Earth Day STEM Challenges (FREE Printable) | Little Bins for Little Hands

STEM and holidays match perfectly with fun challenges that play with favorite themes! If you want to keep the kids busy and give them something to work on this spring, these printable Earth Day STEM challenges are the way to go! Plus, you can reuse and repurpose materials you already have on hand! Get the kids away from the screens and encourage them to invent, design, and engineer their own worlds. STEM activities are perfect all year round!

Fun Earth Day STEM Activities!

Explore the changing seasons with STEM. These free spring theme STEM activities are perfect for engaging kids in science, technology, engineering, and math as they complete fun challenges!

I want these printable spring STEM activity cards to be a simple way to have fun with your kids. They can be used in the classroom as easily as they can be used at home. Print, cut, and laminate to use over and over again.

What do Earth Day STEM challenges look like?

STEM challenges are usually open-ended suggestions to solve an everyday problem or improve an everyday situation. They are meant to get your kids thinking about and using the design process.

What’s the design process? I’m glad you asked! In many ways, it’s a series of steps an engineer, inventor, or scientist would go through to solve a problem.

Note: While these cards are Earth Day-themed selections, your kiddos can look around their communities, homes, and classrooms to come up with a problem that they would like to find a solution for instead.

Plus, you can have your kiddos do some research by asking questions. Enlist family and friends about a problem they would like to solve! This is a great way to get started with STEM challenges and explore ways to make the world better around you.

You’ll find a simple problem listed on the challenge card and an idea to design and build. Some examples of the Earth Day STEM Challenges include:

Design and build a new trash grabber!
Design and build a new way for a vehicle to move!
Design and build a better recycling bin!
Design and build a better grocery bag!

STEM Resources To Get You Started

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

How to set your kids up for Earth Day STEM challenges

You can use what you have and let your kids get creative with simple materials.

My pro tip is to grab a large, clean, and clear 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

Also, make sure to have the following:

colored craft tape
glue and tape
scissors
markers and pencils
paper
rulers and measuring tape
recycled goods bin
non-recycled goods bin
pipe cleaners
craft sticks (popsicle sticks)
play dough
toothpicks
pompoms

We have new challenges for each new season and holiday!

More Earth Day Printable Activities

More Earth Day Crafts

Earth Day Science & STEM Pack

We have that too! Our Earth Day Science & STEM pack has awesome activities you can print for your home, classroom, or group setting!

Must Try Earth Day STEM Challenges (FREE Printable Sheets!)