STEM Curriculum and Activities
- All
- Engineering Activities
- Group STEM Activities
- STEM at HOME
Exploring STEM in Space
A suite of free NASA-funded STEM resources for students in grades 3-8. All resources are research-based and classroom-tested. They are designed to support students’ understanding of space, while helping them see themselves as capable problem solvers.
Design a Crew Module
Use materials that are easy to find at home to build a crew capsule for spaceflight. Practice the engineering design process to improve on the original design. Grades 4-8.
STEM Educators Academy Activity Toolkit
In search of creative STEM activities? Check out this STEM Educators Academy Activity Toolkit from Expand ED Schools.
Math Lessons Go Better With Engineering
Math is an integral part of engineering. Learn how to utilize engineering activities to foster a deep understanding of math concepts.
Engineering a Fix for the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
This STEM activity from Science Friday encourages youth to use engineering to take care of the planet.
“Invent It, Build It” Engineering Activity Guide
Design Squad: "Invent it, Build It” is an engineering activity guide for 9-12 year olds in afterschool programs from PBS Kids
Art Infused with STEM Learning Activities Makes for a Colorful Time
Check out this simple activity that uses outdoor experiences and #art to engage young children in math and science discussions.
Starry Night at Home: Moon Leap
How high could you jump on the Moon? Combine your knowledge of math and science to calculate your official “Moon leap” potential!
Sweets, Hearts, and STEM: Candy Osmosis
Learn how water travels through membranes as you watch gummy bears grow. Observe osmosis in action using delicious candy!
Build a Mini Catapult
Design and construct a mini catapult using simple materials. Test your design for distance and accuracy by launching a projectile at a target.
Design Your Own Snazzy Sneakers
Use the engineering design process to design an environmentally sustainable shoe that meets design requirements specified in activity.
Toxic Popcorn Design Challenge
This lesson introduces youth to the engineering design process as youth work in teams to design both a product and process to safely remove “toxic” popcorn and save the city.
Flip That Flop! Turning Mistakes Into Opportunities
In this activity, students use a flip-flop template to write a description of a time they failed or made a mistake (the flop) and how they flipped that flop into an opportunity.
How High Can a Super Ball Bounce?
In this activity students explore how engineers might use elasticity of material to help them design products. They drop bouncy balls from a meter height and determine how high they bounce. Students measure, record and repeat the process to gather data to calculate average bounce heights and coefficients of elasticity.
Oreo Moon Phases
New moon, waxing crescent, waning gibbous – what do you see when you look at the moon in the night sky? Discover the phases of the moon using Oreo cookies, and find out why the moon changes shape each night!
Create Your Own Inuksuk Landmarks
Discover the mysteries behind the Inuit-made stone landmarks in the U.S. and Canada called Inuksuk. Then, go on a rock hunt and construct an Inuksuk replica!
Design Chromatography Flowers
Explore biochemistry and give someone a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Who knew a chromatography investigation could turn into a thoughtful gift?
Solar Water Purifier
Purify water using the power of the Sun! Learn how solar energy can be harnessed to turn undrinkable, salty water into water that is clean and clear.
Build a Paper Roller Coaster
Have you ever ridden a roller coaster? Have you ever wanted to design your own? There are plenty of expensive toys and even video games that will let you build your own coasters—but in this project you'll make one out of paper and tape, and learn about roller coaster physics along the way!
DIY DNA Extraction
Have you ever wondered how scientists get a sample of DNA from a plant, animal, or other organism? All living organisms have DNA. DNA is so important that it can be found in nearly every cell of a living organism. In this activity, you will make your own DNA extraction kit from household chemicals and use it to extract DNA from strawberries.
STEM Challenge: Card Towers
Working against a Criteria & Constraints List individually or with partners, students will design a tower for maximum height and/or stability.
Longest Paper Chain Race
The Great Chain race STEM Challenge using one piece of paper to make the longest chain.
Atop the Tower: Build the tallest pencil tower
Students will find building pencils towers both fun and easy. The first goal was to build super straight towers then challenge students to make towers in a variety of styles.
Foil Boat Engineering Challenge
For this engineering challenge, give each of your students a sheet of foil and a few drinking straws. Their challenge is to create a foil boat that is no larger than 6 X 6 X 6. The boats have to float and not tip over easily.
K-5 STEM Team Building
Students participate in a simple team building activity. Using one finger each, students must work together to lift and stack plastic cups. The task requires concentration and communication and serves as a fun and rewarding introduction to the value of teamwork.
Build a String Lifter Challenge
In this team building activity, students work together to lift an object by using a set of strings attached to a center ring. Each student grabs a few strings and must work together to raise the item in the center. The task requires concentration and communication and introduces the value of teamwork.
Space Docking Challenge
Space exploration is all about teamwork. Students work together to move a PVC ring with a ball balanced on top to dock with a larger ring placed on the ground. This activity is easily adaptable to any age by increasing the length of the string, size of the ball, or distance to the larger ring.
Create a Stop-Motion Animation Film
This is a great project to teach beginners about the filmmaking process, whether in elementary or high school. It involves a little bit of storytelling, experimentation, problem-solving, and hands-on technology.
