Fun and Engaging STEM activities
Project Based Learning Activities
Inspired by Caine, a boy from Los Angeles who inspired kids around the world to build arcade games out of cardboard boxes. Students can build their own game for class/school arcade day. Here is a Caine’s arcade packet that can guide the lesson.
Younger students will have a blast planning, writing and creating their own robot out of recycled material. This is an activity that can include stations or multiple class periods. This lesson is fun and exciting for young students as well can be integrated with reading, writing and math.
Want to merge science and art? Create a picture that lights up using the copper tape circuit challenge! This can be as simple or as intricate as you would like.
Students can build a zoo to learn about animals, habitats, and zoo management. This activity can help students develop math and science skills. Recommended for third grade and up.
Quick STEM Challenges
To challenge your students’ critical thinking, give them scissors and an index card. With an adult nearby to help, ask them if they could fit their entire body through an index card.
How tall can you stack the cups?
Provide 20 paper or plastic cups to students individually, in groups, or as a center activity. Challenge them to see how tall they can stack the cups in 2 minutes. Have students use a meter stick to measure their towers. Compare the different ways students stack the cups.
Challenge your students to see how long of a paper chain they can make with a single sheet of paper, scissors and tape in 2 minutes.
Students are always amazed at how much water can fit on a coin. Have students guess how much water they think can fit on a coin before using a dropper to add water to the coin. This will help them discover the surface tension of a coin.
If you have students who are always throwing things around the room, challenge them to design the best paper airplane and see how far it can fly. This will help them to focus their energy on a constructive activity, and it will also be a fun and educational experience. For those who don’t know how to create a paper airplane, here’s a link to show you how.
STEM Station/Center Activities
A Math Pattern Blocks Center is an excellent way to get students involved in math and have a good time at the same time. It can also help them develop problem-solving skills and keep early finishers occupied.
Encourage students to learn how to use science tools. Provide them with hand lenses, microscopes, and/or vocabulary cards, and have them explore different types of rocks, leaves, flowers, or any other type of nature. Have students draw what they see up close or write a poem about their discoveries. Explore nature together.