6 Fun, Stress-Free STEM Projects for Teachers

Whether you’re a seasoned educator or newbie teacher, you’ve likely come to an undeniable truth concerning your curriculum: STEM-related lessons and projects are paramount to student engagement and success in the classroom.  STEM—where knowledge about science, technology, engineering, and math converges—is the present and future of education, subject matter that is highly relevant in students’ lives, in and out of school, as they explore meaningful, career-prepping pathways.  

But it’s also curriculum that can be fraught with uncertainty over how to coherently present it in school, experienced educator or not, because of its presumed technical complexity and time-busting potential.  It doesn’t help either that it can be tricky to implement in light of diminishing school district budgets, often limiting the amount of and access to top-shelf technology. 

So, how can you kickstart the process and incorporate this kind of vital learning—challenging kids with dynamic, hands-on, problem-solving opportunities—into the classroom in relatively quick and easy ways?  Empow is here to help…

Included here are some fun, compelling STEM activities and mini-projects that teachers and parents alike can set-up (with little material acquisition needed, or, in some cases, everyday technology) and immerse kids in.  And if these activities do indeed spark joy and interest in your student/child, then Talent Box curriculum tracks—designed to support and broaden newfound knowledge concerning robotics, architecture, 3D design, computer coding, animation, and a host of other tech subjects—can elevate passion and curiosity to the next level!

Let’s start with a Robotics project: “The SmARTbot”

Simply put, folks love robots.  But learning about robots and how they function can be a complicated concept for anyone to wrap their minds around.  Start simple, with some of the fundamentals of robot construction and task performance, by building a SmARTbot, an artistically-inclined drawing robot.

What You’ll Need:

• a disposable plastic cup
• electrical tape
• 2 “AAA” batteries, one “AAA” dual-battery case holder (available widely at various stores and on Amazon)
• electric micro motor (DC 1.5-3V, also available on Amazon)
• a clothespin and a popsicle stick
• 3 color markers

What’s Next:

1. Connect the dual-battery case holder to the DC motor by wrapping the case’s red/black wires around the leads on the bottom of the motor.
2. On the bottom of the cup, affix the battery case holder to one side of the flat bottom, the motor just to its right or left on the bottom (with its turning axle facing away, or up, from the bottom of the cup).  Make sure both are securely fastened with electrical tape.
3. Clip the clothespin to the motor’s axle (you may need to put some tape on the axle to buffer the space between it and the clothespin, so that it doesn’t fly off when the motor is on) and then tape the popsicle stick to the clothespin.  This will create some needed imbalance in order for your SmARTbot to draw more extensively.
4. Tape the three markers to the inside of the cup (then uncap them) so that when you turn it over, the markers will act as the legs to your SmARTbot.
5. Insert the batteries and let it bop, jiggle, and draw!  Change the position of the popsicle stick if necessary to get more wobble.  If you want, incorporate some personality into your robot, too, by adding eyes, arms, and whatever else you might visualize.

What You’ve Got:

New, compelling ideas about programming, precision, and efficiency, and a leg up on technology skills that become more relevant in our world with each passing day.  Plus— an artistic robot!

Take the leap to actually programming robots in Talent Box’s Robotics with LEGO Mindstorms EV3 curriculum track.  Once underway, you’ll build more sophisticated robots from LEGO components and, combined with LEGO’s EV3 “Intelligent Brick,” task them with specific, multi-step commands.

Time to embark on a Stop Motion Animation project: “The Stop Motion Short”

Although stop motion animation is as old as cinema itself, it remains a technology that is utilized in films and television today, even with the advent and popularity of computer-generated imagery in movies like Toy Story 4 or How to Train Your Dragon.  Although this project will take a bit of patience—placing and taking a photo of each small movement consumes some time—the result will reveal animated characters with personality and purpose.  Plus, it’s an exciting and satisfying process!

