Here are three cheap and easy STEM ideas for the classroom, mainly using paper! These ideas could work for any grade, from upper elementary school to high school. The main difference is older students can usually come up with more ideas. I teach middle school and it can be challenging, but critical thinking is a much needed skill. This is Part 1, click here for Part 2 and here for Part 3.

Many times, STEM is avoided in classrooms because of the expenses and the challenges associated with prepping these types of lessons. The long list of materials and combining the materials can be exhausting before the lesson is even taught. Giving students opportunities to come up with creative solutions to problems is critical to their growth and development. I hope these ideas will help you implement STEM lessons into your teaching: cheaper and easier! 

All these ideas are cheap and easy, so it can easily lend itself to redesigning and retesting. This problem and solution, then redesigning and retesting is in most science standards.

1. Paper Beam Bridge 

For the paper beam bridge STEM activity, I explain what a beam bridge is and that the goal for the students is to hold a book with just paper and tape. The students go crazy as they think the task is impossible! It is a challenge and I typically emphasize that it is a challenge to hold just one book with paper. I then emphasize, it really is possible to hold a book with ONLY ONE piece of paper 6 inches off the ground and I gave them five. 

The materials given for this activity include (per group):

• 5 sheets of paper
• 5 inches of tape 
• Ruler 
• Scissors 
• Classroom Books
• Scale (Optional)

The guidelines or rules for this STEM activity are:

• The stack of books must be held 6 inches off the table.
• One piece of paper is dedicated for the top of the bridge (because without it, it wouldn’t be a beam bridge and just pillars).
• Use only materials given.

The activity is so engaging for the students as they problem solve in teams. Students are shocked as they start to realize their structure can not only hold one book, but SEVERAL! Set up for the activity can be under 5 minutes with the aide of just one student helper! You can bring a scale for easy measuring, but just the visual of books is sometimes enough. I typically have my students graph the best designs as part of the assignment. This is a great STEM activity that is cheap, easy, and fun! 

Expectations: Over the years I have tried to keep records and notes for myself so I can remember reasonable expectations for the students and past records from previous years. I think the reasonable expectation is for students to hold at least one book. Depending on the students’ design they might not be able to hold one book. However, if students are given a second chance, they almost always find a way to hold one book. 

My Top 5 Records for Beam Bridge STEM (pounds of books)

1. 67.7 pounds
2. 57.8 pounds
3. 48.8 pounds
4. 48.5 pounds
5. 46.1 pounds

2. Paper Tower Challenge 

For the paper tower challenge STEM activity, I talk about various tower structures around us and that the goal for the students is to build the highest free-standing structure…. with one piece of paper! The students get a chance to be creative and innovative to solve the problem. I sometimes lead a discussion of possible solutions before the challenge begins, but this depends on the level of your students. 

The materials given for this activity include (per group):

• 1 piece of printer paper
• 3 inches of tape 
• Ruler 
• Scissors 

The guidelines or rules for this STEM activity are:

• Structure must be freestanding (has to stand by itself).
• Use only the materials given.

The activity is thought provoking and offers an opportunity for students to redesign. Since it only requires 1 piece of paper and 3 inches of tape, I usually will give students multiple opportunities to design and test. Students are engaged and come up with solutions varying from tripods to straight pillars! This is a great STEM activity that is cheap, easy, and fun!

Expectations: I think the reasonable expectation is for students to have a freestanding structure that is 20 inches high. Depending on the students’ design, they might not be able reach this height. However, if students are given a second chance to redesign, which is in a lot of science standards, they probably will be able to reach that height. 

My Top 3 Records for Paper Tower STEM

1. 42 inches
2. 40 inches
3. 38 inches

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3. Paper Boat Challenge  

This STEM activity requires students to build a boat with paper. Students immediately object and ask for foil, tape, or anything but the paper provided. After my students get over the shock of the challenge, I talk about the principles of density (however not required), and how weight distribution is important. The students get two attempts at creating a paper boat that will hold the most weight. 

The materials given for this activity include (per group):

• 1 piece of printer paper (Can be split into two halves for two tries).
• Sink(s) or Plastic Container(s) (Only need 2-3 for testing boats). 
• Pennies, Marbles, or other small items.
• Scale (optional).

The guidelines or rules for this STEM activity are:

• Half Sheet of Paper
• How many pennies does it hold before it sinks? 

The activity is engaging and offers an opportunity for students to redesign. I don’t give any tape with this challenge, the students figure out they have to fold the paper or use origami folds. When the boat sinks either count the number of items, or put all items in a cup to weigh. Students come up with varying solutions and observe what works and what doesn’t. Data analysis and critical thinking can lead the students into some special discoveries! I fill plastic bins with water, or sinks, depending on your classroom so students have multiple testing stations to test their boats or rafts. Pennies or whatever item should be placed on one at a time.

Expectations: I think the reasonable expectation is to hold 25 grams or about 10 pennies. I typically use pennies for this lab because they are easy to find and can be used to evenly distribute weight over the paper boats. Probably about one hundred pennies is all you need for one testing station, but I recommend multiple testing stations.

My Top 3 Records for Paper Boats STEM

1. 190 grams (approximately 76 pennies)
2. 146 grams (approximately 58 pennies)
3. 110 grams (approximately 44 pennies)

Being a science teacher, I always try to encourage STEM lessons because these lessons typically create an opportunity for students to be creative, which engages them. These are a few cheap and easy ideas that can make STEM integration a breeze. All can be framed as competitions or challenges, with the potential for data analysis and higher-level discussions.

Thank you for Continually Learning with us!

Kyle and Sarah