STEM Engineering Challenge

Unleash creativity and problem-solving in this open-ended engineering adventure! Students are given basic building tools and recycled materials—including cardboard, fasteners, and kid-safe cutters—to plan, prototype, and build anything they can imagine. From towers to bridges to fantastical creatures, the only limit is their imagination.

This kit encourages teamwork, iteration, and communication, with enough materials for 24 students working in pairs. Includes design journals, engineering challenge cards, and video instructions to guide setup and spark ideas.

Time Commitment:
Two 45-minute class periods or one 1.5-hour session

Suggested Grades:
Grades 3–8

TEKS Alignment:

• 3.2(B): Plan and conduct simple investigations

• 4.3(A): Collect and record information using tools and equipment

• 5.4(C): Demonstrate that repeated investigations may improve results

• 6.4(B): Use models to represent systems and processes

• 7.4(A): Identify variables in scientific investigations

• 8.4(A): Design and implement scientific investigations to test hypotheses