STEM Activity for Kids: Skewer Structures
“Kids love building projects, whether it be with blocks at a young age or sticks. This activity combines skewers and clay to make structures! It provides endless engineering fun as kids explore shapes they can make.”
“Kids love building projects, whether it be with blocks at a young age or sticks. This activity combines skewers and clay to make structures! It provides endless engineering fun as kids explore shapes they can make.”
Ted Ed | All Ages
Today, over 1.5 billion children are unable to go to school. Coronavirus’ impact goes beyond the health and economic crisis; it is also jeopardizing the education of students around the world.
Teachers are scrambling to offer students lessons online and parents are desperate for activities that will keep their kids engaged and connected to the outside world.
In response to this crisis, an unprecedented coalition of over fifty environmental and education experts are collaborating to launch The Earth School: 30 adventures for learners of all ages to discover, celebrate, and connect to nature. This global team came together under the guidance and support of TED-Ed and UNEP to design lessons for students of all levels and host Earth School at a time when it matters the most.
Learn More about 30 Quests for students around the world to celebrate, explore and connect with nature.
Learn More about hundreds of free educational resources for students, educators and parents/guardians
Today, over 1.5 billion children are unable to go to school. Coronavirus’ impact goes beyond the health and economic crisis; it is also jeopardizing the education of students around the world.
Teachers are scrambling to offer students lessons online and parents are desperate for activities that will keep their kids engaged and connected to the outside world.
In response to this crisis, an unprecedented coalition of over fifty environmental and education experts are collaborating to launch The Earth School: 30 adventures for learners of all ages to discover, celebrate, and connect to nature. This global team came together under the guidance and support of TED-Ed and UNEP to design lessons for students of all levels and host Earth School at a time when it matters the most.
Learn More about 30 Quests for students around the world to celebrate, explore and connect with nature.
Learn More about hundreds of free educational resources for students, educators and parents/guardians
Compound Pulley | Ages 9-16
“This setup is a compound pulley, which combine both fixed and moveable pulleys to increase the mechanical advantage.”
Ages 9-16
“This setup is a compound pulley, which combine both fixed and moveable pulleys to increase the mechanical advantage.”
Ages 9-16
Fixed Pulley | Ages 9-16
“This cute little desktop flagpole is a single fixed pulley. A fixed pulley like this one doesn't win you any mechanical advantage, but it can still make things easier to lift since it lets you pull down instead of lift up.”
Ages 9-16
“This cute little desktop flagpole is a single fixed pulley. A fixed pulley like this one doesn't win you any mechanical advantage, but it can still make things easier to lift since it lets you pull down instead of lift up.”
Ages 9-16
Fabric Parachutes | Ages 2-11
“The Fabric Parachutes made great homemade toys that kept my kids busy all day long! They had a great time practicing their sewing skills and then launching their parachutes from every high surface in the house! Best of all, these were absolutely free since we used leftover material from other projects!
Ages 2-11
“The Fabric Parachutes made great homemade toys that kept my kids busy all day long! They had a great time practicing their sewing skills and then launching their parachutes from every high surface in the house! Best of all, these were absolutely free since we used leftover material from other projects!
Ages 2-11
Corrugated Cardboard Challenge | Ages 9-16
“Corrugated cardboard is a great and sturdy building material. What’s even better is that it’s super easy to come by--just check your recycling bins! So, here’s your challenge:”
Ages 9-16
“Corrugated cardboard is a great and sturdy building material. What’s even better is that it’s super easy to come by--just check your recycling bins! So, here’s your challenge:”
Ages 9-16
Water Well | Ages 9-16
“Have you ever wondered how we get water from a well? Learn about it with this DIY!”
Ages 9-16
“Have you ever wondered how we get water from a well? Learn about it with this DIY!”
Ages 9-16
Leprechaun Trap | Ages 3-8
“St. Patrick's Day is a great time to learn about myths! Ancient Irish folklore tells a story of a mischievous leprechaun, a fairy who hides his pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. If caught by a human, a leprechaun will grant 3 wishes, in exchange for his freedom. Join us in this design challenge to create the ultimate leprechaun trap! May the luck of the Irish be with you!”
Ages 3-8
“St. Patrick's Day is a great time to learn about myths! Ancient Irish folklore tells a story of a mischievous leprechaun, a fairy who hides his pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. If caught by a human, a leprechaun will grant 3 wishes, in exchange for his freedom. Join us in this design challenge to create the ultimate leprechaun trap! May the luck of the Irish be with you!”
Ages 3-8
Jell-O Building Blocks | Ages 3-8
"Can you really make edible building blocks? Yes! They're pretty, fun, and require no specialized skills (unless you count heating and pouring). They're a great rainy day activity, and they make really fun party favors. The biggest challenge is keeping them uneaten long enough to play with them!”
Ages 3-8
"Can you really make edible building blocks? Yes! They're pretty, fun, and require no specialized skills (unless you count heating and pouring). They're a great rainy day activity, and they make really fun party favors. The biggest challenge is keeping them uneaten long enough to play with them!”
Ages 3-8
Origami Fidget Spinner | Ages 5-16
“These twirling toys are all the rage, so we decided to put our own little spin on them. Using just two sheets of colorful origami paper, glue, a paper clip, and four coins, learn how to create your own personal spinner to both amuse and amaze.”
