“Devices down! Step away from the screen. I repeat, step away from the screen!”
Sometimes it can feel like we are the cops and the devices our students hold are the weapons. While technology is a critical part of our daily lives, sometimes it is important for us to take a step away and spend some “screen-free” time.
I have compiled a list of fun STEM-based activities that your family can do to build an engineering and science mindset without devices. These activities can be as simple or complex as you want them to be! Each headline and image link to a website with instructions and ideas for the project.
1. Rube Goldberg Machine
This is a fun project where you use several different simple machines to complete a task. For fun, you could have your child design a Rube Goldberg to complete a task or chore they are always complaining about. For example, they could create something to feed the dog, water the plants, or even sweep the floor.
2. Design and Build a Roller Coaster
The roller coaster can be as big or small as your imagination allows it. Using recycled products, you want to make a marble or ball roll from point A to point B. Straws are a great way to build roller coasters that have more than one layer.
3. Homemade Fidget Spinner
Why spend money on a regular fidget spinner, when you can design and create your very own that is one of a kind? While this fidget spinner craze has been annoying, letting students design and create is always important.
4. Design and Build a Project for the Darlington Technology Competition
Get a head start on Darlington's Tech Fair by starting a project over the summer! The link above will take you to a list of categories for the Northwest Regional Tech Fair and may help you come up with some great ideas.
5. Engineer and Explore Different Forts
If your children like to build forts like mine do, you are going to love this activity! There are so many different types of forts, and materials that lend themselves to these forts. I would have never thought to use milk jugs and make a fort! We can’t wait to see what kind of fort your family would like to build.
6. Build a Catapult (or all 14!)
Catapults are so much fun to make, as well as play with! After building a catapult, you can come up with different family games to test out the distance and weight with different objects.
7. Engineering Mystery Grab Bags
These grab bags are SO much fun! Each bag inspires creative thinking with different design thinking challenges. From pom launchers, to slingshots, and marble runs, your kids are certain to love a good mystery challenge. All items are placed in a paper sack. Each week you can grab a different bag and see what the challenge for the week is. They can spend time making several different prototypes to share at the end of the week. The possibilities are endless!
8. 100 Invitations to Build
There is sure to be something here for you to find challenging! They list 100 different items/resources and your imagination can build what it would like. I love the bridge this little one made including blue painters tape for the water! Stop throwing those paper towel rolls away and start building with them instead.
9. Homemade Slime (All the craze right now!)
I am sure your child has asked you by now if they can make slime. I feel like our house is covered in slime right now! My daughter wants to make it all the time and try different products each time. I like the resource because it shows several different types and forms of slime. You might even find a new recipe!
10. Project-based Engineering for Kids
This site has SO many great projects and ideas! There are some that require kits, as well as some that you can create yourself. I think most of them allow students to modify the project and make it their own as well. We can’t wait to get started making these at our house this weekend!
I hope something on this list will spark your interest and see what your family can “make” today!
Share photos with us on Twitter or Instagram using #DARmakers so others can learn from your ideas and keep up with all the fun you and your family are having!
