We have so much fun with easy engineering projects for kids, including building activities. Building with jelly beans is something we haven’t tried until now! Perfect for Easter STEM, our jelly bean structures were an exciting engineering activity. Plus, check out the Easter STEM activities pack at the end!

Building With Jelly Beans

This jelly bean project is a super easy STEM activity or challenge! Kids love to build things! It’s always a wonderful activity for improving so many skills both physically and mentally. By using just two simple items, you get a neat STEM Easter activity.

Our Easter STEM project building with jelly beans is great for multiple ages to try together. We found jelly beans can be tough to push through, so younger kids might do better with softer gumdrops! They are pretty fun for making simple buildings with too!

Simple ingredients for simple STEM is what we love the most and want to share with you!

Building with jelly beans offers many learning opportunities for kids. Problem-solving, designing, planning, and building all come into play when you start building with jelly beans and toothpicks. You have to create supports, balance weight evenly, and determine the size and shape.

Use up some of that Easter candy with a simple engineering project for kids. Enjoy Easter STEM while building with all those jelly beans and peeps. What will you build this Easter?

Jelly Bean STEM Challenge

THE CHALLENGE: Build the peeps a nest or a shelter!

Supplies:

  • Toothpicks
  • Jelly Beans
  • Peeps

Instructions:

Set out two bowls, one for the toothpicks and one for your chosen building material (jelly beans). I thought adding peeps would be a fun way to make a STEM challenge! Plus we always do a little taste testing.

For another cool Peeps STEM challenge (because you know you bought a few packs), check out this STEM challenge from my friend Katie!

jelly bean buildingPin

Building with jelly beans was just part of this Easter themed STEM activity. We added the peeps and I challenged my son to create a structure to protect his peep. We made a couple of birdhouses, a tent, and a nest for our peeps. What will your kids make?

jelly bean cube made with toothpicks and jelly beansPin

Bonus: Jelly Bean Tower Challenge

THE CHALLENGE: Build the tallest tower

Instructions:

STEP 1. Begin by introducing the Jelly Bean Tower Challenge to the children. Explain that their task is to build the tallest freestanding tower using jelly beans and toothpicks or wooden skewers.

STEP 2. Set some basic rules for the challenge, such as using a specific number of jelly beans or toothpicks, and clarify that the tower must stand on its own without any external support.

STEP 3. Allow children some time for planning. They can discuss and sketch their tower designs, considering factors like stability, height, and the arrangement of jelly beans.

STEP 4. Distribute the jelly beans and toothpicks to each participant or group. Start the timer and let them begin constructing their towers based on their planned designs.

STEP 5. Encourage children to experiment with different ways of connecting the jelly beans using toothpicks. They will need to use engineering skills to create a stable structure.

STEP 6. Once the time is up, use rulers or measuring tape to measure the height of each tower. Consider assigning a designated person or team to measure and record the heights.

STEP 7. After the challenge, have a group discussion. Ask children about their experiences, what worked well, what challenges they faced, and how they overcame them.

Check out fun building activities for kids!

Get your free printable Easter STEM cards!

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STEM Resources To Get You Started

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce STEM more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

Printable Easter Project Pack

  • 20+ Easter science activities and STEM projects kids that are easy to set up and fit into the time you have available even if it’s limited!
  • Printable Easter theme STEM activities that are simple but engaging for home or classroom. Perfect for K-2 and beyond but easily adaptable to many skill levels.
  • Dive into simple background science explanations to share with kids while they explore hands-on and playful experiments, projects, and activities such as Easter oobleck, erupting eggs, regrowing lettuce, and more!
  • Engaging Easter STEM activities pack with theme activities, journal pages, and design process steps! Learn about the design process and think like an engineer while you design and build a better Easter basket and more!
  • Easy to gather supplies makes these STEM activities ideal when you have limited resources available. Specialty activities include a catapult and balloon rocket challenge pack with log sheets!
  • Additional STEM activities: Include the great Easter egg tower, spaghetti, marshmallow challenge Easter theme, brick building ideas, puzzles, and screen-free coding activities.

INCLUDES: 

  • Easter STEM Pack
  • PEEPS Theme STEM Pack
  • Easter Slime Science Pack

 

6 Comments

  1. This is so cute! We’re bringing all supplies needed to our homeschool co-op Spring party. 🙂 Thank you for the great idea!

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