FLASH SALE ⭐ Low Prep STEM Activities and Challenges Engineering Design Process

SAVE OVER 70% FOR A LIMITED TIME! 60 low prep STEM challenges PLUS everything you need to teach the Engineering Design Process! These activities are the perfect way to explore science concepts like sound, force and motion, aerodynamics, and more! Students will also find connections to STEM careers and hands-on math applications when they tackle the popular packaging design engineer challenge.

These challenges can be done any time (though you might want to do the seasonal ones in season). There are no holiday-specific challenges included in this download, which makes them suitable for any classroom! Use for STEM family night, weekly challenges, sub plans, or makerspace!

✅ What You'll Get ✅ (See full details below)

⚙️ Engineering Design Process ⚙️: Includes 22 page teacher e-book, student activities and assessments, research an engineering profession, scientific method overview and EDP comparison, plus rubrics

⚙️ 23 Quick STEM Challenges ⚙️: Includes 5 relevant vocabulary terms, differentiation ideas to use with a wide range of grades, plus optional extension activities

⚙️ 12 Seasonal STEM Challenges ⚙️: 3 challenges for each season including the popular leaf glider STEM challenge and paper snowflake challenges! Bonus task cards are also included!

⚙️ 25 Simple STEM Challenges ⚙️: These challenges use simple materials (craft sticks, plastic cups, string, cardboard tubes, and paper plates). Bonus task cards are also included!

Detailed Contents: Engineering Design Process

This resource is the culmination of years of my work as an engineer and STEM educator! In it, you will find:

✅ A 20+ page teacher guide:

• • A brief overview of STEM and why it's important
  • An in-depth look at each step of the EDP
  • The 4 Cs and STEM
  • The Scientific Method and comparison to the EDP
  • A simplified and fun acronym option for teaching the EDP to younger students
  • How to tell if it's STEM (Is it Impostor STEM or ✨ Authentic ✨ STEM?)
  • Video links to introduce the EDP
  • STEM challenge tips
  • Walk-through for Index Card STEM challenge
  • Completed samples
  • Follow-up questions to ask students to assess STEM learning and encourage out-of-the-box thinking✅ Student Printables
  • 3-page introduction to the EDP
  • EDP warm up activity (2 levels provided)
  • Research an engineering profession
  • EDP printable (students label and define steps)
  • Scientific method overview and EDP comparison (3 pages)
  • EDP and Scientific Method sorting activity
  • EDP knowledge check/assessment (2 options)
  • Growth mindset and failure color and doodle page (2 options)

• ✅ Bonuses
  • Checklists and Rubrics: 6 pre-made checklists and rubrics plus 3 editable options (in Google Slides)
  • EDP Posters: Choose from "Ask Imagine Plan Create Improve" or DIP ME "Define Imagine Plan Make Enhance" (If you attended Elementary STEM Con, you may remember Dip Me!)
  • Graphic Organizers and STEM Challenge Recording Sheet: Several options to choose from for students to record their ideas, data, and progress.
  • Spot Impostor STEM! Can you tell the difference between a high-quality, authentic STEM challenge and an impostor? Use the graphic and checklist to vet STEM challenges you want to try in your classroom.

Detailed Contents: Quick STEM Challenges

The best variety of low prep STEM activities you'll find! These 23 STEM and STEAM activities can be completed with readily available materials and minimal prep - you can even use these for sub plans! Students will get hands-on exploring different STEM careers with these activities. Each activity is designed to take about one class period however the activity can span across two class periods to give ample time for redesigns and re-testing, or for a repeat challenge using different materials.

These are not quite no prep but they are close! "It has helped me start the STEAM lab at our school with very little effort on my part. The lessons are easy to use and fun for all ages."

These STEM activities can be used with elementary students OR middle school students - you will just need to alter the design criteria depending on the group. Suggestions for differentiation are included in the resource.

What You'll Get (23 Challenges in All):

10 STEM Challenges

10 More STEM Challenges

Paper Clip STEM

Egg Drop STEM

Packaging Engineer STEM

✅ 10 STEM Challenges (see more below) ✅

Each STEM activity includes a description, photographs of examples, a display page stating the challenge, as well as 5 "Talk Like an Engineer" word cards with relevant vocabulary.

