STEM Learning is so important!
Students need real-world applications with experimenting, prototyping, inventing, and creating; using their imaginations to spark creative solutions! They need to be challenged to use their engineering skills to brainstorm, plan, draw, and test their creations using the engineering design process. STEM Activities encourage kids to think outside the box, with skills like problem-solving, critical thinking, communication and the ability to deal with complex problems to succeed in the real-world, beyond the classroom. Teamwork and collaboration are also part of successful STEM activities. Working in groups is not always easy, but it builds skills that kids will need for the rest of their lives.
Introducing kids in middle school to STEM subjects doesn’t have to be complicated!
Using simple and inexpensive supplies, you can provide fun and relevant activities where students take charge and stay interested and engaged. Here are some inexpensive, hand-on Middle School STEM Activities for kids in 6h grade, 7th grade, and 8th grade. These are STEM projects that will really bring out kids’ creativity. These STEM labs challenge your students to design, construct, and revise their projects as they collaborate in groups with other students. Teamwork is an important real-world skill that will benefit students far beyond the classroom. Being low-prep, these STEM Challenges are super-easy to set up.
Teacher Video Demonstration.
A video demonstration is included with each activity and clearly explains step-by-step how to run the STEM lab, along with the materials you will need. It also explains the concepts you are teaching, giving an added level of confidence while you are giving instructions and guiding your students through the project.
These are great resources for using in middle school STEM and Science Classrooms along with Summer Camps and after-School STEM Clubs. It’s especially great for Homeschool Groups, for co-op STEM classes, and also parents who love hands-on learning at home!
Each Activity includes:
• Teacher Instructions
• Video Demo for the Teacher
• Materials List
• Student instructions (worksheet)
• Real-World Research Question, Video, or Activity
• Advanced Level Extension (Middle School Level)
• Grading Rubric
• Aligned NGSS standards
Middle School STEM Activity Challenge Pop Can Races
Students will work in groups to explore electrostatic forces between a balloon that they charge and a pop/soda can on the floor. After experimenting with different balloons and different methods, teams will race their pop can a distance of ten meters. Students will not be able to touch, push or blow on their pop can. It must be pulled with the static electricity they create.
>>>Click here to find out more!
Middle School STEM Activity Challenge – Aluminum Foil Boat
In this activity, students will work in groups to design and build a small boat from aluminum foil. They will then see how many pennies it can hold before it sinks. The goal is for each student to work with their group to build and modify their boat to hold as many pennies as possible.
>>>Click here to find out more!
Bernoillis
STEM Activity Challenge Levitating ping pong ball 6th – 8th grade
Students will work in groups to discover the phenomenon that occurs when a ping pong ball is placed above a straw and air is blown through the straw. Most people would expect the ping-pong ball to fly up and off to the side—but it doesn’t. Due to Bernoulli’s Principle, the ball will hover in the air above the straw. This project can end with a demonstration using a shop-vac or hairdryer with a ping-pong ball that will produce the same interesting results.
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Middle School STEM Activity Challenge Marshmallow Catapult (6th, 7th, 8th grade)
In this activity, students will work in groups to create a catapult from popsicle sticks. They will modify their catapult in order to produce the best launch possible. Kids will have a great time launching mini marshmallows across the room while learning about potential and kinetic energy.
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Middle School STEM Activity Challenge Balloon Powered Car
In this activity, students will work in groups to harness the power of a balloon to power their car (pop bottle with wheels). Students will modify the design of their vehicle to produce the best travel distance possible.
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Middle School STEM Activity Challenge Marble (Noodle) Roller Coaster 6th 7th 8th
In this activity, students will work in groups to create a rollercoaster from foam pool noodles. They will include twists, turns, hills, and loops. The goal is to create an exciting “ride” (for the marble) while getting it safely to the ground.
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Middle School STEM Activity Challenge – Marble Run (6th, 7th, 8th grade)
Working in groups students will design and build towers, ramps, and loops. They will then start marbles on the top and watch them roll, spin and drop to the bottom. Their goal will be to create a track that (safely) transports the ball to the bottom—in the most creative and unique way possible.
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Middle School STEM Activity Challenge Hoop Glider Competition 6th, 7th, 8th
This activity challenges students to build a glider that will glide as far as possible. Working in groups, students will cut and tape various hoops to their straw. They will experiment with hoops of different sizes, positioning, and throwing styles.
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Middle School STEM Engineering Project: Popsicle Bridge (6th, 7th, 8th grade)
In this S.T.E.M. lab, students will work in groups to create a bridge from popsicle sticks (craft sticks) that will hold as much weight as possible. The student’s favorite part is when their very own bridge gets to be tested to see how much it can hold.
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Middle School STEM Engineering Project: Index Card Tower
In this S.T.E.M. lab, students will work in groups to create a tower from index cards and masking tape. Through teamwork and problem solving, groups will raise their tower to exciting heights!
>>>Click here to find out more.
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