As I reviewed my site to see which were my most popular posts, I found that most of the top 20 were my STEM activities. Hmmm. Well, I certainly LOVE STEM activities; that is why I have so many I share. So, I decided to do a round-up of STEM Activities and Challenges elementary (even middle school) kids will love.
STEM is the perfect way to get kids engaged in learning. Plus, it is a fun way to learn something new or add in some critical thinking skills.
I’ve used STEM to work on problem-solving. That’s why I’ve created some STEM challenges over the years. I want my kiddos to look at a problem and come up with a solution. They also learn to analyze their work and make improvements.
When kids work with others on STEM, they learn new ways of looking at a problem they may not have thought of. So there really are a lot of benefits to STEM activities and challenges.
In this round-up of STEM activities and STEM Challenges, you’ll find various topics and skills the kids use.
So, let’s get started!
Round-Up of STEM Activities and Challenges
First off, let’s look at some STEM activities. These activities may include aspects of science, technology, engineering, or math. Kids are given steps to take to help them learn more about an idea (plus have a little fun).
STEM Activities for Kids
- 14 STEM Activities with Popsicles Sticks will Have a Blast Doing– Get out the popsicle sticks and have some fun. Here you will find a variety of activities the kids will enjoy.
- Quick STEM Activities for Kids– Short on time? No problem. Here are some quick and easy projects for the kids to do. Make a parachute, a helicopter, hovercraft, and more.
- STEM Activities with Straws– Got straws? Well, then you are ready for some fun. Kids can make things like hoop gliders and roller coasters!
- 5 Easy STEM Activities Your Kids Will Enjoy– Here, you will find easy STEM activities that will either amaze kids or be a whole lot of fun to do. Simple things can be a lot of fun!
- Resources to Teach Coding to Kids– Here are some fun resources to tackle the world of coding for those techie kids. After all, it is a great skill to have in today’s world. Plus, coding doesn’t need to be boring. Even those scared by technology will have fun with these ideas.
- 3 Solar Oven Projects for Backyard Fun with Kids– Learn to build two different solar ovens and cook three things with them! Solar ovens are always a big hit.
- A Super Fun Bubble Science Experiment Kids are Going to Love– What kid doesn’t like bubbles?! In this activity, kids learn to do an experiment with bubbles. Not only will the kids have fun being a scientist, but they will learn the science behind those bubble ingredients. Cool, huh?
- Science Fun with Elephant Toothpaste– Ah, elephant toothpaste. Every child needs to try this experiment sometime in their childhood. It is so much fun, AND kids learn the science of why the “toothpaste” explodes.
These are just a few of the STEM activities I have shared on my site. So give them a try and see what your kids think!
Challenges for Kids
I lean more towards loving challenges out of STEM activities and STEM challenges. They are a fantastic way to build critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Kids also learn to work through the scientific process of trying something out, analyzing, and re-trying once again to improve.
Here are some of my most popular STEM challenges. Not only are they a fun way to get kids to use their brainpower, but they are also a lot of fun.
- Simple Lego Boat STEM Challenge to Make Learning Fun– You will find two activities to do with this challenge. Kids will have fun with anything to do with Legos. Plus, kids will soon learn this challenge can be a little more complicated than expected.
- The Challenge is On: A STEM Tower Challenge– I think this was the first STEM challenge I wrote about. It is so much fun. Kids of any age would have fun with this.
- The STEM Hammock Challenge: A Great Outdoor Activity– If you like getting the kids outdoors, give this a try. Kids need to think about what items will be strong enough to hold a Barbie/Action figure-sized doll and then build a hammock for them. It is a challenge.
- Build the Best Easter Bunny Boat: A STEM Challenge– Here is a fun way to use up those PEEPS at Easter time. Kids create a boat that can hold those Bunny (or chick) PEEPS out of the water. But you don’t need to save this STEM challenge for Easter. Instead, you can substitute the PEEPS for action figures, cars, toy animals, etc.
- Lego Balloon Cars: A Fantastic Way to Teach STEM– Legos! Do I need to say more? This is one of my most popular activities and so fun. Kids try to build working Lego cars and race them against other cars. You’ll find some science and math extensions included.
- Winter STEM Challenge: Snowman Bridge– Kids will have fun building a bridge to keep their snowman from melting. Use real snow or the fake snow recipe included.
- STEM Challenge for Kids: Build a Bird Nest– This is the perfect outdoor STEM challenge. Kids get outside in nature and use natural materials to build a nest like a bird. You can weave this into a whole bird study or a study on different types of “homes” for animals.
- STEM Zip Line Challenge– In this challenge, kids get a chance to use some of those plastic Easter eggs that are always lying around the house. However, you could also substitute a plastic egg with other items like a small bathroom cup. What is fantastic with this challenge, kids can incorporate math and science with engineering. Check it out.
So, whether you want a STEM activity or STEM challenge to do with the kids, you have plenty to choose from. So, pick and choose from the projects listed above to add excitement to learning. The kids will thank you. But, don’t forget to join in too. STEM activities and challenges aren’t just for kids.
Happy Homeschooling!
