Problems Solving Process
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Halloween STEM Challenge: Potion Design | Engineering Design Process
Make science magical this Halloween with the Potion Mixing Lab! Students will safely explore chemical reactions while creating visually “magical” potions that fizz, change color, or smoke. This hands-on STEM challenge encourages engineering design thinking, experimentation, and problem-solving. Materials Needed: Baking soda Vinegar Food coloring Cups or small containers Droppers or spoonsAntacid Tablets Salt TeaLemon Juice Optional: Dry ice for extra spooky effect (use with caution) What
5th - 8th
Chemistry, Engineering
NGSS
MS-ETS1-2
, 3-5-ETS1-3
, MS-ETS1-4
+4
Halloween STEM Challenge: Rube Goldberg Ghost Catcher | Engineering Design MS6-8
Halloween STEM Challenge: Rube Goldberg Ghost Catcher | Engineering Design Process ActivityEngage your students with a spooky, hands-on Halloween STEM challenge! In this activity, students become engineers for the day as they design a Rube Goldberg-style contraption to catch a ghost using simple, everyday classroom materials. Perfect for middle school science, STEM, and design thinking lessons, this challenge emphasizes critical thinking, creativity, and the full Engineering Design Process. W
5th - 8th
Basic Principles, Engineering
NGSS
MS-ETS1-2
, 3-5-ETS1-3
, MS-ETS1-4
+3
Engineering Design: The Leprechaun Trap
This lesson guides elementary students through the engineering design process as they imagine and build a leprechaun trap. Students will also practice critical writing when they reflect on the design process.
The three-page lesson, created by Jennine Zepeda, introduces or reinforces STEM concepts like engineering design and creative problem-solving. It includes the lesson plan, a design planning page and a wanted poster for leprechauns.
Although fun all year, this project is especially good f
K - 2nd
Engineering, Writing-Expository
Ocean Plastic Cleanup STEM Challenge: Engage & Innovate for Earth Day
Are your students eager to tackle real-world environmental issues and apply their problem-solving skills? Introduce your students to a vital environmental challenge with the "Ocean Plastic Cleanup STEM Challenge | Engineering Design Process | Earth Day" resource. This hands-on activity is designed to captivate young learners and empower them to become innovative problem-solvers, saving you valuable planning time while fostering deep engagement. What's Included: Comprehensive teacher guide with a
3rd - 6th
Classroom Community, Earth Sciences, Engineering
Build a Love Boat - Valentine's Day STEM Challenge
Build a Love Boat – Valentine's Day STEM ChallengeGet your students excited about engineering and problem-solving with this Valentine's Day-themed STEM activity! In the Build a Love Boat challenge, students use simple materials—popsicle sticks and aluminum foil—to design and test a mini boat that holds the most candies before sinking. It's the perfect hands-on project for integrating science, creativity, and festive fun! What's Included: Clear student instructions Materials list Sketching and
4th - 8th
Engineering, General Science
Irrigation System STEM Activity | Design a System to Water Plants Efficiently
💧 Irrigation System STEM Activity | Design a System to Water Plants Efficiently (Kindergarten–Grade 2)Bring real-world problem solving into your classroom with this hands-on Irrigation System STEM activity! Students explore how water moves and design their own system to deliver water efficiently to plants—just like real engineers and farmers. This engaging resource guides learners through the engineering design process as they plan, build, test, and improve a working irrigation system using si
1st - 9th
Earth Sciences, Engineering, Environment
Trash to Treasure STEM - GT - Depth & Complexity - Engineering - Simple Machines
This is the perfect project for GT, GATE, STEM, etc.! Just print the packet and go! Your students will love learning about the engineering process and simple machines. Depth & complexity icons are included throughout the lesson. This would make a great unit for Earth Day; but it could be used any month of the year! Your kids will be engaged while turning trash to treasure!
