It’s time for some STEM! Your admin wants a showcase of innovation. You have zero budget, thirty kids, and exactly 45 minutes before lunch. Here’s how to survive National STEM day and National STEM week without resorting to sticky marshmallows.

Start Here: What Do Engineers Do? 

What do engineers do?! Find out the what, how, and why in these fun and zero-to-low prep National STEM Day / National STEM week activities and lessons for your K-8 learners.

Ask your students what an engineer actually does. Write down what they say.

Most will tell you they fix cars or build bridges while wearing hard hats. 

Here’s the fact that makes them pay attention: Engineers just solve problems.

Try telling a third grader that inventing a new way to keep their sibling out of their room is engineering. Their eyes light up. It’s not about the hard hat, Actually, it’s about the problem.

National STEM Day Resources by Grade

There are many types of engineers! Find out more about the types of engineers and the work that they do in National STEM Day / STEM Week Activities and Lessons for K-8 learners.
ResourceBest ForPrep Level
What is Engineering?K-2Zero prep 
What is Science? K-2Zero prep 
Pushes & Pulls K-2Zero prep 
Simple Machines K-2Zero prep 
What is Science? 3-5Zero prep 
Balanced & Unbalanced Forces 3-5Zero prep 
Potential Vs. Kinetic Energy 6-8Zero prep
Engineering Design Process 6-8Zero prep
How to be a Scientist (Colleges & Careers) K-8Zero prep 
Engineering with Candy DIY (What is Engineering)K-2Low prep 
Popsicle Stick Catapult DIY (Simple Machines)K-2Low prep 
Mini Golf DIY (Pushes & Pulls)K-2Low prep 
Egg Drop Challenge DIY (What is Science)3-5Low prep 
Balanced & Unbalanced Forces DIY (Balanced & Unbalanced Forces)3-5Low prep 
Paper Table Challenge DIY (Engineering Design Process)6-8Low prep 
Pool Noodle Engineering DIY 3-8Low prep 

Grades K-2: Keep the tape away from them

What is engineering for your K-2 learners?! Check out this fun National STEM Day / Week Activities & Lessons.

At this age, STEM usually devolves into a sticky-tape nightmare where the loudest kid takes over. They need boundaries and a simple process to follow, not a free-for-all. Give them the steps to follow and they’re ready to start learning. 

What is Engineering Activities & Video  

Grades 3-5: The constraint is the point

Do your learners want to make a pasta bridge to learn engineering? Check out this fun and no-prep National STEM Day / Week Activities & Lessons for 3-5 learners.

This is when they want to build the coolest thing, ignoring the actual assignment. They need to learn that real engineering means working within constraints, not just making it look awesome.

What is Science Activities & Video 

Grades 6-8: Stop calling it a project

Middle schoolers dive into engineering design process in these fun and zero-prep National STEM Day / Week activities and lessons.

Middle schoolers will roll their eyes at anything that feels childish or crafty. They need a process that feels like real-world problem-solving. Try to frame  it as a debate and you’ve got their attention. 

Engineering Design Process Activities & Video 

The “I Have 20 Minutes Before The Book Fair” Version

What does an engineer do and what is the engineering process? Dive into this and more in National STEM Day / Week activities & lessons for K-8.

No time to prepare for your middle schoolers? Here’s exactly what to do:

Minutes 1-5: Ask the misconception question. Let them discuss what an engineer actually is.

Minutes 6-15: Play the Engineering Design Process video. 

Minutes 16-20: Have them identify one problem in the classroom (like the pencil sharpener traffic jam) and sketch one solution using the process.

National STEM Day (and STEM week) is more than just building towers out of dry pasta. It’s teaching kids how to fail without falling apart. Grab the resources and let them solve a real problem. 

For more on STEM, check out 3 Football Science Activities to Create Year-Round (3-8)