🤝 Teamwork STEM Challenges: Foster collaboration and critical thinking skills with our engaging teamwork STEM challenges. These activities are crafted to inspire creativity and problem-solving among your students. Most of these lessons also incorporate the Engineering Design Process.
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Mystery Build: A Collaborative STEM Challenge
Download Lesson for 2nd and 3rd / Download Lesson for 4th and 5th
Material Links: Lego Creative Build Set / Large Keva Plank Set 600 / Small Keva Plank Set 200 / Magnetic Tiles
This collaborative STEM lesson challenges students’ communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills. The teacher constructs a hidden structure using materials like magnetic tiles, Keva planks, or Legos. Students pair up as an observer and a builder. The observer, who can see the structure, must describe it verbally to the builder, who recreates it based solely on these instructions. This activity encourages effective communication, active listening, and precise instruction following, fostering critical thinking as students visualize and interpret verbal descriptions.
For older students, roles can be expanded to include an artist and an author. The artist sketches the structure based on the observer’s description, the author writes detailed instructions from the artist’s sketch, and the builder uses these instructions to recreate the structure. This allows for more complex collaboration and differentiation within the activity.
Hands-Off Building Challenge: Constructing Contraptions for Block Replication
Download Lesson for 4th and 5th Grade
Material Links: Keva Planks / Magnetic Tiles / Skewers / Pipe Cleaners – 200 piece , 1000 piece / String / Straws / Clear Tape Rolls or Masking Tape Rolls
In the “Hands-Off Building Challenge: Constructing Contraptions for Block Replication,” students engage in a hands-on STEM activity that combines engineering, problem-solving, and teamwork. The teacher presents a simple structure made from blocks (such as Keva planks or Magnetic tiles) as the model for the challenge. Students are given materials like skewers, string, straws, limited tape, and pipe cleaners to design and build a contraption that will help them replicate the teacher’s structure without touching the blocks with their hands.
Through collaboration, creativity, and trial-and-error, students work together to devise innovative solutions to the challenge. They apply principles of engineering and physics as they design and refine their contraptions to effectively interact with the building blocks. This activity fosters critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork, providing students with a hands-on opportunity to explore concepts of structural engineering and mechanical design in a fun and interactive way.
Flying Lego Engineers: Mastering the Zipline Mission
Download Lesson for Kinder-5th
Material Links: Lego Creative Build Set / String or Fishing Line for Zipline
The Lego Zipline Contraption Challenge is an engaging STEM activity that allows students to apply the Engineering Design Process while creating contraptions using Lego bricks to glide down a zipline. This lesson can be tiered to accommodate different grade levels, starting with a basic challenge and progressing to more complex tasks. Tier 1: Students are tasked with designing and building a simple Lego contraption that can smoothly glide down the zipline. They focus on constructing a structure that can maintain stability and momentum throughout the descent. Tier 2: After successfully completing the basic challenge, students advance to designing a contraption that can hold Lego people as passengers. However, the Lego people must be dropped inside the contraption at the starting point rather than being snapped on. This challenge encourages students to consider weight distribution and securement within their contraptions.
Throughout the challenges, students engage in critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity as they design, build, test, and refine their Lego contraptions. They learn valuable lessons in problem-solving and innovation while having fun with hands-on STEM exploration.
Lego Labyrinth: Building STEM Paths for HEX Bugs
Material Links: Lego Creative Build Set / Lego Like Platforms / HEXBUG Pack
In our “Lego Labyrinth” STEM lesson, students delve into the exciting world of engineering design by constructing intricate mazes using LEGO bricks. Throughout the process, they immerse themselves in the Engineering Design Process, with a p
articular emphasis on problem-solving and refinement. As they craft pathways for HEX bugs to navigate, students encounter challenges that demand creative solutions. The lesson encourages them to embrace their role as innovators by not only refining their own creations but also by exploring and enhancing the designs of their peers. Through this collaborative approach, students cultivate essential skills in critical thinking, adaptability, and teamwork, ultimately becoming adept problem-solvers and innovators in the realm of STEM.
