Engineering & STEM Challenges

Are you sharing STEM challenges with your students? Creating maker or tinker days? Here's a list of resources, by grade level, focused on engineering and STEM challenges. 

Engineering and STEM design challenges are great opportunities for students to shine - there are many roles for all different kinds of learners, there are lots of opportunity for problem solving, students can work independently and collaborate, and they work great with same-age and mulit-age groups.

Engineering is a process of developing solutions to problems. Engineers use creativity, problem-solving skills, and knowledge of technology, math, and science to design and build products, machines, and structures for a better world. They explore why and how things work, and try to figure out how to make things work even better. STEM & engineering design challenges do the same.

Engineering Design Process | Engineering Resources

Here are some Engineering & STEM Challenges:

Preschool - 2nd Grade

• Pigeon Perch - video & lesson
• Ramp & Roll - video & lesson
• Build a Wall - video & lesson
• Sort It Out - video & lesson
• Tower Time
• Show Time

3rd - 5th Grade

• Ecosystem Challenge 
• PBS Nature - Polar Bear Slip & Slide, Adapted to Survive, Super Senses
• Daring Design Challenge
• Bird Feeder
• Rubber Band Car
• Get Moving Game
• Fetch! Physical Science Challenges

6-8th Grade 

• Design and Build a Tangle-free Headphone Holder
• Designing a Helmet
• Making a Hovercraft
• Designing a Paper Bridge
• Design Squad Engineering Challenges - Watercraft, Paper Table, Zipline, Paddle Power, Helping Hand

9-12th Grade

• City Farm
• Engineering a Jetliner
• Design an Ion Engine
• Materials Lab
• The Dome Challenge

What is the Engineering Design Process?

The Engineering Process: Crash Course Kids

The Engineering Design Process: A Taco Party

Engineering Design Process Explainers

Engineering Resources

A project-based learning unit for middle school science classrooms focused on developing solutions for negative impacts of plastics on the environment. In this NGSS-aligned unit, students use the engineering design process to define a problem, brainstorm solutions, develop prototypes and iterate on their designs. The project culminates with students producing videos about their solutions to share with the community.

A one-stop shop of STEM and digital making resources that focus on the problem, technology, or process behind object creation. Teachers can use the collection, which is categorized into design, how to (DIY), arts and crafts, robotics, and engineering subtopics, in conjunction with hands-on activities to further this initiative. Like the Maker Party, this collection is designed to encourage hands-on engagement in science, technology, engineering, math, and the arts.

Teaching Engineering in New York is a collection of resources that shows real-world applications of engineering concepts and practices and is correlated to New York State Science Learning Standards (NYSSLS). These media-rich resources and accompanying support materials cover disciplinary core ideas from ecosystems to energy. Use the resources to help your students gain a stronger understanding of how the engineering design process seamlessly melds with science concepts from life, earth, and physical sciences.

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