decision.
Students are free to move between stations as they’d like, choosing activities that interest them. They can also use this time to finish incomplete assignments or make up missing work. Our school also does “Kindness Notes”, so I set those out at this time if anyone wants to write one to a friend. It’s a flexible, fun way to wrap up our week!
I have 6 tubs out at a time and I switch out materials in one or two tubs about once per month. So, it’s low-prep for me, gives them time to test out the tubs they want, and keeps it fresh for them to enjoy!
What’s Inside My Choice Tubs
I like to offer a variety of activities to keep students engaged! My STEAM Choice Tubs include opportunities for building, creating, experimenting, critical thinking, and pretend play.
➡️ Here’s a peek at some of the activities my students can choose from!
Engineering and Building Activities
These activities are always popular! Students use a variety of materials to design, construct, and test their creations. It’s a perfect time to practice engineering, perseverance, problem-solving, and teamwork. I love seeing the amazing things they come up with!
Science Exploration
Our science exploration tubs encourage students to observe and discover! I have a variety of hands-on materials and activities so students can explore scientific concepts and satisfy their natural curiosity. It’s fun and encourages scientific thinking through exploration and play!
Art Station
Our art station never gets switched out and it has its regulars there most weeks. It’s stocked with paper, pencils, crayons, markers, stencils and texture rubbing plates, scissors, glue, tape, and a few coloring pages or coloring books. I love giving them the freedom to explore different materials!
Brain Bins
Our “brain bin” tub provides brain teasers, hands-on logic puzzles, and other activities that get students thinking! It’s so fun to watch their brains work. I’ve had several first graders who can figure out our car logic game MUCH quicker than I ever can!
Pretend Play
Our pretend play tub encourages imagination, creativity, and communication! Playing restaurant is always a favorite, and I have to admit, eavesdropping on their conversations can be pretty entertaining! We have a few future Gordon Ramsays, I think! It’s a wonderful way for students to practice cooperation, language skills, and social interaction while having fun.
Why I Love Our S.T.E.A.M. Choice Tubs
I love our Friday STEAM Choice Tubs because students are learning during play! They’re building creativity, problem-solving skills, independence, and teamwork without even realizing it. It’s a time when I get to watch them make their own choices, work through challenges, and come up with amazing ideas. Best of all, once the tubs are set up, students can enjoy them independently, making Fridays a little easier on me, too!
Tips for Starting STEAM Choice Tubs in Your Classroom
If you’re thinking about starting STEAM Choice Tubs in your classroom, my biggest tip is to start small! As I mentioned above, I’ve collected my materials over the years through grants, sales, and other opportunities. You definitely don’t need to purchase everything at once! Start with materials you already have, such as blocks or cubes from your math materials, some paper and markers or crayons, and gradually add new activities.
💡 Be sure to teach expectations for using, sharing, and cleaning up materials so students can work independently. Keep it simple! You don’t need fancy or expensive supplies to provide meaningful learning opportunities!
Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Teaching!
Jennifer ~ Practical Primary Teacher 🍎🍏
🍎 More 1st Grade Activities You Might Enjoy…
10 Low-Prep Fast Finishers Ideas
Hello, I’m Jennifer! I teach 1st grade. I've been teaching for over 20 years. I love to design engaging and rigorous activities for my students and help them develop a love for reading. 