Jack’s Tower: A STEM Challenge in Height and Strength
Download Lesson for Kinder-1st
Materials Links: Jack and the Beanstalk Book / Craft Rolls (if you can’t collect) 30 pack or 100 pack / Clear Tape Rolls or Masking Tape Rolls
In this captivating STEM lesson, students are transported into the world of “Jack and the Beanstalk” as they embark on a thrilling engineering challenge. After a lively reading of the tale, students are tasked with building the tallest and strongest tower using provided materials—3 toilet paper rolls, a 6×6 inch flat piece of cardboard, an index card, and tape. Working in teams, students engage in the Engineering Design Process, brainstorming ideas, designing their structures, and collaborating to bring their visions to life. As they construct their towers, students learn valuable lessons in critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork. Once the towers are completed, the class eagerly tests each structure to see if they can support toy characters representing Jack and the giant. With anticipation building, students observe whether their towers can withstand the weight of the characters for 10-20 seconds—a true test of their engineering prowess. Following the initial testing phase, students have the opportunity to make adjustments or improvements to their designs. This iterative process encourages students to analyze their structures and apply their newfound knowledge to refine their creations. In the closing discussion, students reflect on the adjustments made, sharing insights and lessons learned from their peers’ builds. Through “Jack’s Tower: A STEM Challenge in Height and Strength,” students not only engage in hands-on engineering but also develop essential skills in collaboration and critical thinking—all while experiencing the magic of storytelling.
Sync & Move: Cooperative Rubber Band Challenge
Download Lesson for Kinder-2nd
Materials List: String / Rubber bands / Tennis Balls
In this engaging STEM challenge designed for lower elementary grades, students delve into the world of cooperation and teamwork while exploring the fascinating dynamics of rubber band-powered movement. Each group of students is equipped with a rubber band attached to multiple strings, and their mission is to synchronize their movements to achieve a common goal. With a focus on collaboration, students work together to pull the strings in sync, maneuvering the rubber band around a tennis ball and transporting it from one spot to another. Through trial and error, students learn the importance of communication, coordination, and teamwork as they navigate the challenges of controlling the rubber band’s movement. As students collaborate and problem-solve, they not only develop essential motor skills but also gain valuable insights into the power of working together towards a shared objective. Sync & Move: Cooperative Rubber band Challenge provides an enriching learning experience that emphasizes the importance of teamwork in achieving common goals.
Tug, Stack, and Build: Engineering with Rubber band Dynamics
Materials Links: String / Rubber bands / Plastic Cups – 50 Count , 100 Count
In this dynamic STEM challenge tailored for upper elementary grades, students embark on an exciting journey of engineering exploration and collaborative problem-solving. Armed with rubber bands and strings, students are tasked with mastering the intricate dynamics of rubber band-powered movement to tackle a series of engaging challenges. With a primary focus on teamwork, students must synchronize their efforts to unstack and restack cups, ultimately forming a sturdy pyramid structure. As students pull the strings in unison, they must carefully coordinate their movements to achieve precise control over the rubber band’s tension and direction. Through hands-on experimentation and iterative problem-solving, students gain invaluable insights into engineering principles, including force, motion, and mechanical advantage. Moreover, the collaborative nature of the activity fosters a sense of camaraderie and shared achievement among students as they work together to overcome challenges and achieve success. Tug, Stack, and Build: Engineering with Rubber band Dynamics offers a captivating learning experience that not only enhances students’ understanding of STEM concepts but also reinforces the importance of teamwork and collaboration in tackling real-world engineering challenges.
