The Science Studio

Here are some easy, low prep elementary stem ideas you can implement in your classroom!

1. Paper Airplane Challenge: All you need for this activity is some paper! Challenge students to design and create paper airplanes using different folding techniques. Encourage them to experiment with variables like wing size and shape to observe how they affect flight. This activity not only teaches basic aerodynamics but also encourages creativity and problem-solving. Students can work in groups or they can work individually. After about 20 mins of building, and student trials, I like to show them youtube videos of different airplane building tutorials. Another thing you can add is how is the plane affected by weight. I like to add a coin and tape it onto the plane and students can write down their observations too!
2. Marshmallow Tower Challenge: In this engineering challenge, students work in teams to build the tallest tower possible using only marshmallows and uncooked spaghetti noodles. This activity promotes teamwork, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving skills as students experiment with different structural designs to support their towers. You can also change it up and have students build the most stable building as well.
3. Coding with Scratch: Scratch is a free online platform developed by MIT that introduces young learners to the basics of coding through interactive, block-based programming. Students can create their own stories, games, and animations while learning fundamental programming concepts such as sequences, loops, and conditionals. Scratch is user-friendly and requires no prior coding experience, making it ideal for elementary students.
4. LEGO Engineering Challenges: LEGO bricks are awesome tools for teaching engineering concepts to elementary students. Challenge students to build bridges, vehicles, or structures using LEGO bricks and see who can create the strongest, tallest, or most innovative design. This activity promotes creativity, spatial reasoning, and problem-solving skills in a playful setting. You can also pick themes and have students design what they want to based on the theme. For example, if the theme is ocean, students can
5. Paper Plate Marble Maze: Create a maze on a paper plate using straws, tape, or playdough and other craft materials, to challenge students to guide a marble through the maze using tilting motions. This activity introduces concepts of gravity, friction, and momentum while encouraging experimentation and perseverance.