STEM Skills Challenge- Build a Better Boat

Recently, CNBC conducted a survey of 500 top executives. Of those surveyed, 92% said that there is a job skills gap and 44% of respondents say the gap is in “soft skills”. (And not to digress, but the second most common answer at 22% was lack of technical skills.)

Specifically, the article defines soft skills as communication, critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. They didn’t actually use the phrase “21st century skills”, but I’m sure you recognize them as such.

The STEM Skills Challenges Bundle Pack harnesses the power of STEM challenges and focuses on these essential success skills that our students need to be effective in the STEM workforce. This Bundle Pack includes 10 design challenges that focus on teamwork as well as other elements like design briefs and interactive STEM notebook pages.

In the Build a Better Boat STEM Skills Challenge, we’re going to build a better boat and build our 4C’s (soft skills). In this challenge, students will use the provided supplies (plastic wrap, straws, tape, and washers) to design and build a boat that will hold 10 one inch diameter washers for at least 30 seconds without sinking. Water will be required to test the boats, but with inquisitive scientists who are focusing on the 4C’s, you shouldn’t get wet on this ride!