Encourage Innovative Thinking Through Real-World Problem-Solving 

Celebrating Scientific Discovery with the 3M Young Scientist Challenge 

It’s amazing the things students can accomplish when they’re enjoying the challenge! Helping ignite the spark that leads them towards future success requires that they are provided with hands-on opportunities to test and expand their knowledge. If you are looking for these types of learning opportunities for your students, the 3M Young Scientist Lab, developed in partnership with Discovery Education, provides turnkey solutions for real-world problem-solving in the classroom.

The program features an extensive portfolio of hands-on STEM activities and lesson plans. These no-cost resources help students discover real-world science around them and make connections to what they are learning in school.  From wind energy and time travel to recycling and magnetic strength, you can find detailed downloads to help you take learning beyond the classroom and engage your students in critical thinking.

Plus, your students can explore Science at Work, a collection of career profiles on 3M laboratory scientists that come to work every day prepared to research information and explore new possibilities that impact the world and propel innovation.  

If your students are in middle school, you can even take advantage of the opportunity to motivate them to turn one good idea into a one-of-a-kind opportunity to become America’s Top Young Scientist. 

The 3M Young Scientist Challenge is all about giving students a platform to put scientific innovation into practice for actual positive change in the world. You can cultivate your students’ passion for solving real-world problems by letting them explore solutions that are relevant to their own lives. Entering the Challenge is as easy as submitting a 1-2 minute video in which students: 

1. Identify a real-world problem 
2. Reveal an original solution 
3. Explain how the solution can improve the world

It’s that simple! The Challenge Support Materials help make your efforts to encourage your students’ entries seamless, featuring everything you need to implement the Challenge in your classroom, in English or in Spanish.

The top 10 Finalists will each receive a life-changing summer-long mentorship with a 3M scientist, a trip to the 3M World HQ and $1,000. The Grand Prize winner will be named “America”s Top Young Scientist” and receive $25,000! All entries must be submitted by April 21, 2020 at 8pm ET.

Whether your students choose to enter the Challenge or explore the hands-on STEM resources, the 3M Young Scientist Lab is your one-stop for integrating real-world problem-solving in your classroom.  

For more information, visit www.youngscientistlab.com.

About the author, Jeffrey Bradbury

Jeff Bradbury, creator of TeacherCast, and father of the famous @EduTriplets Thanks for checking out TeacherCast today. Please take a moment to find me on all of my Social Media channels!