15 STEM Building Challenges for Elementary Students Using Simple Materials
These STEM Building Challenges for Kids are great for building skills in Math, Technology, and Engineering, & they’re super fun for all age groups!
The word STEM has been around for quite a while, and it’s being adopted into more schools across the world, especially in developing countries. Most of us have a rough idea about what STEM is, but it’s one of those things we’re afraid to ask about, wondering what others will think. Don’t worry – we’re here to clear your doubts today!
What is STEM?
STEM is an abbreviation of ‘Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics. It is an educational approach that combines the teaching of all these subjects through activities. A more recent version is STEAM, which also includes art as an important component of educational development.
You’re probably wondering what the big deal is since we’ve had all these subjects at school for generations now. However, that’s different from STEM; STEM doesn’t teach these subjects separately, it creates an integrated learning approach combining all these concepts together.
That’s not all, STEM isn’t about reading textbooks or rote learning; it is all about learning through doing and seeing how these concepts apply in everyday lives.
What are the Benefits of STEM?
Here are some of the benefits of STEM learning for children:
- Encourages children to gather information and make their own inferences
- Helps kids put their knowledge into practice through activities
- Encourages natural scientific curiosity
- Improves logical reasoning and problem-solving skills
- Shows kids how scientific concepts connect to events in our daily life
- When done in collaboration with other kids, STEM inculcates skills like teamwork & communication
- Encourages more children to pursue higher studies or careers in STEM fields
Is there a National STEM Day?
National STEM Day is celebrated every year on Nov. 8 to encourage kids to explore their interests in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
Now that you know what STEM is, it’s time to put that learning into action – staying true to the spirit of STEM! Here are some amazing STEM-building challenges for kids of all ages, which can be done with things lying around the house.
Free STEM Engineering Design Worksheet
Turn any challenge below into a complete engineering lesson with this free, one-page printable. It guides students through the same process engineers use: Plan → Build → Test → Improve → Reflect.
- Plan and label a structure before building
- Record how the design was tested
- Identify what failed or needs strengthening
- Choose one purposeful improvement
- Reflect on what made the final structure successful
Download the Free STEM Worksheet
How to use it: Print one copy for each student or team. Complete the Plan section before handing out materials. Pause after the first build for students to complete Test and Improve, then finish Reflect after the redesigned structure is tested. For younger children, an adult can write down their spoken answers.
1. Build the Tallest Tower Challenge
Right from the time they’re babies, children start building towers with stacking cups or building blocks. As they grow older, make it a little more challenging by asking them how high a tower they can build with pencils. Get the free printable for this activity from Elementary Island Blog.
Recommended grade: Grades 2–5
Materials: Pencils, rubber bands and the free challenge sheet from the linked tutorial
Time required: 30–40 minutes
The problem: Build the tallest freestanding pencil tower possible without attaching it to the table or wall.
How to test it: Measure its height, then check whether it can stand unsupported for 30 seconds.
Improve or redesign: Which part of your tower should you widen, brace or rebuild to make it taller without collapsing?
2. Animal Homes STEM Challenge
If you’ve got some toy animals lying around, bring them to the table and ask your kids to build a home for these poor homeless creatures – but there’s a catch! Tell them they can only use one or two different materials, and let’s see what they do! Get more instructions over at Teaching Ideas.
Recommended grade: Kindergarten–Grade 3
Materials: Craft sticks or tongue depressors, clothespins and a small toy animal
Time required: About 30 minutes
The problem: Build an enclosed home that is large enough for the toy animal using only the supplied building materials.
How to test it: Place the animal inside and gently tap the table. The home should remain standing and the animal should fit completely inside.
Improve or redesign: How could you strengthen the walls or add a roof without using a new material?
3. Gumdrop Bridge STEM Challenge
The next time you find a gumball machine, get a bag full, so that you can come home and try out STEM building challenges like this one from Little Bins for Little Hands! Build a bridge and eat a gumdrop or two while you work!
Recommended grade: Grades 1–5
Materials: Gumdrops, toothpicks and coins or other small weights for testing
Time required: 30–45 minutes
The problem: Build a bridge that spans a chosen gap and supports weight without collapsing.
How to test it: Add coins one at a time and record the greatest number the bridge holds before bending or falling.
