Summer is a great time for your middle school students to develop and nurture their STEM skills. Check out these four creative STEM summer projects that can be both educational and fun and help keep them engaged this season. Get ready to enjoy these summer STEM activities!
DIY water balloon catapults
This fun STEM project is perfect for kids who enjoy tinkering and constructing objects. Kids will have the opportunity to build their own water balloon catapult using basic materials such as cardboard, paint sticks, paper bowls, paint tubes, rubber bands, tape, glue and scissors. The project encourages creativity while allowing kids to understand basic principles of physics and engineering through hands-on experimentation. Last, students will launch water balloons and determine the success of their design.
Design, build and launch bottle rockets
This next project is great for middle school kids looking to learn about rocket science and aerodynamics. With an empty plastic soda bottle, corks, baking soda, vinegar, and some other basic materials, kids can design and build their own rockets from scratch. They can then launch them safely outdoors and test how different variables affect flight. This project encourages problem-solving skills, amplifies spatial reasoning ability, and also lessons in physics such as weight, drag, and thrust.
Create your own fidget spinner
Fidget spinners made a huge splash when they came on the market and now we can teach our kids how to make their own! Students will research the physics behind fidget spinners. Next, students will use simple materials to create their own fidget toy and test how long it spins. This project requires skate bearings that can be purchased online or at local sporting goods stores. The other materials are flexible. Your students will love showing off their DIY fidget spinners!
Learn and build animal prosthetic devices
This engaging STEM activity is perfect for animal lovers! First, students will be introduced to three real-world animal clients in need of prosthetic devices to improve their quality of life. The project provides an interactive way for your child to build a prosthetic device for a cat, an alligator, or a parrot using basic household materials and art supplies, such as popsicle sticks, cardboard, string, pipe cleaners, etc. Students will also research real-world career connections to the field of biomedical engineering.
What’s included in the STEM summer projects?
Each of the STEM summer projects includes:
- Detailed teacher notes that include suggestions for facilitating the project during in-person, distance, and hybrid learning
- PDF, Google, and Easel versions of the student project packets
- A slideshow to assist with lesson facilitation
- A rubric for easy grading
- End-of-project celebration certificates
These projects follow the engineering design process allowing students to practice their teamwork and problem-solving skills. The building materials are flexible, meaning you can use what you have on hand! Blocks, clean recyclables, school supplies, etc.
Grab these resources today so you can take a break from planning and know your middle school students will still be learning and having fun as you enjoy the Summer season!
What more fun seasonal activities?
Save money when you buy seasonal STEM bundles! Then you’ll have fun projects ready-to-go all year long!
