First Grade STEM Activities for Kids (173 results)

Build a Brushbot

STEM Activity

134 reviews

Brushbots are a simple, fun type of robot that you can build out of arts and crafts materials. They are easy to build and you do not need any previous experience with robotics. You can build them yourself, build two robots with a friend and race them against each other, or even make them sumo wrestle! Go to the Materials section to see what parts you need to build a brushbot, and see the instructions for a step-by-step guide on how to build one. Read more

How Big Are the Planets in Our Solar System?

STEM Activity

150 reviews

Did you know that there are more planets than stars in our galaxy? All of these planets circle around a star, but only eight of them—Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune—circle around the Sun—the star in our solar system. This activity explores the relative size of these eight planets. Is one bigger than the others, or are they all about the same size? Read more

Make Your Own Stethoscope

STEM Activity

127 reviews

Have you ever wondered what happens to the heart as we exercise intensely? How does its beating change? A doctor can figure this out by using a tool called a stethoscope, which is a long, thin plastic tube that has a small disc on one end and earpieces on the other end. In this activity, you will make a homemade stethoscope and use it to measure peoples' heart rates at rest and after exercising. Read more

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Make String from Algae

STEM Activity

230 reviews

Did you know that the seaweed you've seen in the ocean or even eaten as a snack is inspiring innovators to imagine new materials? Large brown algae, like kelp, contains polymers—long chains of molecules—that are more environmentally friendly than the ones in most plastics. These natural polymers (alginates) could eventually be used to create sustainable everyday objects. Try your hand at using a bit of chemistry to turn biodegradable polymers from algae into your own custom… Read more

Build a Gumdrop Geodesic Dome

STEM Activity

99 reviews

Have you ever seen a geodesic dome? Geodesic domes are approximately sphere-like structures made up of interconnected triangles. A famous geodesic dome is Spaceship Earth at EPCOT in Walt Disney World, Florida, but geodesic domes are also commonly found as climbing domes at playgrounds. In this science activity, you will get to build a simple geodesic dome using gumdrops and toothpicks. Once it is built, you may be surprised by how strong it is! Get ready to do some tasty engineering! Read more

Colorful Patterns in Melting Ice

STEM Activity

118 reviews

Have you ever wondered why ice cubes in your cold drink become gradually smaller, or why their surface becomes smoother as they melt? Does ice always melt this way? In this activity, you will use water balloons to create giant ice balls and observe how they melt. Can you predict the effect a bit of salt will have on your giant ice ball? Read more

Make a Rubber Band Guitar

STEM Activity

177 reviews

Did you know that the modern guitar is an instrument that dates back over 4,000 years? The first guitar music was published in 1546, during a time when guitars still had strings made from animal intestines! While guitars have a long history, they are still extremely popular in modern day music. Have you ever wondered how they make the music you listen to everyday? In this activity we're going to make our own guitars, and experiment with the different sounds we can create. Read more

Build a Marble Roller Coaster

STEM Activity

76 reviews

How much energy does a roller coaster need to go through a loop without getting stuck? Build your own marble roller coaster in this project and find out! Read more

Build a Solar Updraft Tower

STEM Activity

208 reviews

Have you ever had a sunburn? If so, you know how powerful the Sun's heat can be! Did you know that this heat can also be turned into electrical energy? You may have heard about solar cells, but what about a solar updraft tower? This very simple structure uses the sun to heat up air, which then powers a turbine within a large tower. In this activity, you will build one of these towers yourself. Do you think you can make a propeller spin with just hot air? Read more

Build an Archimedes Screw

STEM Activity

85 reviews

The Archimedes screw is an ancient device used to lift water from one location to another. They are so useful that they are still in widespread use today! After a quick trip to the hardware store, you can build your own Archimedes screw in this fun activity. Read more

Candy Camouflage

STEM Activity

146 reviews

Have you ever wondered how predators, like wolves, lions, and hawks, are able to find their prey? And what can an animal do to stay off of a hunter's menu? To survive, some animals have developed specific camouflage tactics to fool their predators. One strategy some animals use is to look very similar to other animals that are poisonous or that the predator doesn't like to eat. This camouflage tactic is called mimicry. In this science activity, you will be the hungry predator and you will hunt… Read more

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