⬇️ STEM Activities Included ⬇️

• Design a Bridge
• Design a Paper Airplane
• Design a Shelter
• Tallest Tower Challenge
• Challenging Maze Design
• Pompom Launcher
• Float a Boat STEM Challenge
• Fast & Slow Sled
• What a Drag: Parachute STEM Challenge
• Cantilever Challenge: Explore cross sections with this challenge!
• BONUS: All Aboard the Gear Train

Also Included

• Graphic organizers (includes Google Slides options)
• Engineering report (includes Google Slides or Docs option)
• Rubric option plus self-eval option. Choose either to document each challenge, or use the provided interactive pages (2) in your science notebooks.
• Engineering vocabulary + Quizlet activity
• Follow-up extension activity for each challenge

Please note: These activities are meant to be done with materials you have on hand, such as paper, office supplies, and recyclables. For this reason, they lend themselves very well to distance or hybrid learning models, homeschooling co-ops, libraries, and makerspaces, as well as traditional classroom settings. See detailed list below for more information regarding material requirements.

✅ 10 More STEM Challenges Contents ✅

Each challenge includes a description, photographs of examples, a display page stating the challenge, as well as 5 "Talk Like an Engineer" word cards with relevant vocabulary. 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).

⬇️ STEM Challenges ⬇️

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

Also Included

• Graphic organizers
• Engineering report
• Rubric option. Choose either to document each challenge, or use the provided interactive pages (2) in your science notebooks.
• Engineering vocabulary + Quizlet activity

Detailed Contents: Seasonal STEM Challenges

You will receive 12 main STEM challenges (3 for each season) plus over 20 additional task card challenges! These activities are highly engaging and appropriate for a wide range of grades.

Please see each individual file linked above for a more thorough preview.

Fall STEM

Fall STEM activities includes 3 different STEM challenges that are great for hands-on learning. Use the printable pages provided to follow the Engineering Design Process, or set this activity up as a STEM station with the challenge cards provided. Though these are autumn themed STEM challenges, they can be done at any time of the year. The three challenges are:

• Acorn Chute: design a chute for acorns to go from point A to point B.
• Leaf Glider: design a paper leaf glider that can fly the farthest.
• Sports Dome: design a sports dome for your favorite sports team!

All of these challenges can be used to complement your study of force and motion (kinetic and potential energy, drag, tension and compression, etc.). Follow the engineering design process to complete each challenge. These challenges can be as simple or as complex as you choose to make them – for this reason they are appropriate for a wide age range.

CONTENTS

• Getting Started Suggested Material List for each challenge.
• STEM Challenge Tips General tips for any STEM challenge.
• Each Challenge Includes:
• Teacher Notes
• Sample Pictures
• Printable Challenge Poster: Hang at your STEM center or near where the STEM creations are, especially if they will be on display for the class or a STEM fair, parent night, etc.
• Printable pages to use with the challenge and guide the students through the engineering design process.
• STEM Challenge Cards These cards are like task cards, but they include the 3 main STEM challenges in this resource (with variations), as well as some other challenges. You can use these if you would rather set this up at a STEM station as a self-guided STEM activity. Choose from cards with images or without.
• STEM Graphic Organizers Fall themed – use with the three challenges or the challenge cards, provided to allow the students to work through the engineering design process. You may also use this sheet for any of the other challenges if you prefer a more generic one.

Winter STEM

Winter STEM / Snowflake STEM activities. Create a variety of snowflakes with these 3 STEM engaging challenges.

Instructions and sample images

• Warm up activities: Which folded up snowflake profile fits the unfolded snowflake? Photograph examples and printable pages (2 included, versions A and B. B designs are more complicated).
• Challenges

❄ Geometry Challenge: Create a variety of snowflakes as specified.

❄ Fast/Slow Challenge: Design and create snowflakes that will fall the fastest or slowest from a given height.

❄ Reverse Engineer Challenge: Take a snowflake someone else has created (from the first two challenges) and try to create an exact copy.

