STEM activities and challenges your students will ❤️ love ❤️! This resource has 10 easy to implement STEM challenges that follow the engineering design process while exposing students to STEM careers. Perfect for hands-on activities with force and motion, sound, materials, computer science, and more!

Not only can these be used with a wide grade range, these were created to get students working in small teams, collaborating, and explore various STEM careers. I like to call these "10 STEM Challenges You Can Do TODAY!"

✅ STEM Career Connections ✅

The challenges cover a wide range of engineering disciplines:

• materials engineering (bubble challenge)
• industrial engineering (fidget fix)
• acoustical engineering (musical instrument)
• mechanical engineering (elevator, windshield wipers)
• code creator (software engineering)
• aeronautical engineering (windmill)

✅ What You'll Get ✅

10 STEM challenges, each including

• a description and teacher notes
• photographs of examples
• a poster display page stating the challenge
• 5 "Talk Like an Engineer" word cards with relevant vocabulary (including links to Quizlet Study Sets).

✨ The Challenges ✨

• Design a Zip Line
• Design a Windmill
• Fidget Fix
• Code Creator (create simple code with conditional statement IF ELSE, no computer necessary!)
• Design a Musical Instrument
• Bubble Maker
• Elevator Challenge
• Design a Hammock
• Printing Press
• Windshield Wipers (synthesize a 4-bar linkage)

✅ Also Includes ✅

• Graphic organizers (includes digital version)
• Engineering report
• Rubric. Choose either to document each challenge, or use the provided interactive pages (2) in your science notebooks.

✂️ Please note: While these challenges are designed to be completed with readily available classroom and household materials, your students will have an easier time completing the challenges if you have the following materials available: foam paper sheets (for the printing press challenge), metal fasteners (for the windshield wiper challenge), thin cardboard (such as from cereal and other food boxes), and string (for the zip line and elevator challenges). You will also need to either have bubble solution or make your own with water, dish detergent, and either corn syrup or glycerin.

What Teachers are Saying

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Great continuation of first set, and love having the definitions for the "Talk like an Engineer" words!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Perfect for my STEM Club for mixed aged groups! Thanks!."

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Your photographs of each STEM challenge is very helpful along with your clear directions. Thank you for this complete bundle!"

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "Kids really enjoy creating and completing challenges. Thanks!"

If you are looking for a more rigorous approach to the engineering design process, please view my engineering design challenge resources (linked below).

Want to go paperless?

I have created a digital STEM Journal for use with ANY STEM Challenge where you can record the engineering design process without wasting paper.

Quick STEM Challenges

STEM Activities - 10 STEM Challenges

STEM Activities - 10 STEM Challenges (Set 2)

STEM Activities BUNDLE (20 challenges)

Engineering Design Challenges

STEM Engineering Design Challenge #1 - Design a Transport Device

STEM Engineering Design Challenge #2 - Design a Power Transmission Tower

STEM Engineering Design Challenge #3 - Design a Periscope

STEM Engineering Design Challenge #4 - Design a Cargo Ship

STEM Engineering Design Challenges #5 - Design a Fidget Spinner

STEM Project Based Learning: All Ability Playground

Disclaimer: I have done my best to keep these as safe as possible. However, please make sure that you do your own due diligence when performing any STEM challenge. Adult supervision is necessary. Please use care, caution, and your best judgement when performing any STEM challenge, engineering challenge, or science experiment. The seller disclaims all liability for any damage or injury which might arise from the use of any of these projects.