STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities are a wonderful way to bring real-world applications into the classroom, sparking interest and inventiveness in students of all ages, especially when you get into the upper elementary and middle school grades. These hands-on projects promote critical thinking, collaboration, and team-building skills while also making learning engaging, collaborative and more meaningful. If you’ve been searching for engaging, easy, and cheap options for implementing STEM challenges in your middle school classroom, you’re in the right place!

Easy STEM Projects for Middle School – Challenge Cards

This download includes 20 STEM Projects for Middle School Task Cards designed to spark scientific thinking in middle school learners. Each card provides basic instructions using materials easily found around the home or classroom (We’ve kept instructions at a basic level to help inspire scientific thinking) . These task cards cater to various STEM concepts, from engineering challenges to science experiments, encouraging your middle school students to explore and experiment in a fun, hands-on way. With engaging tasks like bridge building, solar cooking, and aeronautical engineering, your students will surely have a blast participating in these Middle School STEM Activities.

Each task has the students design and create a new product or solve a design challenge. The tasks cover a range of time allocations, making them ideal for either a quick activity or a more extended lesson.

Download and Print Your Middle School STEM Project Cards

This resource is available as a printable PDF or as an editable Google Slides resource file. To get your copy, click the dropdown arrow on the download button. Print, laminate, and get ready for some STEM-inspired fun!

This resource was created by Brittany Kellogg, a teacher in Ohio and Teach Starter collaborator.

Even More STEM Activities for Middle Schoolers!

Looking for more? Check out these easy STEM activities for middle school students! They’re sure to make your classroom buzz!

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Famous Landmarks STEM Challenge Cards

A set of 8 famous landmarks STEM challenge cards encouraging students to build famous structures.

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STEM Investigation Build A Bridge

Explore this STEM investigation about the construction of bridges using everyday materials, embedded in a real-life situation.