Rolling Ramps: Teamwork and Design in Marble Run Engineering
Download Lesson for 2nd-5th / Download Marble Run Templates
Materials Links: Clear Tape or Masking Tape / Marbles / Scissors
In this engaging STEM lesson, students will embark on an exciting journey of teamwork and creativity as they tackle the challenge of creating a marble run using printable cardstock. The primary focus of the activity is to foster collaboration and problem-solving skills while guiding students through the engineering design process. Students will work in teams to brainstorm, design, and construct their marble runs, taking into consideration factors such as slope, speed, and obstacle placement. As they collaborate, they will discuss ideas, make decisions, and allocate tasks, all while honing their communication and teamwork skills. The use of printable cardstock provides a structured framework for the activity, but if the materials prove too challenging for the students, alternatives such as paper towel rolls, toilet paper rolls, and other pieces of cardboard can be substituted. This flexibility ensures that all students can actively participate and contribute to the project. Throughout the lesson, students will engage in iterative design, testing, and refinement, applying critical thinking and problem-solving strategies to optimize their marble runs. By working through challenges and setbacks together, students will develop resilience and perseverance, essential qualities in both STEM and real-world scenarios. At the conclusion of the lesson, students will have the opportunity to test their marble runs, observe the behavior of the marbles as they traverse the tracks, and reflect on their designs. This reflection process allows students to evaluate their work, identify areas for improvement, and celebrate their successes as a team. “Rolling Ramps: Teamwork and Design in Marble Run Engineering” provides students with a hands-on opportunity to apply STEM principles while fostering collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking skills. It’s a dynamic and engaging lesson that empowers students to become confident problem solvers and innovators.
Spin It to Win It: Engineering Spinners with Linking Cubes
Download Lesson for Kinder-1st / Download Lesson for 2nd-3rd
Materials Links: Linking Cubes
“Spin It to Win It” is an engaging STEM activity designed to guide students through the exciting journey of the engineering design process while fostering creativity and problem-solving skills. Students, ranging from Kindergarten to 3rd grade, will embark on an adventure to create the ultimate spinner using a specific number of linking cubes. In this activity, students have the opportunity to work individually or in pairs, allowing for flexibility and collaboration. The task is simple yet challenging: design and construct a spinner using the provided linking cubes. Students will explore various designs, considering factors such as size, weight distribution, and balance to achieve optimal spinning performance. Once students have crafted their spinners, they will put them to the test. Emphasizing the importance of testing and iteration in the engineering design process, students will measure the spin duration of their creations. Through trial and error, students will analyze the performance of their spinners and make adjustments as needed to improve spin time. For Kindergarten and 1st-grade students, the activity can focus on basic spinner design principles, with an emphasis on creativity and exploration. For 2nd and 3rd-grade students, a differentiated version can be introduced, incorporating additional challenges such as designing spinners with specific attributes (e.g., symmetry, shape variation). At the conclusion of the activity, students will engage in a light-hearted competition to determine whose spinner can spin the longest. This friendly competition not only adds excitement to the lesson but also provides an opportunity for students to showcase their creativity and ingenuity. “Spin It to Win It” offers a dynamic and hands-on learning experience that not only reinforces STEM concepts but also encourages teamwork, critical thinking, and resilience. It’s a spin-tacular journey where students can unleash their imagination and engineering prowess to create spinners worthy of the winner’s circle.
Hanging Heights: Exploring Stability and Design in STEM
Materials Links: Pipe Cleaners – 200 piece or 1000 piece / Clear tape or Masking tape / Small Cups / Paper Clips / Straws
This STEM challenge is an engaging activity that encourages students to apply the engineering design process to create a tall and stable structure capable of hanging upside down without any pieces falling off. First, students collaborate to brainstorm and draw out their design, considering factors such as stability, weight distribution, and the properties of the materials provided. Next, they use materials like pipe cleaners, tape, Dixie cups, paper clips, and straws to construct their structures according to their designs. Once the structures are built, they are measured for height, and then tested to see if they can hang upside down for a designated amount of time without any components detaching. After testing their structures, if time allows, students make any necessary adjustments to enhance stability or address weaknesses. This challenge not only promotes creativity and problem-solving skills but also reinforces concepts related to structural engineering, forces, and material properties. It provides students with a hands-on opportunity to apply STEM principles in a fun and practical way. If needed, you can differentiate this lesson for the lower grades by just hanging their structure right side up instead of upside down.
The Mad STEM Lab 