The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors Read Aloud K-5 STEM Challenge Game

The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors — Read-Aloud STEM Challenge (K–5)

Engage your elementary scientists with a fast, low-prep STEM challenge inspired by The Legend of Rock, Paper, Scissors by Drew Daywalt.

Students use the Engineering Design Process to invent and test their own three-character “beats/loses to” game—complete with motions, rules, and an optional dice version. Perfect after a read-aloud, in small-group stations, or as a quick makerspace build.

Includes:

• Teacher Guide & Lesson Flow with facilitation tips, plus optional tournament and dice-game extensions
• Student Planning Pages to brainstorm characters, define “who beats who,” and write game rules
• Printable Dice Templates (rock/paper/scissors + blank versions) for a hands-on math/logic twist
• Engineering Design Process Posters in color and B&W
• Materials Lists for makerspace consumables and reusable building supplies
• Classroom Photos/Samples to spark ideas while keeping creativity front-and-center
• Link to Canva™ Lesson Slides to model the challenge with visuals

How It Works:

1. Read Aloud and discuss how each character beats one and loses to one.
2. Design: Students choose a theme (animals, space, foods, etc.), invent three characters, create motions, and define the logic.
3. Build & Test: Pairs or teams test, iterate, and improve using the Engineering Design Process.
4. Share: Students teach their game to peers; extend with a class tournament or dice version.

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