Fun STEM activities are hugely popular in many districts across the country. When my district started folding STEM into our curriculum, I decided since reading is always an integral part of my instruction I would add an extra “S” to the STEM acronym. The last “S” stands for shared reading. Today I’m sharing STEMS worksheets I created based on my favorite Dr. Seuss book If I Ran the Zoo.

Incorporate Fun STEM Activities in the Classroom With Dr. Seuss

I was inspired to write this STEM(S) unit after meeting with teachers at my school to brainstorm interesting and creative ways to incorporate STEM work into our curriculum.

Cross-curriculum work and STEM in the classroom are encouraged in my district, so I meet often with other teachers to outline cross-curricular lessons and discuss upcoming events.

One upcoming event we discussed in this meeting was Read Across America Day, March 2^nd. The National Education Association’s (NEA) Read Across America Day is a nationwide reading celebration that takes place on Dr. Seuss’s birthday. As we brainstormed ideas to celebrate, the media specialist at my school shared several fun STEM activities based on various Dr. Seuss books.

I left the meeting energized and excited to create my own Dr. Seuss-themed STEM worksheets! Below, I'm sharing the fun STEM(S) activities I created based on If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss. Plus, I've made this mini STEM unit into a free printable you can download here.

Printable STEM Worksheets

Read– Read aloud If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss to your class. Here's the synopsis:

Animals abound in Dr. Seuss’s Caldecott Honor–winning picture book If I Ran the Zoo. Gerald McGrew imagines the myriad of animals he’d have in his very own zoo, and the adventures he’ll have to go on in order to gather them all. Featuring everything from a lion with ten feet to a Fizza-ma-Wizza-ma-Dill, this is a classic Seussian crowd-pleaser. In fact, one of Gerald’s creatures has even become a part of the language: the Nerd!

Science– Research different zoos throughout the world with your students. Search top-rated zoos and compare and contrast the lists and information from several different reputable websites. You will notice The Bronx Zoo, The Philadelphia Zoo, and the San Diego Zoo make most lists.

Have students use the Zoo Information Chart to organize their notes.

Technology– Have your students research the pros and cons of having zoos. Should we keep zoos? is a question that makes for a great debate!

Engineering– Ask your students to design a new invention for a zoo. Tell them their job is to create an apparatus that will improve the lives of animals living in a zoo. Encourage them to be creative.

Math– As you research top-rated zoos, keep track of each of the zoos' statics such as size and animal population. Have students use the Zoo Information Chart to record these statistics. Individually or in groups, have students create graphs that compare the data.

Extended Arts Activity– Have students create their own animals (from their imagination just like Gerald McGrew) that they would to see at a zoo.

In Summary

I am really excited to do these fun STEM activities with my students. I know they will enjoy learning about zoos and thinking creatively. Don't forget to download my STEM worksheets to celebrate Dr. Seuss and Read Across America Day with your students.

BONUS RESOURCES

Fun STEM Activities: Miss Mingo Weathers the Storm

Interactive Read Aloud Bundle