Popsicle Stick Chain Reaction -STEM activity

If you enjoy chain reactions and spectacular sights, this activity is for you! Who knew weaving unspectacular tongue depressors could set off a chain reaction of sticks flying in the air? Try it out and see for yourself! Read more

Follow along with a Science Buddies parent who is using family STEM activities to keep her kids learning at home during the COVID-19 school shutdown. New posts every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Today's adventure... taking aim with a homemade popsicle stick catapult. Making Do with What You Have Are you the kind of person who starts with the end product and then figures out the list of things you need to make that happen, or are you the kind of… Read more

Join Science Buddies this summer for virtual summer camp! Each week, we'll highlight fun STEM themes for kids of all ages, including suggestions for simple hands-on activities, book picks, and more. We'll keep you inspired all summer with creative and innovative science and engineering activities — for free. This week: gadgets and gizmos for makers, inventors, and innovators. Gadgets & Gizmos Maker-style STEM Some of the best toys and tools are… Read more

Use these free lesson plans and hands-on activities to explore potential and kinetic energy with students! What happens when you stretch a rubber band and let it go? Why? Explaining how energy is stored and transferred and how that relates to the movement and momentum of objects in motion involves understanding potential and kinetic energy. This is an area of science where getting hands-on with the storage, transfer, and release of energy really helps… Read more

Check in each week at Science Buddies this summer for our Awesome Summer Science Experiments series! Each week, we'll highlight a few activities for awesome science and engineering kids can do at home. We've got a whole summer of fun STEM themes lined up for kids of all ages — for free. This week: Ready, Set, Go! STEM — awesome summer science experiments that take off, roll, fly, spin, and more! From the Vault!: This post was part of our… Read more

Use these free STEM lessons and activities to help students get hands-on building, testing, and exploring the science of energy and the different types of potential and kinetic energy. From the classic snake-in-a-can prank to stretching and shooting rubber bands across the room, bouncing a basketball, or rolling a marble down a ramp, kids know energy in motion when they see it. The world is full of energy, and energy is constantly being used,… Read more

Kick off the new school year with one of these STEM activities! Easy to plan, low-cost, and accessible to all grade levels, these creative science and engineering icebreakers help set the stage for a great school year. Students will get to know one another, maybe remember your name, and leave knowing that science class is going to be awesome! It's back-to-school time! This means a brand new year, maybe a brand new group of students, or even a new grade… Read more

Celebrate Lunar New Year and the Year of the Dragon with these free science and engineering activities for enriching hands-on STEM. What is Lunar New Year? Lunar New Year (also known as Chinese New Year) is February 10, 2024. Lunar New Year starts with the new moon that happens in late January or February. Celebrations continue for 15 days and culminate with a Lantern Festival. In Chinese culture, 2024 will mark the year of the dragon. There are many… Read more

Use wooden craft sticks or popsicle sticks for hands-on STEM activities! STEM Projects with Simple Materials Doing hands-on science doesn't have to involve expensive or specialty materials. The projects highlighted below all feature wooden craft or popsicle sticks! Hands-on STEM Activities Using Popsicle Sticks Popsicle Stick Chain Reaction: Interweave wooden craft sticks in an exploration of… Read more