What You’ll Need:

• Stop Motion Studio app (available for free download or with in-app purchases at Apple or Android stores [created by Cateater, LLC], for smart phones and iPads)
• a smart phone or tablet
• a solid-colored backdrop (we recommend an off-white foam board, at least 24” x 36”, or simply a bare wall) and a table/area for staging
• objects for animating (model cars, action figures with a broad base for standing up, stuffed animals, etc.)
• a tripod, or some other kind of stand to stabilize your recording device

What’s Next:

1. Come up with a story, some character motivation, and conflict.  For example, perhaps there’s a “Tortoise and the Hare”-style race happening between a stuffed elephant and a Transformer robot (naturally, the Transformer overconfidently assumes he will win).  The action could include the start of the race; the Transformer taking a detour to steal a nap; the elephant “racing” by and crossing the finishing line; the cheers and excitement of the spectators; and the disappointment and embarrassment expressed by the Transformer.
2. Determine where and how each character will move on the staging area; as you minutely move your character (just under a centimeter or so each time), snap a photo of it using your device, then position it in the next stage of the movement and take another photo.  Repeat this process (be patient and precise!) until you’ve moved your character(s) to wherever the action concludes.
3. When the shots are played back in rapid succession in Stop Motion Studio (you can adjust the duration/length of time that each photo appears onscreen— shorter, quicker shots work best), it gives the appearance of motion.
4. Add music and sound effects if you can!

What You’ve Got:

A better idea of how filmmaking, sequencing, and storytelling function, AND a completed, stop motion animated short film.  Schedule a film festival to show off the work!  

Jump to the next step in Stop Motion Animation filmmaking and check out Talent Box’s curriculum online, where students use HUE Animation Studio software to take their learning and skills to a more sophisticated level.

How about an Architecture project: “The Beach Ball Tower”

There are a multitude of reasons why architecture is an important industry— architecture is the art and practice of constructing safe, functional structures and is absolutely vital to city planning and design.  With this challenge activity, students will explore architecture styles and techniques and how best to develop and perfect specific supports, in this case securing a beach ball to the top of a self-made building.  Just make sure it doesn’t tumble off!

What You’ll Need:

• a beach ball
• index cards
• tape

What’s Next:

1. Turn the index cards into small tubes by curving the ends to meet one another and taping them.  These will serve as your building’s pillars or support columns. Tape the other index cards together flat to form the floors/ceilings (the area/size is up to you) of your building’s levels.  The pillars should be positioned in between these levels. And, of course, blow up your beach ball!
2. Create at least three levels (or as many as you want to challenge yourself with) to your building upon a sturdy table.  The top/roof level should be constructed in a way that will ultimately support the beach ball so that it doesn’t roll off (the ball is the only object that you may not tape to anything).  The design is up to you.
3. Once you think your building is finished and the beach ball has been placed on top, have someone simulate a minor earthquake by slightly shaking the table side to side.  Even in this state, the ball should stay atop without falling off— then, you’ve met the challenge!

What You’ve Got:

Some practical theories about how to properly construct a foundational base and multiple levels to a building or structure, not to mention a solid understanding of the physics of planned architecture.

Check out Talent Box’s Architecture curriculum track online, which utilizes the interior design app, Sweet Home 3D, for next level comprehension and application of three-dimensional space, functional flow, and working from a set of plans.  Design and build!

If Coding and Programming is your thing: “The Coding Bracelet”

Computers are amazing, sure, but they require their humans to be even more so.  That means learning how to communicate with and “code” computers so that they operate the way we want them to based on our instructions.  Here’s an introduction to understanding their language by making a “coding bracelet.”

What You’ll Need:

• some beading string/cord
• small, multi-colored beads
• scissors

What’s Next:

1. Wrap a section of the string/cord around your wrist for sizing purposes; cut a piece that is 2-3 inches longer than what your wrist requires.  Then, tie a knot at one end of the string/cord.
2. Assign a bead color to represent the digit “1”.  Assign a bead color to represent the digit “0”. Assign a bead color to represent the “space” that will exist between letters.  For example, “1’s” could be blue, “0’s” could be green, and “spaces” could be yellow.
3. Using the binary character table from the American Standard Code for Information Interchange (or ASCII), which assigns a series of “1’s” and “0’s” in a particular order to each letter of the alphabet (find the binary character table here), write out the numbers—otherwise known as “binary code”—for each letter of your name.
4. Place the corresponding colored beads (starting with the “space” color and then one bead for each digit in a letter) on the string/cord so that it ultimately spells out your name, with “space” beads in between each letter and then again at the end of your bracelet.
5. Tie a knot where your bead sequence ends, size up and adjust the bracelet as necessary, and fasten it on your wrist.

What You’ve Got:

A meaningful bracelet, a foundation for learning computer coding, and a newly-discovered passion for writing programming for applications, software, and hardware in a shared language.  Smart and fashion forward!

Just starting your coding adventure?  Then try Talent Box’s Programming with Scratch curriculum track, which employs a beginner-friendly, block-based language program.  If you’ve reached a more sophisticated level in coding and want that next challenge, then jump into Talent Box’s Programming with Java curriculum, where you’ll code in the professional programming language that’s been used worldwide over the last several decades.

