Apple STEM Challenge Cards

From the classroom to library groups to homeschooling, these printable Apple STEM challenges are the way to go! Get the kids away from the screens and encourage them to invent, design, and engineer their worlds. STEM activities are perfect all year round!

Apple Theme Challenge Cards

Here are some of the exciting apple-themed STEM challenges included in the cards:

Design & Build an Apple Basket: Students are tasked with building a basket that can hold 10 real apples. They need to consider the weight and shape of the apples to ensure their basket is functional and durable.
Design & Build a Ladder: Students must design and construct a ladder to help them reach apples at the top of a tree. This challenge encourages them to think about balance, height, and stability.
Design & Build a Conveyor Belt: In this challenge, students design a conveyor belt to transport baskets of apples from the tree to the farm stand. This activity introduces concepts of motion, mechanics, and teamwork.
Apple Stack Challenge: Students try to stack 10 apples on top of each other without them toppling over. This simple yet tricky challenge requires creativity and careful balancing.
Build an Apple Tower & Structure: Using toothpicks and small pieces of apple, students build a tower. The goal is to make the tallest tower possible, at least one foot tall. This challenge is great for exploring concepts of strength and structure.

💡 Find more printable Apple STEM activities here, including the life cycle of an apple!

The Engineering Design Process

Each card presents a unique challenge that encourages students to engage with the engineering design process, whether designing a conveyor belt or building an apple basket.

💡Learn more about the steps of the engineering design process and grab a free printable!

The engineering design process is a structured approach that engineers use to develop solutions to problems. This process can easily be adapted to classroom activities, helping students learn to think like engineers as they tackle the challenges presented in the apple-themed STEM cards.

Here’s how the process works with a sample challenge:

Ask: Define the problem or challenge. What needs to be accomplished? What are the constraints and requirements? For example, in the “Design & Build an Apple Basket” challenge, students need to create a basket that can hold 10 real apples using the materials provided.

Imagine: Brainstorm and explore different ideas. Students should consider multiple ways to approach the challenge. For example, they might consider how to structure the apple basket to ensure it is sturdy enough to hold the apples.

Plan: Choose the best idea and make a detailed plan. This includes sketching the design, selecting materials, and deciding how to build the apple basket.

Create: Execute the plan by building the apple basket. Students will construct their baskets according to their designs, making adjustments as necessary.

Test and Evaluate: Once the basket is built, students should test its ability to hold 10 apples and evaluate its stability and durability. Does it hold the apples without collapsing? Are there any weak points?

Improve: Based on the evaluation, students should refine their designs. They might reinforce certain areas, adjust the size, or modify the materials used to improve the basket’s strength and functionality.

Extension Activities

To take these activities further, consider incorporating these extension ideas:

Math Integration: Have students measure the dimensions of their baskets, ladders, or towers. They can create graphs comparing different designs and analyze which was the most effective.
Creative Writing: Ask students to write a story or description about their apple basket, ladder, or conveyor belt. This helps them connect their STEM creations with literacy skills.
Science Connections: Discuss the principles behind the designs. For example, explore how different materials affect the strength and durability of the structures, or how balance and weight distribution play a role in the stability of their towers and baskets.

Supplies for STEM Challenges

Let your kids get creative with simple materials, and you can use what you already have. Also, read how to put together DIY STEM kit ideas on a budget and get our printable STEM supplies list.

My pro tip is to grab a large, clean plastic tote or bin. Whenever you come across a cool item you would normally toss into recycling, toss it in the bin instead. This goes for packaging materials and items you may otherwise throw away.

Standard STEM materials to save include:

paper towel tubes
toilet roll tubes
plastic bottles
tin cans (clean, smooth edges)
old CDs
cereal boxes, oatmeal containers
bubble wrap
packing peanuts

Make sure you have:

rope/string/yarn
glue and tape
scissors
markers and pencils
paper (computer and construction)
rulers and measuring tape
recycled goods bin
non-recycled goods bin
Seasonal/thematic items such as fake apples, leaves, and pumpkins (dollar or craft store)

More Themed STEM Challenge Cards

💡 Start with these ideas and build from there. We have new challenges for each new season and holiday!

FREE PRINTABLE APPLE STEM CARDS

More Fun Apple Activities

Printable Apple Project Pack

With more than 125+ pages of apple-themed projects, you can easily plan and prep an apple unit filled with hands-on learning.

Suitable for both classroom and home use in grades Kindergarten through Elementary. Easy to adapt to a wide variety of ages and abilities with more or less adult supervision.

Apple science and STEM is a popular theme for fall, and this pack has you covered from the life cycle of an apple to apple-themed science activities!