STEM Skills Challenge- Save Fred

How do you teach kids how to work as a team? Unite them in a common goal! In this case, students use their teamwork and collaboration skills to rescue a gummy worm named Fred.

With employers valuing soft skills like the 4C’s (creativity, collaboration, communication, and critical thinking), not only do students need to develop teamwork and collaboration skills but they need to develop and use many soft skills to be good competitors in the workplace.

Let’s set the scene:

One sunny day our friend Fred, a loveable gummy worm, is excited for a relaxing day on the lake. He can’t wait to get out on the water on such a beautiful day! He casts off from the dock and rows to the middle of the large lake. It’s a gorgeous day and Fred suns himself as he watches clouds drift past. He is so relaxed that soon he falls asleep.

All of a sudden, he wakes up to find the weather has taken a turn for the worse. The white, puffy, lazy clouds are now angry and gray and a storm is fast approaching. Immediately, Fred hurries to row for shore, but he’s not fast enough. The storm rolls in quickly and begins to violently rock his rowboat. Just as Fred tries again to get to land, the wind picks up. A huge wave comes towards Fred’s boat and there’s nothing he can do. Fred has gone overboard! In his haste to enjoy the day on the lake, he forgot to put on his lifejacket. Fred struggles but manages to climb on top of the capsized rowboat. He’s out of breath, but he’s safe for now.

In this fun challenge focusing on teamwork and collaboration, students will work in a team to retrieve Fred’s lifejacket and rescue our loveable gummy worm.