Improve or redesign: Where could you add a triangle, beam or brace so the bridge carries more weight?
4. Button STEM Activity Challenge
Can you build a structure with buttons? It seems a bit strange, but when you add play dough to the mix, you realize that the possibilities are endless! The Educator’s Spin on It shows us how to have fun with these two materials and learn a few lessons along the way.
Recommended grade: Preschool–Grade 2
Materials: Assorted buttons and play dough
Time required: 20–30 minutes
The problem: Use buttons and play dough to build a structure that stands on its own.
How to test it: Count how many buttons the structure uses and check whether it stays upright when the work surface is gently moved.
Improve or redesign: Would changing the size of the base or the position of the largest buttons make the structure more stable?
5. The Elevator Challenge
Everyone rides elevators, but few of us know how they work – something that can be remedied with STEM building challenges! For more details on building an elevator, check out Teachers are Terrific.
Recommended grade: Grades 3–6
Materials: Cardboard, string or yarn, craft sticks or dowels, tape, a small platform or container and a lightweight object to lift
Time required: 45–60 minutes
The problem: Design a hand-operated elevator that uses a crank to lift a small passenger or load.
How to test it: Turn the crank to raise the load to a marked height and lower it again without tipping or dropping it.
Improve or redesign: How could you keep the platform level or reduce the effort needed to turn the crank?
6. Marshmallow Engineering STEAM Building Challenge
We love STEM building challenges that give us multiple opportunities to build structures of various shapes. Take a clue from Creative Family Fun and see what you can do with marshmallows and toothpicks.
Recommended grade: Kindergarten–Grade 5
Materials: Mini marshmallows, toothpicks and optional paper and pencil for planning
Time required: 25–40 minutes
The problem: Build a freestanding three-dimensional structure using marshmallows as connectors and toothpicks as edges.
How to test it: Remove your hands and check whether it stands for 30 seconds. Older students can measure its height or count its faces, edges and vertices.
Improve or redesign: Which shapes make the strongest sections, and where could you add them to prevent bending?
7. Kindergarten Bridge Building STEM Challenge
Did you think that STEM building challenges are only for high schoolers? Well, think again! Even kids as young as 3 can get involved STEM, as this simple project from How We Learn shows. Extra points for including dinosaurs!
Recommended grade: Preschool–Grade 1
Materials: Craft sticks, clothespins, toilet paper rolls and at least three small toy dinosaurs or other toys
Time required: 25–35 minutes
The problem: Build a bridge that can hold three toy dinosaurs above the floor.
How to test it: Place all three toys on the bridge at the same time. The bridge succeeds if they remain supported without falling.
Improve or redesign: What could you move closer together, spread farther apart or reinforce so the bridge holds a heavier toy?
8. Life Size Newspaper Fort
You’ve seen kids build forts out of pillows and blankets, but can you build one out of newspaper? According to Modern Parents Messy Kids, turns out that you can, and a sturdy one at that too!
Recommended grade: Grades 2–6
Materials: Newspaper, tape and/or a stapler; optional lightweight sheet for covering
Time required: 45–75 minutes
The problem: Turn rolled newspaper into a life-size fort that is large enough for a child to sit inside.
How to test it: Check that the frame stands independently and can support a lightweight sheet without collapsing.
Improve or redesign: Where could you add triangular supports or stronger joints to stop the frame from twisting?
9. Paper Building Blocks
The most common building blocks kids come across are ones made of wood or plastic, but did you know that you can make your own blocks out of paper? Well, Babble Dabble Do shows us that it can be done, and it makes for a fun addition to this list of STEM building challenges!
Recommended grade: Grades 1–5; adult help is required for cutting and scoring
Materials: Thick colored paper, tape, ruler or straightedge and adult-operated paper cutter or craft knife
Time required: 45–60 minutes including block preparation
The problem: Fold paper into strong building blocks and use them to create a structure that supports weight.
How to test it: Add identical lightweight objects one at a time and record how many the paper structure supports.
Improve or redesign: Would changing the fold, block orientation or distance between supports help it carry more weight?
10. Craft Sticks and Clothespins Tower
One thing STEM building challenges show us is how the strength of seemingly weak objects increases manifold when combined in the right form and manner! For example, consider this project from Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls where you can build a tower using clothes pegs and craft sticks.
