If you're looking to spunk up your 7th grade classes, you've come to the right place. These challenges seek to inspire ingenuity and imagination, critical thinking and problem solving as well as expose learners to learning opportunities that are fun such as game challenges. Allow us to guide you through a series of 28 STEM challenges that are perfect for 7th grade learners.
1. Craft Newton's Cradle using ice-cream sticks, marbles, and thread.
2. Partake in a walking water capillary action challenge that requires the use of glasses, water, food coloring, and paper towel.
3. Learn about water density and its effect on objects that float or sink, using eggs, glasses, salt, and water.
- 2 Eggs
- 2 Tall Drinking Glass
- Salt
- Water
4. Thanks to strengthening polymers, learn how to skewer a balloon without popping it!
5. Make plastic creations using milk and other simple items!
- Measuring cup
- Milk
- Metal pan
- Microwavable container
- Measuring spoon
- White vinegar
- Paper towel
- Spoon
- Cookie-cutters
- Optional (glitter, food coloring, markers)
6. Discover the effects of dry ice using easily accessible items from home as well as dry ice.
- Dry ice
- Water
- Large bowl
- Bubble solution
- Dishwashing liquid
- Plastic water bottle
- Dishrag
7. Discover how stalactites and stalagmites are formed in this 7th grade science challenge that uses Epsom salts and other materials to form crystals.
8. Build a tissue box catapult using: an empty tissue box, scissors, a hole punch, and ballpoint pen, a pushpin and rubber bands, 2 unsharpened pencils, a 4-inch length of pipe cleaner, tape and plastic milk cap, and glue.
- An empty tissue box
- Scissors
- A hole punch
- Ballpoint pen
- A pushpin
- Rubber bands
- 2 unsharpened pencils
- A 4-inch length of pipe cleaner
- Tape
- A plastic milk cap
- Glue
9. Ever heard about getting power from potatoes? Discover more about creating electrical currents using potatoes with the help of simple materials!
- 3 pennies
- 3 zinc/galvanized nails
- 5 insulated wires, 15-20 cm (6-8 inches) long, with alligator clips
- 3 fresh potatoes
10. Make a hydraulic elevator using jumbo popsicle sticks, wire, wooden skewers, syringes, and thin plastic tubing.
11. Build a chair, made entirely of paper and tape, to support the weight of a stuffed animal.
12. Create the longest paper chain using only 1 piece of construction paper and glue to piece the chain together.
13. Build a working model of a crane using these simple materials- popsicle sticks, glue, thread, a cereal box, scissors, a pencil, toothpicks, thread, and a paper clip.
- Popsicle sticks
- Glue
- 2 thread spools
- Cereal box, individual package size
- Scissors
- Pencil
- Toothpicks
- Thread
- Paper clip
14. Turn rough rocks into precious gems using this fascinating rock polishing kit.
15. Make a marble speed trap using Lego Mindstorms, technic pieces, and a Skyrail set.
16. Create a homemade soda dispenser using a plastic box, drill, electrical wires, plastic tubing, a battery, an air pump, and your favorite soda!
- Air Pump
- Your choice of soda
- 9v Battery
- Plastic Tube
- 1 sqm Electrical wires
- Drill or Dremel Tool
- Plastic Box
17. Build a pizza box solar-powered oven using a pizza box and only 9 other tools and materials.
- Pizza box
- Pencil or pen
- Ruler
- White school glue
- A sheet of black paper
- Utility knife
- Aluminum foil
- Plastic wrap
- Shipping tape
- Pencil
18. Engineer a spaghetti car by gluing spaghetti together in the most aerodynamic shape, to race the furthest down a ramp.
19. Make a recycled robot using batteries and 10 more at-home supplies.
- 2 AA batteries
- A large motor
- Ice-cream sticks
- Straws
- Duct tape
- Rubber bands
- Decorative items, such as googly eyes and pipe cleaners
- Corks
- Scissors
- Small-head screwdriver
20. Design and create your dream house using copper tape, LEDs, button cell batteries, resistor assortments, a hot glue gun, heaps of cardboard, brass fasteners, and other decorative elements!
- Copper Tape
- LEDs
- Button cell batteries
- Resistor Assortment
- Hot glue gun
- Lots of cardboard
- Brass fasteners
- Decorative elements of the child's choosing
21. Design a rubber-band-powered car using corrugated cardboard, straws, skewers, CDs, a sponge and paper clip, rubber bands, tape, and scissors.
22. Complete a fun cafeteria survey, with the results logged on graphing paper, whereby you survey 50 learners regarding the food they like and dislike.
23. Discover the golden ratio with the help of a measuring tape, a notebook, and rectangles around the house.
24. Make a skipping-man craft as you build an easy-to-operate crank machine using stiff straws, a toy, corrugated cardboard, a wire crank, and a cardboard reel.
25. Make a candy dispenser using cardboard and other easily accessible materials.
26. Design and build a hurricane cam toy or automata using sketch paper, cardstock, foam, markers, hot glue, flexible PVC tubing, and wooden dowels.
27. Make an airplane from a soda bottle using cardboard, a coke bottle, and a DC hobby motor.
- Cardboard
- Soda bottle
- DC hobby motor
28. Create a working motor using a copper wire role, AA batteries, paper clips, wood, magnets, pliers, scissors, and sandpaper.
- Copper wire roll
- AA battery
- Paper clips
- A small piece of wood
- Magnets
- Pliers
- Scissors
- Sandpaper
Middle school STEM projects give learners the opportunity to test out various fields of learning and learn more about STEM careers. Students develop their math skills, learn more about the engineering design process and develop critical thinking skills whilst being engaged in hands-on activities. Why not test out one of the above challenges by incorporating it into upcoming lesson plans- your students will surely love these unique new additions.
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