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Paper Grabber STEM Challenge

BySarah McClelland Updated on
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Do you love a good challenge? How about building something to grab an object… without using your hands? In this Paper Grabber STEM Challenge, you’ll use your creativity and engineering skills to build a grabbing tool made from paper! STEM Activities with paper are budget-friendly!

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Paper Grabber STEM Challenge

💡 STEM activities with paper are perfect for classrooms or at home, and they use simple supplies to make them accessible to everyone! We love easy STEM activities that don’t require lots of materials.

Grade Level: 5th Grade+

What You Need:

NOTE: This paper grabber STEM challenge and the materials used have a few constraints noted in the instructions below. However, you can change them to suit your needs! While we have provided one example of a paper grabber, there are many ways to create your own unique version!

  • 10 sheets of paper (printer paper or construction paper)
  • 4 rubber bands
  • 2 feet of tape (masking or scotch tape)
  • Scissors
  • A small object to grab (like a small toy, marshmallow, or ping pong ball)
  • Pencil and paper to sketch the design
  • Free printable STEM challenge and journal pages

💡 Extend The Activity: Compare paper strength! What type of paper is best for this challenge? Go ahead and test various weights of paper. This is a great addition to a lesson on the properties of materials!

The Engineering Challenge:

Build a grabber using only the materials above that can pick up a small object (lightweight). The trick is to do it without directly touching the object! Your grabber should be able to pick up and hold the object for at least 5 seconds. Think you can do it?

Constraints:

  • You can only use the materials provided.
  • Your grabber needs to work from at least 12 inches away.
  • You’ll have 20-30 minutes to create your grabber.
  • Free printable (see below)

Follow the Engineering Design Process

In this STEM project, you will use the Engineering Design Process to help plan, build, and improve your grabber! Problem-solving and critical thinking are fantastic skills used in this project. Here’s how you can do it:

💡 Learn more about the Engineering Design Process (free printables) here.

1. Ask (What’s the Problem?)

  • Your goal is to make a grabber that can pick up an object. But here’s the catch: you can’t touch the object directly! Consider what your grabber needs to do and what materials you have available.

2. Imagine (Brainstorm Ideas)

  • Time to get creative! How can you use paper, tape, and rubber bands to make a tool that grabs things? Think of different ways to fold, bend, or twist the paper. See our list of example “tools” below.
  • Sketch out some of your ideas. You can make it long, short, claw-like, or even have a springy action!

3. Plan (Design)

  • Choose your favorite idea and make a plan. Draw your grabber and decide how you will use your materials. Write down the steps you’ll take to build it.

4. Create (Build Your Grabber)

  • Now it’s time to build! Follow your plan and assemble your grabber using paper, tape, and rubber bands. It’s okay if you need to change things along the way.

5. Test (Try It Out)

  • Once your grabber is ready, try to pick up the object. Can it hold it for at least 5 seconds? Does it grab from 12 inches away? Make notes about what worked well and what didn’t.

6. Improve (Make It Better)

  • Think about how you can improve your design. Is there a way to make it grab better? Maybe you need to adjust the grip or make it longer. Make a new design or changes and test it again!

💡Use our Questions for Reflection handout to encourage communication skills.

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Examples of Different Types of Grabber Mechanisms

Need some inspiration? Take a look around the house or classroom! Here are some everyday examples of grabbers in action!

💡Explore more Simple Machines while you’re at it!

1. Levers

  • Example:Scissors or pliers – When you press the handles, the other end opens and closes to grip objects. Think about how you could fold or bend paper to create a similar effect.

2. Grippers or Claws

  • Example:Tongs – Like when you use tongs to pick up food, your paper grabber can have two arms that come together to grab things.

3. Friction

  • Example:Rubber Gloves – When you use rubber gloves to grip something slippery, they use friction to hold onto it. Folding paper or crumpling it can give your grabber more grip, like the rubber on gloves.

4. Tension and Compression

  • Example:Clothespin – When you squeeze a clothespin, it grips tightly onto clothes. You can use rubber bands or folded paper in your design to create a squeezing motion that holds onto an object.

5. Scissor Mechanism

  • Example:Extendable Back Scratcher – This tool expands and contracts like scissors opening and closing. You can mimic this movement by crossing strips of paper to make your grabber move in and out.

6. Extendable Arms

  • Example:Reaching Grabber Tool – This tool has a long handle with a grabbing end, perfect for reaching high shelves. You can tape strips of paper together to create an arm that extends and picks up objects from a distance.

Grab your free Paper Grabber STEM Challenge (plus journal sheets)!

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More Fun STEM Challenges To Try

Turn everyday materials from the recycling bin into engaging, easy STEM projects for kids of various ages.

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Paper Chain Challenge
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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 STEM Pack For Kids

80+ Doable Engineering Projects in one convenient pack!

  • Design a one-of-a-kind invention and write about it with this 5-page activity!
  • 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.
  • 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
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