• STEM Challenge Cards - 12 Snowflake STEM task cards that include the challenges above (cards 1-8), as well as 4 bonus challenges. Recording sheet included that follows the engineering design process.

Spring STEM

Spring STEM activities includes 3 different STEM challenges that are great for hands-on learning. Use the printable pages provided to follow the Engineering Design Process, or set this activity up as a STEM station with the challenge cards provided. The three challenges are:

• Sturdy Nest

• Wind Power (sailboat racing)

• Planter Box

Getting Started Suggested Material List for each challenge.

• STEM Challenge Tips General tips for any STEM challenge.
• Each Challenge Includes
• Teacher Notes
• Sample Pictures
• Printable Challenge Poster: Hang at your STEM center or near where the STEM creations are, especially if they will be on display for the class or a STEM fair, parent night, etc.
• Printable pages to use with the challenge and guide the students through the engineering design process.
• STEM Challenge Cards These cards are like task cards, but they include the 3 main STEM challenges in this resource (with variations), as well as some other challenges. You can use these if you would rather set this up at a STEM station or use at Field Day as a self-guided STEM activity. Choose from cards with images or without.
• STEM Graphic Organizers Spring themed – use with the three challenges or the challenge cards, provided to allow the students to work through the engineering design process. You may also use this sheet for any of the other challenges if you prefer a more generic one.

Summer STEM

Summer STEM activities includes 3 different STEM challenges that are great for hands-on learning. Use the printable pages provided to follow the Engineering Design Process, or set this activity up as a STEM station with the challenge cards provided. The three challenges are:

• submersible (water craft or SCUBA diver)
• strong sandcastle
• squirrel-proof bird feeder (or choose simple bird feeder)

Getting Started Suggested Material List for each challenge.

• STEM Challenge Tips General tips for any STEM challenge.
• Each Challenge Includes
• Teacher Notes
• Sample Pictures
• Printable Challenge Poster: Hang at your STEM center or near where the STEM creations are, especially if they will be on display for the class or a STEM fair, parent night, etc.
• Printable pages to use with the challenge and guide the students through the engineering design process.
• STEM Challenge Cards These cards are like task cards, but they include the 3 main STEM challenges in this resource (with variations), as well as some other challenges. You can use these if you would rather set this up at a STEM station as a self-guided STEM activity. Choose from cards with images or without.
• STEM Graphic Organizers Summer themed – use with the three challenges or the challenge cards, provided to allow the students to work through the engineering design process. You may also use this sheet for any of the other challenges if you prefer a more generic one.

Detailed Contents: Simple STEM Challenges

Suggested Material Lists

• STEM Challenge Tips: General tips for any STEM challenge.
• Teacher Notes: includes terminology and differentiation ideas.
• Sample pictures of completed projects.
• Paper plate STEM decor
• Recording page for each of the main STEM challenges for each material that guide the students through the engineering design process.
• ✅ 5 Paper plate challenges:
  • roller coaster
  • paper plate transformation
  • airborne plates
  • basket or container
  • tower

• ✅ Craft stick challenges:
  • Area puzzler - use craft sticks to make the largest area possible (math concepts)
  • Craft stick catapult (kinetic and potential energy)
  • Bridge span design (weight, buckling, deflection)
  • Craft stick bomb (kinetic and potential energy)
  • Marble run (force and motion, mechanical design)

• ✅ 5 Plastic cup challenges:
  • Plastic cup telephone (sound)
  • Sound amplifier (sound)
  • Cup rollers (torque, friction, force and motion)
  • Transfer device (simple machines, gravity)
  • Anemometer (velocity, weather)

• ✅ 5 String challenges:
  • Suspension Bridge (forces, tension)
  • Musical Strings (sound)
  • Archery (elastic potential energy and kinetic energy)
  • Spy Maze (working in 3 dimensions)
  • Winch or Capstan (simple machines, force and motion)

• ✅ 6 Cardboard tube challenges):
  • Tube structure (stability, attachment methods)
  • STEAM art (symmetry)
  • Marble run (gravity, angles)
  • Launcher (potential and kinetic energy)
  • Strongest column (axial load, cross sections)
  • Ball float challenge (Bernoulli's principle)