Chances are, if you have kids in the house, you probably have straws. Sure, straws are great for drinking, but they can do so much more. For instance, many STEM activities with straws can liven up any boring day.
Did you know you can make bridges, roller coasters, and even different-shaped bubbles with straws?!
Doesn’t that sound fun?!
If it does, I encourage you to check out ten ways to add STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) to your day with these simple plastic items.
10 Super Fun STEM Activities with Straws
Let’s take a look at TEN fun ways to use straws in STEM projects. Kids will be engineers, explore science, play with math, and add a little technology to their day.
The best part is kids won’t know all the awesome skills they are using. For them, it will just be fun.
1. Egg Drop (Engineering)
Over at iGameMom, she shares a Successful Egg Drop Project Design with Straws.
In this STEM activity, kids learn to use straws to design a structure that protects their egg from breaking. Your little engineer will build this straw structure and learn why a certain design works best.
2. Globe (Engineering and Math)
At Kids Activities Blog, you can find BUILDING WITH STRAWS: A STEM ACTIVITY.
In this STEM project, kids learn to make a globe with straws and tape. It is set up so that kids can compete to see who can build the globe the fastest. It isn’t necessary, but it adds a little fun. This project would be a good addition to your math class since kids will learn how to build a sphere shape.
3. STEM Tower (Engineering)
On my site, The Secret Life of Homeschoolers, you can find the STEM Tower Challenge.
The STEM Tower Challenge is just that: a challenge. Kids get the materials and use their engineering skills to build a tower that can hold the most pennies in its “bucket.” It is always interesting to see the different designs kids come up with.
4. Roller Coaster (Engineering)
Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls has the Build a Straw Roller Coaster activity.
Kids will have a super fun time building their own roller coaster with straws. It can be as simple or as complicated as your kiddo wants.
Don’t worry. The site guides kids through building roller coasters. Kids aren’t left trying to figure it out on their own.
5. Hoop Gliders (Science and Engineering)
Science Demo Guy‘s STEM Activity Challenge: Hoop Gliders.
Although this is available on Teacher Pay Teachers, it is free to download. I like how this hoop glider challenge encourages kids to try different-sized hoops to see which glides best.Â
6. Bridges (Engineering)
My Baba has the Take the Straw Bridge Challenge.
Using straws and paper, kids are challenged to create their own bridges. I love these kinds of challenges because kids are left to use their own imagination and creativity to figure out how to build it.
7. Tensile Bubbles (Math)
What are tensile bubbles???
Basically, it means bubbles are created by stretching between two things. This way, bubbles can take on different shapes.
Babble Dabble Do teaches you STEM Activities: Tensile Bubbles.
I find this to be a unique STEM project that kids will enjoy. Here, kids build bubble wands using straws to make different geometric shapes, a great way to incorporate math.
After the wands are dipped in the bubble solution, the bubbles take the wand’s shape. Voilà , square bubbles (or triangles, etc.).
8. STEM Activity with Straw- The Straw Maze (Engineering and Technology)
Here’s another one of my STEM challenges: The Marble Maze. (It is part of a collection of 5 STEM activities. The maze is #4.)
In this STEM straw activity, kids will create their own straw mazes. Kids can then try to roll a marble or small ball through their maze.
To add in some technology, kids can create the maze for their hex bugs!
9. Water Whistles (Science)
Again, over at My Baba, you will find Water Whistle: The Science of Sound project.
Through this activity, children use straws to explore the science of sound. It is a short but fun way to explore sound.
10. Straw Rockets (Science)
Finally, over at Kids Spot, you will find Straw Rockets.
These are very simple straw rockets but fun nevertheless. Kids can experiment with blowing harder or softer to get their rockets where they want them to go. I’d recommend making it into a game. See who can get them the furthest, who can get them in a container, etc. Experiment!
Super STEM Straw Activities
So, that is my round-up of TEN STEM Activities with Straws for Kids. All are fun projects for rainy days, days you want something different to do, or to add some fun to science and math.
STEM activities are always a hit with kids. Kids use critical thinking skills and often act like scientists, testing and retesting their ideas. Learning doesn’t have to be boring. It can be fun and exciting with simple activities like those above.
Okay. Now it is your turn. Pick a project above and let your kids explore the world of STEM with the straws in your kitchen drawer.
Want to Get Even More Out of Your STEM Activities?
Building bridges, designing towers, and experimenting with straw rockets are great ways for kids to explore STEM. But the learning doesn’t stop with the building!
Give your kids a chance to think like real scientists and engineers. My STEM Journal and Toolkit helps children plan their designs, make predictions, record observations, and reflect on what they discover.
With printable journal pages, STEM cards, data sheets, and more, you’ll have an easy-to-use resource to bring out whenever inspiration strikes.
Print it, grab some supplies, and let the experimenting begin!
Happy Homeschooling!