Ever wonder about Circuitry or how electric currents work: “The Homemade Light Bulb”

Understanding electrical circuitry is a necessity in our modern, plugged-in world.  So, having lessons/projects centered on the basics of electricity and how currents work imparts valuable information on a concept that we simply can’t do without.  Try building this homemade light bulb with regular household objects! 

What You’ll Need:

• 8 “D” batteries
• a mason jar
• a pie pan
• .5 (or approximately that size) mechanical pencil refills
• 2 sets of electrical alligator clips
• toilet paper cardboard tube
• electrical tape, scissors

What’s Next:

1. Use the electrical tape to fix the 8 “D” batteries together, end-to-end, with the positive ends touching the negative ends.
2. Cut a bit of the top of the cardboard tube off so that it can fit comfortably, with some head room, under the jar when it’s placed over it.
3. Tape one positive and one negative alligator clip to an end of the cardboard tube, making sure that the clips’ mouths are facing up, breaching the end of the tube and ready to connect.  Let the other ends of the alligator clips hang down.
4. Tape the cardboard tube with the alligator clips to the center of the pie pan, again making sure that the clips are facing up.
5. Delicately place a mechanical pencil refill (they break easily, be careful) in the mouths of the clips so that it forms a bridge between the two, over the tube, like the wire in a light bulb.
6. Place the mason jar over the cardboard tube and then touch the other positive and negative ends of the alligator clips to the ends of your super battery.

What You’ve Got:

A working—if slightly bulky—homemade light bulb!  And the thrill of having built it yourself, with the extra added bonus of seeing how currents transfer energy.  You have seen the light!

Want to learn more about circuitry and have loads of fun at the same time?  Try the Minecraft: Education Edition curriculum in Talent Box and learn to utilize its patented circuitry system, Redstone.  Minecraft isn’t just a highly-popular building game, it also teaches valuable concepts about architecture, animation, problem-solving, and coding.

The options for Digital Audio projects are almost limitless: “The Radio Interview”

Imagine remixing a favorite song, recording a podcast, or creating sound effects for the next Marvel Studios movie.  Digital audio production is where that’s at. For this project—a radio interview segment with a “certified expert”—a strong dose of creativity (and some writing) is required, as well as a knack for collaboration and producing emphatic sounds.  This project requires TWO people, heretofore known as the PRODUCERS!

What You’ll Need:

• a smart phone or tablet with recording capabilities
• a stand to support/stabilize device
• objects to create sound effects (as necessary)
• pen/pencil/paper

What’s Next:

1. Producers should establish who will be the “Interviewer” and who will be the “Renowned Expert in Their Chosen Field” (roles).  Additionally, Producers should decide whether the interview will be a standard “Question/Answer” segment or a “How-to…” segment (format); and Producers should decide what the “field of expertise” will be.
2. Once roles, format, and field of expertise have been established, Producers will write either 5 questions that will be asked of the expert (and how they might answer) or 5 steps to the expert’s “How to…” demonstration (script).  Have fun here— don’t worry that you have to follow your script to the letter. Although there should be some logic to the questions and answers, some improvising is expected and should be welcomed!
3. Review/rehearse how each Producer, in a general sense, will say their lines.  Experiment with tone, pitch, and speed when speaking until you’re satisfied.
4. During this rehearsal period, decide if you’ll punctuate or emphasize any lines/actions with sound effects.  Experiment with various ways to produce sound. For example, in an interview segment with a horse expert, perhaps when the expert sneezes, it comes out as a horse’s neigh; or clip-clop two wooden bowls together when the horse expert rides out of the studio after the interview.
5. When you’re ready, in a quiet room on a sturdy table, set-up your recording device (either the audio or video recording apps on your device will capture sound; face the camera eye toward the stand or cover it up to avoid capturing video).  Start recording!
6. Perform your segment as rehearsed.  Record it as many times as needed until you feel you’ve got it right.
7. Play back your radio segment and assess the production— what did you do well, what might you do differently, what parts of the project were most satisfying, what other productions do you want to create?

What You’ve Got:

Likely one of the most memorable audio experiences you’ve had, and the guts and gusto to see a multi-layered, technical production through to the end.  Ready to make your own song yet?

If you are ready to produce musical compositions, mix sound effects, and learn how to command the MIDI language, get into Talent Box’s Digital Audio Production curriculum online.  Use intuitive tools like Mixcraft, Reaper, and Serato DJ to indoctrinate yourself into the transformative world of audio technology.