My favorite part about STEM learning is that you can use so many cheap and easy to find materials for the different challenges and activities.  

There are a lot of different STEM challenges you can do using paper cups.  These cups can be just about any size.  I keep a box of 300 paper cups in my classroom all the time.  I have a set I bought on Amazon three years ago that I am still using in my intermediate classroom.  Click here to grab this set of 300 paper cups for about $22.  You can also find paper cups at your local grocery or dollar store.

We build a lot of different towers, structures, and pyramids with paper cups in our classroom.  Balancing different sizes and weights of objects on top of these adds to the challenge.

These One Minute to Finish It challenges are a quick and easy way to build teamwork in your classroom.

You can do these in one day or over the course of several days.

The kids need very few materials for all of the challenges included in this pack.  

They are meant to be done quickly, but you can always extend the time limit if that works better for your classroom.

Click here to check it out in my TPT store.

Cup stacking is another fun thing to do in your classroom.  These challenges are so engaging.  The kids have to deal with the challenge of stacking and unstacking the cups AND that panicked feeling of the timer.

These are sold individually as well.  Click here to see the 3-challenge bundle.

Copycat STEM challenges are another fun way to get kids thinking.  

In these challenges, the kids have to copy a paper cup tower that either the teacher or a group of students have built.

This is actually more challenging than you may think.

Click here to see it!

Every think of adding a take home STEM challenge to your classroom?

My families LOVE these challenges.  I try to do one a month in my own intermediate classroom.  

These take-home challenges give families a chance to work together as a team.  My kids get so excited about sharing their results with the rest of the class.

In this challenge families need to build the tallest possible paper cup tower.

Click here to check out the paper cup take-home challenge to see if it may work in your classroom!

There are so many different ways you can use paper cups in your classroom!  Click here to see even more paper cup activities and challenges!

STEM challenges can be done with cheap and easy to find materials!  Why not try using paper cups in your classroom?

 Paper plates are cheap and easy to find materials for an assortment of STEM challenges and activities!

Kids can build things like towers, bridges, and 3D shapes with paper plates.  The plates can be folded, cut, rolled, or torn.  They are cheap and easy to find.  Why not try to build a 3D haunted house out of paper plates this fall?  

This pack of 5 STEM engineering challenges uses paper plates in a variety of ways!

All you need is a large pack of paper plates and a few other supplies.  Many of which you should be able to find at school!

Paper plates can be cut, rolled, folded, or torn in a number of ways.  These challenges get them thinking!

While these STEM engineering challenges are a lot of fun, the Minute to Finish It pack using paper plates is really engaging.

Click here to check out the pack!

These 8 quick STEM challenges can be done in a single day or over the course of a few days!  The kids form a team and then do 8 different activities with paper plates and a few other materials.

One of my favorite activities from this pack is the Plate Flipping!

Can your team flip and catch the highest number of paper plates using just one hand?

Materials (per team):

-1 paper plate per person

-timer

Click here to check out this pack in my TPT store!

Do your students like emojis?

Why not try to make some paper plate emojis in this STEM challenge?

This is a challenge that my kids always want to do more than once!

Click here to check out this challenge.

What are some of your favorite materials to use for STEM activities and challenges?  I am always looking for cheap and easy to find materials for the STEM challenges and activities that I create for my own classroom!

Time to try some STEM challenges and activities in your classroom!