This two-hour STEAM program for 2nd graders uses an “escape room” format to strengthen their resilience by managing unfamiliar tasks and uncertainty without immediate teacher feedback through the classic story of the Stork and the Fox. Working in teams, students solve real-world problems like measuring weights for the fox’s lunch and using chopsticks to mimic how a stork eats. The activities develop fine motor skills and logical thinking through tasks like folding paper airplanes and decoding Roman numeral “invitations.” Students must practice flexibility and resilience as they collect secret codes without immediate help, relying on their teammates to move forward. Collaborative problem-solving develops social-emotional skills, requiring students to listen, resolve disagreements, and support peers who get stuck. The final digital “code entry” phase fosters critical thinking and self-reflection as teams evaluate their own cooperation and strategy for future challenges.

Brief description of the STEAM program

Students work independently in groups to solve various tasks. Through engaging activities, they collect codes, which they enter into an online platform (Genially) to unlock and discover the story of The Stork and the Fox.

Age group/ Grade	Student numbers	Duration	Number of stages	Subject(s)
2nd grade students	Whole class (max. 30 students)	120-140 minutes	3 stages	natural sciences, visual arts, mathematics, environmental studies, design and technology, language and literacy