Recommended grade: Grades 1–5
Materials: Craft sticks, clothespins and optional binder clips
Time required: 30–40 minutes
The problem: Build the tallest freestanding tower possible using only the supplied sticks and clips.
How to test it: Measure the height and check whether the tower remains standing for 30 seconds without being held.
Improve or redesign: How could you change the base or repeat a stronger structural unit to add another level?
11. Shadow Towers STEM Challenge
Now this is a STEM challenge that teaches many different concepts in one! No Time for Flash Cards shows us how to teach kids about shadows, using a simple flashlight, Lego bricks and some sticky tape.
Recommended grade: Kindergarten–Grade 4
Materials: Building blocks, flashlight and painter’s or washi tape
Time required: 20–30 minutes
The problem: Build and position a tower so its shadow reaches a taped target on the wall or floor.
How to test it: Turn on the flashlight from the chosen position and see whether the top of the shadow touches the target line.
Improve or redesign: Can you reach the same target with a shorter tower by changing the light’s distance or angle?
12. Paper Cup Building Challenge
When you think of building a tower out of paper cups, you may think of piling them one on top of the other. That is certainly one way, but when you add craft sticks, you get a much more complex and interesting structure, as shown in Teaching Ideas!
Recommended grade: Kindergarten–Grade 5
Materials: Paper cups and craft sticks
Time required: 25–40 minutes
The problem: Build the tallest stable structure possible using cups and craft sticks as alternating supports.
How to test it: Measure the height and check whether it stands for 30 seconds after everyone removes their hands.
Improve or redesign: What cup spacing or stick arrangement would make the next level less likely to slide?
13. Da Vinci Bridge with Pencils
The da Vinci bridge was created by artist Leonardo da Vinci, and it is a genius invention that features a bridge held together by its own weight without the need for connectors. iGame Mom shows us how to create our own bridges with pencils, and it is sure to be a hit with kids.
Recommended grade: Grades 3–7
Materials: Identical pencils; rubber bands may be used for an easier introductory version
Time required: 30–45 minutes
The problem: Interlock pencils to form a self-supporting bridge that relies on tension, compression and its own weight.
How to test it: Remove your hands gradually and check that the bridge stays together and spans the chosen gap.
Improve or redesign: Which pencil position or overlap should change to increase the bridge’s span without making it unstable?
14. STEM Playdough Building Challenge
Play dough is something that offers kids a wonderful sensory experience, but it can also help when it comes to STEM building challenges like this one from Hands on Teaching Ideas! Use craft gems or similar objects to show how you can create structures of various shapes and heights.
Recommended grade: Preschool–Grade 2
Materials: Play dough and craft gems, flat counters or similar small stackable objects
Time required: 20–30 minutes
The problem: Build a tall or wide structure by using play dough as the connector between the solid pieces.
How to test it: Count the levels or measure the height, then check whether it stays standing after the builder lets go.
Improve or redesign: Would larger play-dough joints, a wider base or a different shape make the structure more stable?
15. Strictly No Elephants STEM Challenge
Kind Little Explorers brings us a STEM challenge based on the book, Strictly No Elephants. While the book teaches important lessons about inclusion and friendship, it can also inspire a meaningful STEM building challenge.
Recommended grade: Kindergarten–Grade 3
Materials: Strictly No Elephants, craft sticks, play dough, glue and a small desk pet or toy
Time required: 45–60 minutes after reading and discussing the story
The problem: Build an elevated clubhouse that welcomes and safely supports a classroom desk pet.
How to test it: Place the toy inside or on the clubhouse and check that the raised structure stays level and supports its weight.
Improve or redesign: How could you strengthen the legs, add a safer entrance or make the clubhouse accessible to different-sized pets?
Ready to Try a Challenge?
Choose one activity, gather the listed materials and give students the worksheet before they begin. Saving the Improve section until after the first test helps children understand that redesigning is part of engineering—not a sign that they failed.
You’ll find that these STEM building challenges are appropriate for a variety of age groups, and even young kids will enjoy building even if they don’t know the exact scientific concept they’re working with. With Skyscraper Appreciation Day on 10th August, we think these projects will be the perfect source of ideas to build your very own super high skyscraper!
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