What does STEM look like for elementary students? Well, it’s simply a lot of exploring, testing, observing, and most importantly… doing! STEM for elementary is about taking simple science experiments and exploring them farther so that kids are drawing their own conclusions. These fun and easy STEM challenges will excite and engage elementary age kids!
ELEMENTARY STEM ACTIVITIES
Making STEM Fun
For this article, I want to take a look at early elementary STEM projects namely for first grade age kids. Of course, wherever your kids are in their learning, you can make these STEM activities work!
STEM for elementary is an introduction to the wonderful world around them. Kids of this age are understanding more, reading and writing more, and exploring more about why things do what they do. Often elementary age kids are ready for more!
Kids of this age have questions and are thinking a bit more outside the box. They want to test out their ideas, plan new ideas, and figure out why their ideas worked or didn’t work. That is the process of STEM learning!
What is STEM?
First though what is STEM? STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. STEM activities involving these fields have a huge impact on kids. Even the simplest STEM activities, like building the catapult I talk about below, provide numerous opportunities for kids to learn and explore STEM.
These STEM building activities might look like your kids are just playing, but they are doing much more. Look closely; you will see the engineering design process in motion. You will see experimenting and critical thinking in action, and you will notice problem-solving at its finest. When kids play, they learn about the world around them!
STEM TEACHES LIFE SKILLS
These simple STEM activities for elementary work just as well in the classroom as they do for distance learning, homeschool groups, or screen-free time at home. Also perfect for library groups, scouting groups, and vacation camps.
I highly encourage you to get in on the fun if you can but hold back on providing the answers when things don’t go as expected!
Read more on how STEM provides real-world skills!
Frustration and failure go hand in hand with success and perseverance. You can provide encouragement when things aren’t working well and offer congratulations for a successful challenge completed. Younger kids may need more assistance, while older kids might choose to work independently.
It’s always good to discuss the importance of failing with our kids. Some of our greatest inventors, like Darwin, Newton, Einstein, and Edison, failed and failed time again, only to make history later on. And why is that? Because they didn’t give up.
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. Start with our free 5 Day Quick Start STEM Challenge Pack.
STEM for Elementary
At this age kids my have better…
- fine motor planning skills
- spatial and visual processing skills
- critical thinking skills
- observational skills
- planning skills
Because of all these improving skills, kids are better able to explore the science concepts presented with less help from teachers or parents. They are able to enjoy more hands-on learning and investigate what’s happening, and they are able to do more for themselves.
We have spent the last two years doing STEM activities for preschoolers, and I have really been able to see the gears turning with my own son when it comes to planning, designing, participating, questioning, and observing. I can stand back more now and let him lead, while still offer important bits of information along the way.
Elementary STEM Ideas
Looking for fun STEM projects to fit in with a theme or holiday? STEM activities can be easily changed up by using materials and colors to fit a season or holiday.
Check out our STEM projects for all the major holidays/ seasons below.
- Valentines Day STEM Projects
- St Patricks Day STEM
- Earth Day Activities
- Spring STEM Activities
- Easter STEM Activities
- Summer STEM
- Fall STEM Projects
- Halloween STEM Activities
- Thanksgiving STEM Projects
- Christmas STEM Activities
- Winter STEM Activities
The Best STEM Activities for Elementary Kids
Simple science experiments are some of our very first explorations! We have so many favorites to share. You can find even more ideas for elementary science experiments here.
Science Experiments
Technology Projects
You can find more screen free coding activities here.
Engineering Projects
STEM is inspired by the world around us. Have you ever noticed all of the unique buildings, bridges, and structures that make up our communities? There are so many unique ways to build structures with STEM. Check out tons more awesome engineering projects for kids.
Elementary STEM… Try Tinkering
Tinkering is a great way to get kids interested in engineering and inventing. Have kids draw and design plans for a new invention. Ask questions! What works well? What doesn’t work well? What could be different? What could you change?
A simple tinkering station we like to use includes:
- straws
- pipe cleaners
- colored tape
- popsicle sticks
- rubber bands
- string
- recycled items
Check out our STEM and engineering kits for kids! There’s even a DIY STEM Kit section!
MATH
More Fun STEM Activities
- Paper Bag STEM Challenges
- Things That Go STEM
- STEM Activities With Paper
- Engineering Activities For Kids
- Best Cardboard Tube STEM Ideas
- Best STEM Building Activities For Kids
Printable STEM Pack for Kids
80+ Doable Engineering Projects in one convenient pack!
- Full instructions with sample images
- Activity-specific instruction sheets
- Data Collection Sheets
- Questions for Reflection
- Architecture Building Cards: Try the tallest tower challenge
- Bridge Building Cards: Explore different types of bridges to build your own.
- Paper Chain STEM Challenge: Who can make the longest chain? Great icebreaker or quick challenge!
- 3 Little Pigs Architectural Pack: Design a house that won’t blow away!
- Great marshmallow challenge: A classic challenge kids love!
- Real-world STEM challenge lesson but don’t know where to start? Our easy-to-follow template shows the steps!
- What’s the difference between a scientist and an engineer?
- Crossword and word search with engineering vocabulary.
- Engineering vocabulary cards
- Design a one-of-a-kind invention and write about it with this 5-page activity!
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