Ages 5-16
“These twirling toys are all the rage, so we decided to put our own little spin on them. Using just two sheets of colorful origami paper, glue, a paper clip, and four coins, learn how to create your own personal spinner to both amuse and amaze.”
Ages 5-16
Bunny Automaton | Ages 9-16
“Have a hoppy time with this do-it-yourself bunny automaton. With help from our templates and a bit of tinkering, you'll be able to create a bunny that hops along with a single push.”
Ages 9-16
“Have a hoppy time with this do-it-yourself bunny automaton. With help from our templates and a bit of tinkering, you'll be able to create a bunny that hops along with a single push.”
Ages 9-16
Origami Paper Bracelet | Ages 3-8
“I remember as a child at camp we learned how to turn gum wrappers into chains that could be used for jewelry, or a garland. I love passing on simple projects like that to my kids, especially my jewelry loving 3 year old.”
Ages 3-8
“I remember as a child at camp we learned how to turn gum wrappers into chains that could be used for jewelry, or a garland. I love passing on simple projects like that to my kids, especially my jewelry loving 3 year old.”
Ages 3-8
Bow and Arrow | Ages 5-16
“Build your own bow and arrow and see if you can hit a target! Host a competition and see who can get the most points. “
Ages 5-16
“Build your own bow and arrow and see if you can hit a target! Host a competition and see who can get the most points. “
Ages 5-16
Christmas Sponge Stamp Blocks | Ages 3-8
“The beauty of simple household sponges cut into Christmas shapes, makes this a fun simple stamping craft to celebrate the holidays.”
Ages 3-8
“The beauty of simple household sponges cut into Christmas shapes, makes this a fun simple stamping craft to celebrate the holidays.”
Ages 3-8
Solar Oven | Ages 5-16
“Have you ever tried to harness the power of the sun to create some s'mores? Camping is the perfect time to do it. During the day, I set up my DIY solar oven and stacked up my ingredients inside. Then, I just let it sit while I went for a quick hike around the campsite. When I returned, I had a delicious, melted snack that was ready to eat thanks to my solar oven!”
Ages 5-16
“Have you ever tried to harness the power of the sun to create some s'mores? Camping is the perfect time to do it. During the day, I set up my DIY solar oven and stacked up my ingredients inside. Then, I just let it sit while I went for a quick hike around the campsite. When I returned, I had a delicious, melted snack that was ready to eat thanks to my solar oven!”
Ages 5-16
Paper Circuit Menorah | Ages 6-16
“My kids recently experimented with the paper circuits project from Tinker Crate. So we decided to put our newfound knowledge to the test by creating a menorah using copper tape and LEDs. This can be an interesting challenge for kids to tackle. We definitely found ourselves designing one thing, trying it, and then optimizing with another design. It was tinkering at its best, which was really neat to see and very fun to watch!”
Ages 6-16
“My kids recently experimented with the paper circuits project from Tinker Crate. So we decided to put our newfound knowledge to the test by creating a menorah using copper tape and LEDs. This can be an interesting challenge for kids to tackle. We definitely found ourselves designing one thing, trying it, and then optimizing with another design. It was tinkering at its best, which was really neat to see and very fun to watch!”
Ages 6-16
DIY Phone Speaker | Ages 5-16
“Make a rockin' customizable speaker for you and your friends to enjoy with just a few household items! Understand how sound vibrations can travel through different mediums and how the shape of the mediums can cause the sounds to be amplified!”
Ages 5-16
“Make a rockin' customizable speaker for you and your friends to enjoy with just a few household items! Understand how sound vibrations can travel through different mediums and how the shape of the mediums can cause the sounds to be amplified!”
Ages 5-16
Archery | Ages 3-11
“I was so inspired by this Tiny Bow & Arrow set that I saw on the Brooding Hen... My six-year-old is fascinated with bows and arrows, so this craft stick/Q-Tip combo seemed liked the perfect starter set for my little knight.”
Ages 3-11
“I was so inspired by this Tiny Bow & Arrow set that I saw on the Brooding Hen... My six-year-old is fascinated with bows and arrows, so this craft stick/Q-Tip combo seemed liked the perfect starter set for my little knight.”
Ages 3-11
Tick-Tock Timer | Ages 5-16
“When you twist up this timer and let it go, the rubber band starts to unwind and swing a bead. But wait — the bead suddenly wraps around a pole, and the machine stops in its tracks! And then just as suddenly, the bead unwraps, and the machine starts moving again. The way it starts and stops is really similar to how clocks and watches tick and tock to keep time. Give this timer a spin below!”
Ages 5-16
“When you twist up this timer and let it go, the rubber band starts to unwind and swing a bead. But wait — the bead suddenly wraps around a pole, and the machine stops in its tracks! And then just as suddenly, the bead unwraps, and the machine starts moving again. The way it starts and stops is really similar to how clocks and watches tick and tock to keep time. Give this timer a spin below!”
Ages 5-16
Confetti Poppers | Ages 5-16
“For our New Year's Eve get-together, we created little confetti treat pop party favors to pass out. They were super simple to make and even simpler to pop! They're perfect for any celebration. We plan on making another set for an upcoming birthday party too.”
Ages 5-16
“For our New Year's Eve get-together, we created little confetti treat pop party favors to pass out. They were super simple to make and even simpler to pop! They're perfect for any celebration. We plan on making another set for an upcoming birthday party too.”
Ages 5-16