Day 1 Opener: STEM Four Corners :: Where Do You Stand?

Activity: STEM Four Corners

Welcome! We’re going to get to know each other by exploring some big ideas in science and technology. I’ll put a statement or a choice on the screen, and you will move to the corner of the room that best represents your opinion.

There are no right or wrong answers. The goal is to see different perspectives and understand why we think the way we do.

Our Ways of Working Together

As we do this, let’s practice our classroom norms:

  • Be Respectful: Honor all opinions, even if they differ from your own.

  • Be Present: Participate by moving and listening.

  • Ask Questions: Be curious about why someone chose their corner.

  • Learn and Iterate: It’s okay to change your mind after hearing a new perspective.

How it Works

I will present four choices, one for each corner of the room. Listen to the prompt, think for a moment, and then move to the corner that you agree with most.

Round 1: The Most Important Invention

Which invention has had the biggest impact on humanity?

  • Corner 1: The Printing Press

  • Corner 2: The Computer

  • Corner 3: The Lightbulb

  • Corner 4: The Wheel

(Once students have moved, ask a few from different corners: “Why did you choose that corner?”)

Round 2: Future Focus

If you had to devote billions of dollars to one major challenge, which would it be?

  • Corner 1: Exploring Deep Space 🪐

  • Corner 2: Curing Diseases ⚕️

  • Corner 3: Developing Clean Energy 💡

  • Corner 4: Exploring the Deep Ocean 🌊

(Ask students: “What makes your choice the most urgent or important?”)

Round 3: Tech in Your Life

Which statement about technology do you agree with most?

  • Corner 1: “I prefer to solve problems with my hands first, using tech only when needed.”

  • Corner 2: “I use technology to make my creative ideas come to life.”

  • Corner 3: “I’m most excited about how tech connects people across the world.”

  • Corner 4: “I want to understand how technology works on the inside—the code and the hardware.”

Wrap-up Discussion

Let’s come back together.

  • What did you notice during this activity?

  • Did anyone hear an argument that made them think differently or want to “iterate” on their own opinion?

  • How can we use this same respect for different ideas in our projects this year?

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