Not Specific
Engineering, Environment, Physical Science
Christmas Gumdrop STEM Elf Day Activities Marshmallow & Toothpicks STEM Projects
Looking for a Christmas gumdrop STEM activity that feels meaningful—not just festive? This Elf Bridge STEM Challenge invites students to apply the engineering design process as they design and test a bridge strong enough to help an elf deliver presents Santa left behind. Perfect for elf day activities, December STEM lessons, or end-of-semester engagement, this challenge blends creativity, problem-solving, and real engineering thinking into a fun and structured experience your students will l
5th - 8th
Engineering, General Science
February STEM Activities Bundle | Valentine STEM Party Stations +Data & Redesign
Make Valentine’s Day academic and fun with 8 hands-on STEM party centers! Students plan, build, test, record results, and redesign using the Engineering Design Process. Includes station cards + recording sheets. Looking for a Valentine’s Day activity that feels like a party and delivers real learning? These Valentine STEM Activities Party Centers include 8 engaging STEM challenges that are perfect for grades 3–5. Students work in teams to plan, build, test, collect data, and improve—all wi
3rd - 5th
Classroom Community, Engineering, Measurement
Makerspace Fishing Day Task Card Pack
STEM Fishing Day Task Cards are perfect for using in your Maker Space! Join the Maker Movement by giving your students time to create, tinker, problem solve, and invent! This pack revolves around a Fishing Day theme and includes: -7 task cards -task card cover -record sheet -bulletin board letters for a Fishing For Creations Themed board -Writing connections sheet -Fishing DayMaker Space Rules Poster -Directions and How To's This pack with themed task cards offers your students opportunities t
2nd - 5th
Engineering, Science
Also included in: Makerspace STEM Bundle
Spookley Lego STEM Challenge
The Spookley Lego STEM Challenge is a Halloween/Fall activity that practices the 4C's, as well as the steps for the Engineering by Design Process. This STEM challenge goes beyond Halloween by connect to math standards, such as recognizing shapes, and ELA with a read aloud. Students work in partners or small groups against a list of criteria and constraints to build a pumpkin patch out of LEGOS that includes different color and shaped pumpkins. Materials needed are just Legos! Included is an edi
K - 2nd
Engineering
NGSS
K-2-ETS1-2
, K-2-ETS1-3
, K-2-ETS1-1
+3
5 Little Pumpkins STEM Challenge
The 5 Little Pumpkins STEM Challenge is a Halloween/Fall activity that practices the 4C's, as well as the steps for the Engineering by Design Process. This STEM challenge goes beyond Halloween by connecting to poetry and counting (i.e. counting up to 5). Students work in partners or small groups against a list of criteria and constraints to build a fence for their 5 little pumpkins to sit on. Materials are everyday items and recyclables. Included is an editable slideshow to accompany the
K - 3rd
Engineering
NGSS
K-2-ETS1-2
, K-2-ETS1-3
, K-2-ETS1-1
+3
St. Patrick's Day Leprechaun Trap Engineer Planning Worksheets / Graphic Org.
Use these no-prep student planning sheets/mats for a St. Patrick's Day Leprechaun Trap Engineering / STEM Challenge! These planning sheets guide students through the Engineering Design Process, providing them with an organized space to write, plan, design, and revise. Students will love the structure and organization these templates provide! ☘️☘️Want a complete bundle with St. Patrick's Day Math & Writing activities? > > Grab it here!These STEAM tools can be used for all learners t
2nd - 8th
Engineering
June STEM STEAM Challenge: Father's Day Edition
Mama Kangaroo has a pouch to carry baby Joey. But what about Daddy Kangaroo? In this challenge, your students must find a way to help animals of all kinds solve this problem. For Father's Day...or any day...this is a fun activity for building problem solving and creative thinking!
Included in this pack are:
-- Printable student challenge card
-- Teacher materials list
-- Pre-Activity guide
-- Engineering Design Process flow-chart for student record keeping
-- Self-assessment/Reflection page
K - 5th
Engineering, Science
Halloween Engineering: Simple Machine Pumpkin Trap | Spooky Science STEM
Catch the candy pumpkin if you can! Students will design and build motion traps to capture rolling objects using simple machines and everyday materials. This hands-on STEM activity encourages problem-solving, creativity, and iterative design thinking. Materials Needed: Paper tubes or cardboard rolls Cups or small containers Cardboard or stiff paper String, tape, and scissors Small candy pumpkins or balls What’s Included: Step-by-step student instructions Scaffolded guidance for the Engine
5th - 8th
Engineering, General Science, Physical Science
NGSS
MS-ETS1-2
, MS-ETS1-4
, MS-ETS1-1
+1
Halloween Engineering Challenge: Haunted Sound Machines | Science MS 6-8
Turn your classroom into a haunted sound lab! Students design and build simple mechanical devices that produce creepy, eerie sounds using low-cost materials. This challenge blends STEM, creativity, and the Engineering Design Process for a fun, hands-on Halloween lesson. Materials Needed: Rubber bands Paper cups or cardboard tubes Cardboard or stiff paper String or yarn Tape and scissors What’s Included: Step-by-step student instructions Scaffolded guidance for each stage of the Engineeri
5th - 8th
Engineering, Music
NGSS
MS-ETS1-2
, MS-ETS1-4
, MS-ETS1-1
+1
STEM Activities & Challenges: 2nd & 3rd Grade Simple Machines Leprechaun Trap
St. Patrick's Day Leprechaun Trap STEM Project-Based Learning is here! This STEM activity and challenge for 2nd-3rd graders uses the concepts of simple machines (pulleys, levers, inclined planes/ramps) and the engineering design process to engage students in the challenge of building a leprechaun trap that can trap and contain a marble or ping pong ball (representing a leprechaun). Step-by-step directions and materials list are both provided for the teacher to allow for maximum student success.
