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30 Engaging Fourth Grade STEM Challenges

fourth grade stem challenges

May 27, 2021 //  by Suzanne Bucknam

STEM challenges are fun classroom activities that challenge children to use their problem-solving skills. In these activities, children come up with creative solutions that help them complete the assigned task.

Teachers simply provide the needed materials and give their students a 1 or 2 sentence command. The students work alone or in teams to complete the challenges.

STEM challenges are a fun way to help children's intellectual development. Since there is no right or wrong way to use the materials, STEM challenges also boost children's self-confidence.

Here are 30 fourth grade STEM challenges that are a blast for kids and easy for teachers to set up!

1. Make a miniature soccer goal from tulle, straws, and craft sticks.

4th - 1
  • markers
  • scissors
  • straws
  • tulle
  • craft sticks
  • tape

2. Make a chain reaction with dominoes and 4 other items.

4th - 2
  • dominoes
  • 4 items of the child's choosing

3. Build a bridge spanning desk to desk using straws and tape.

4th - 3
  • drinking straws
  • scissors
  • packing tape

4. Try to make an exact copy of a classmate's paper snowflake.

4th - 4
  • crayons
  • origami paper
  • scissors

5. Design a working zipline for a plastic toy out of string and drinking straws.

4th - 5
  • plastic figurine
  • tape
  • string
  • drinking straw
  • scissors

6. Design a marble maze using cardstock and tape.

4th - 6
  • cookie pan
  • marbles
  • cardstock
  • packing tape

7. Make a bridge for miniature animals using craft sticks and binder clips.

4th - 7
  • craft sticks
  • binder clips
  • miniature animal

8. Build a tower as tall as you using only index cards and tape.

4th - 8
  • index cards
  • tape

9. Build a car using a plastic bottle, wooden skewers, straws, and rubber bands and power it with a balloon.

4th - 9
  • plastic bottle caps
  • wooden skewers
  • plastic bottle
  • straws
  • balloons
  • rubber bands
  • tape
  • scissors

10. Build a structure with the same amount of Lego bricks as 3 times your age.

4th - 10
  • Legos

11. Build a catapult that can launch a pebble using any outdoor materials you can find.

4th - 11

12. Make a marshmallow catapult using pencils, rubber bands, a milk jug cap, pipe cleaners, and a tissue box.

4th - 12
  • empty tissue box
  • scissors
  • hole punch
  • pushpin
  • rubber bands 
  • unsharpened pencils
  • pipe cleaner
  • plastic milk jug cap

13. Filter dirty water using sand, gravel, and coffee filters until it is clear.

4th - 13
  • 2 clear glass jars
  • Solo cup
  • sand
  • gravel
  • coffee filters
  • hobby knife (for adult use)

14. Make a paper rocket and launch it using vinegar and baking soda.

4th - 14
  • plastic film canister with a lid
  • baking soda
  • measuring spoons
  • bowl
  • spoon
  • water
  • vinegar
  • construction paper
  • transparent tape
  • scissors

15. Make a trampoline using a colander, rubber bands, binder clips, toothpicks, and stretchy material.

4th - 15
  • colander
  • rubber bands
  • toothpicks
  • binder clips
  • stretchy material
  • a ball
  • packing tape

16. Design a flier from only a cone paper cup. Lay a box fan on the floor to make it fly.

4th - 16
  • box fax
  • scissors
  • cone paper cup

17. Make a tower strong enough to hold a basketball using only newspaper and tape.

4th - 17
  • newspaper
  • tape
  • basketball

18. Design a raft out of straws and paper that can hold a cup of marbles.

4th - 18
  • construction paper
  • drinking straws
  • plastic cup
  • scissors
  • tape

19. Build a tent for a Lego man from pencils and tissue paper.

4th - 19
  • Lego person
  • pencils
  • tissue paper
  • pipe cleaners
  • scissors

20. Build a tower as tall as you using only construction paper and tape.

4th - 20
  • construction paper
  • tape

21. Build a raft using corks, cardboard, and string. 

4th - 21
  • corks
  • string
  • scissors
  • cardboard

22. Recreate the 8 land and water formations using Legos.

4th - 22
  • Legos

23. Make a tree that stands up using only playdough.

4th - 23
  • playdough

24. Make a hollow cube using only sticks and twine.

4th - 24
  • sticks
  • twine

25. Make 5 shakers that have different sounds using beans and plastic bottles.

4th - 25
  • plastic bottles
  • dry black beans

26. Design a bungee cord for a doll using rubber bands.

4th - 26
  • rubber bands
  • doll

27. Make a ball and cup toy out of a toilet paper roll, yarn, and a wooden bead. 

4th - 27
  • empty toilet paper rolls
  • yarn
  • scissors
  • markers
  • 1 1/2" wooden beads

28.  Use photos of famous landmarks and recreate them using Legos.

4th - 28
  • Legos

29. Make an abacus from wooden skewers and jelly beans.

4th - 29
  • jellybeans
  • wooden skewers

30. Make a rocket using a balloon, drinking straw, and yarn.

4th - 30
  • latex balloon
  • yarn 
  • drinking straw
  • tape
  • scissors

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