2nd - 3rd
Engineering, Physics, Science
NGSS
K-2-ETS1-2
, K-2-ETS1-3
, K-2-ETS1-1
+5
Build a Leprechaun Trap STEM Project Design Planning Sheet St Patricks Day Fun
Looking for a fun and engaging St. Patrick’s Day STEM activity your students will love? This hands-on leprechaun trap challenge invites students to design and build their own trap using simple materials while exploring the engineering design process. Perfect for grades 2–5, this creative STEM challenge encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and imaginative thinking during the month of March. Students will plan, build, test, and improve their designs as they try to create the perfect trap to c
2nd - 5th
Engineering, Science
Materials Science STEM Project | Design & Build Challenge | Engineering Activity
This Materials Science STEM Project is a hands-on, engaging way for students to apply their understanding of material properties through a real-world design challenge. Students will plan, build, test, and improve a product while using the engineering design process and explaining their thinking along the way. This resource is designed to be simple for teachers to implement while still providing meaningful, rigorous learning for students. 🧪 What’s Included: Student Directions Brainstorming
6th - 8th
Engineering, General Science, Other (Science)
Valentine's Day Flexible Thinking & Critical Thinking Activity - No Prep STEM
Looking for quick, engaging, and no-prep Valentine’s Day STEM activities? This Valentine STEM Improv resource is perfect for centers, choice boards, sub plans, or early finishers. With its focus on creativity, flexibility, and the planning stage of the Engineering Design Process (EDP), this activity encourages critical thinking in a fun and festive way. What’s Valentine STEM Improv All About?Students work individually or in small groups to design imaginative solutions based on three random
3rd - 6th
Engineering
NGSS
3-5-ETS1-1
, MS-ETS1-1
Spooky STEM Challenge: Maze or LEGO Build — Computational Thinking & Evaluation
Bring computational thinking to life with this hands-on, spooky-themed STEM challenge!Students choose between designing a Spooky Maze or building a Spooky LEGO Creation, using Post-its to plan, evaluation questions to reflect, and computational thinking skills to guide their process. Perfect for upper elementary through high school, this open-ended activity blends creativity, logic, and problem-solving — no coding experience required! Because computational thinking isn’t age-bound, students at
Not Specific
Computer Science - Technology, Engineering, Instructional Technology
St Patricks Day STEM Activity St Pattys Day Rainbow Bridge March STEM Challenge
Looking for an engaging St. Patrick’s Day STEM activity for March? This STEM Challenge invites students to design and build a rainbow bridge that can hold the most weight. Perfect for grades 2–5, this hands-on engineering activity encourages teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving while students explore the engineering design process. Students will plan, build, test, and improve their bridge designs using simple classroom materials. It’s a fun and meaningful way to bring STEM learning into
2nd - 5th
Engineering, Science
Earth Science STEM Bundle | Water Cycle, Weather & Climate, Desert Plants & Farm
🌍 Earth Science STEM Bundle | Water Cycle, Weather & Climate, Desert Plants & Sustainable Farming Transform your science lessons with this comprehensive Earth Science STEM Bundle! This engaging collection of hands-on projects helps students explore how Earth’s natural systems work while applying the engineering design process to real-world environmental challenges. Perfect for Grades 3–9, this bundle combines science, creativity, and problem-solving through meaningful, project-based learning
1st - 9th
Earth Sciences, Engineering, Environment
STEM Activities for Centers and Sub Plans | 4 Seasons STEM Improv
Need quick STEM activities to do in 30 minutes or less? How about just 10-15 minutes? This bundle has you covered for all four seasons - summer, fall, winter and spring! STEM Improv focuses on developing creativity, mental flexibility & the planning step of the Engineering Design Process (EDP). If you've ever found yourself pressed for time, in need of no prep STEM activities perfect for sub plans, centers, bell ringers and more -- or confused about how to help students develop creativity
3rd - 6th
Engineering
NGSS
3-5-ETS1-1
, MS-ETS1-1
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