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STEM does not have to be expensive.
In fact, #STEMontheCheap solutions require more imagination, creativity, innovation, and invention than the shiny, expensive STEM things out there. This page highlights our favorite #STEMontheCheap resources from specific lessons to websites with hundreds of #STEMontheCheap ideas.
$1 Laser Pointer Macro Lens Hack
Learn how to take apart a $1 keychain laser pointer from Family Dollar and turn it into a macro lens for either a cell phone or tablet. It basically turns your device into a low-powered ...
$1 Solar Garden Light Hack
Hack this $1 Solar Garden Light to get a solar panel, high-intensity LEDs, a rechargeable battery, battery holder, and sometimes a switch ...
Balloon-Powered Car
These #STEMontheCheap balloon powered cars are another engineering design challenge that allows for iteration through the engineering design process ...
Beginner Coding Game
Young learners can begin to learn coding concepts using this simple game. NOTE: Arrows and functions set up to match the colors used to code Cubetto robot. Juego de codificación para principiantes ...
Binary Number Trick
There are four versions of the binary number trick below. To perform the trick, print out the binary number cards double-sided and cut them out along the dotted lines. Then, have someone think of a ...
Buzz Off, from RAFT
Buzz Off, when whirled around, makes a sound like an insect. A fantastic project for engineering the way it performs by making modifications to the original design ...
Checkerboard Coding Game
Use arrows with Velcro dots and code to insects or small animals. Checkerboard games from Dollar Tree make this a great #STEMontheCheap game. Checkerboard Coding Game in Spanish ...
Color Addition – Primary and Secondary Colors of Light
Use this worksheet with the RGB Light Show to simply focus on the primary and secondary colors of light. If you are looking for more advanced demonstration of understanding, look at RGB Light Show Worksheet ...
Constellation Boxes
These #STEMontheCheap models can be used to teach perspective and vantage point. Challenge students to model actual constellations ...
Eddy Current Tube Demo
This classic physics demonstration shows how a magnet falling through a copper pipe will slow down as it transfers some of its energy to move electrons in the conductive copper pipe. Those moving electrons create ...
Flag and Primary Color Afterimage Optical Illusions
You can either print these out in color or just look at them on a screen to see an afterimage based on how your red, green, and blue color receptors work in your eye. What ...
Fourto
Fourto is a hack of the game Quarto. Learn how to make your own pieces for either $2 with dollar store pieces, the cost of copies of the 2D pieces, or use the template to ...
Geological Columns
Using fossils, plaster of Paris, and sand, create geological columns for your students to explore and discover. A great nature of science lesson! Digging Through the Columns Worksheet Rock Column Lab Revised ...
Gobblet: Hack it! Make Cubelet!
Based on the concept of Tic-Tac-Toe, Gobblet takes strategy to the next level. This game takes just seconds to learn but a lifetime to master. It develops strategic thinking, problems solving skills and memory. Gobble up, line up ...
Math Magic Card Tricks
There are card tricks which are slight of hand and card tricks which rely on the discrete mathematics inherent to a regular deck of cards. These fall into the latter category. Don't worry, you do ...
Nature of Science Paper Circuit
Let your students explore the nature of science and use the science practices when they build this paper circuit and explore the rules that govern which LEDs will light at the same time and which ...
Notice, Wonder, Learn: Paper Circuits
These templates allow for initial exploration of paper circuits, series and parallel circuits, and circuit diagrams. Supplies are not too expensive and links to necessary supplies are included in the document below (final page). Check ...
Pepper’s Pyramid Projector
Turn your cell phone or tablet into a 3D hologram-like projector using plastic you would normally recycle. Reuse flat clear plastic to give this old physics trick a high tech twist. Less ecologically friendly, but ...
Physics Ring and Chain Trick
NOT MAGIC! Can you master the physics ring and chain trick? Check out this document for directions and info about where to get your own ring and chain - or 100s of them! ...
R.A.F.T. Resource Area for Teaching
Resource Area for Teaching has loads of Idea Sheets which you can search through for exceptional, #STEMontheCheap ideas like Design Inspirations ...
REAL Primary Colors PQRST
How does your eye see a red apple? Explore this question using a phenomenon driven storyline to engage students in exploring how the eye works and how we create color using light and using pigments ...
RGB Color Light Show Video
Do you know the REAL primary colors? With just a few supplies from your local hardware store, you can recreate this STEMAZing demonstration of the REAL primary colors of light and color addition in your ...
RGB Light Show Worksheet
Do you know the REAL primary colors of light? Use this worksheet along with red, green, and blue flood lights to demonstrate the REAL primary colors of light and the principle of color addition. Find ...
RGB Primary Color Light Show Paper Circuit
Let students build this paper circuit to explore the REAL primary colors, which are NOT blue, yellow, and red! ...
Screaming Balloon
Put a hex nut into a balloon, move it in a circle at just the right frequency, and listen to it SCREAM! ...
Set Up for RGB Color Light Show Video
Video with tips about how to set up the RGB Light Show if you have your own set of red, green, and blue flood lights. Click on the title here, Set Up RGB Color Light ...
Shalors
Shalors (Shapes and Colors) is a $2 hack of the game Qwirkle. Using supplies from online and the dollar store, you can make all 108 pieces of this game for just a couple dollars AND ...
Shapes Coding Game
Once your students master the beginning coding game, this is the next level. Use fun shapes and cube to engage young learners with mid-level and more advanced coding ideas. Shape Coding Game Directions Shape Coding ...
Skype a Scientist
Skype a Scientist matches scientists with classrooms around the world! Scientists will skype into the classroom for 30-60 minute Q and A sessions that can cover the scientist’s expertise or what it’s like to be ...
Star Wars Sound Machine
Adding a Styrofoam cup as a sounding board to a metal Slinky turns it into a Star Wars sound machine! ...
STEM Night Stations
Looking for ways to engage families for STEM or Math Nights? We recommend using these stations but with students facilitating the learning experiences! In preparation for STEM night, have students master the art of facilitating ...
STEMAZing Journal Hack
Make graph paper STEMAZing journals that require no staples or tape, using an old bookbinding trick ...
Straw Oboe
Using two different diameter straws, create an oboe with just a simple cut to create a reed and a little bit of practice ...
The $1 Pocket Microscope
Explore the microscopic world around you with this $1 3D printed microscope. Looking at insects, plants, and even dirt close up can be fascinating! ...
The Great Fossil Find
Students are taken on an imaginary fossil hunt. Following a script read by the teacher, students "find" (remove from envelope) paper "fossils" of some unknown creature, only a few at a time. Each time, they ...
The Science Toy Maker – Slater Harrison
From Walkalong Gliders, like the new Jagwing, to making your own helicopter propellers out of 2-liter soda bottles, this is a makers dream site! ...
Theory Cubes – Best Nature of Science Lesson of ALL TIME!
Theory cubes is the BEST nature of science lesson of all time. Engage students to use evidence to support their claims and then demonstrate the way science works by not revealing the "right" answer. NOTE: ...
Three Little Pigs Coding Story
Use the classic Three Little Pigs story to let young learners engage with coding and computational thinking skills. Three Little Pigs Coding Story and Lesson Three Little Pigs Coding Pictures La historia de la codificación ...
Tongue Depressor Harmonica
Create this #STEMontheCheap harmonica using large craft sticks, rubber bands, and some other inexpensive materials ...
Toys From Trash
#STEMontheCheap at its best! Our core belief is that children learn by doing - by touching, feeling, cutting, sticking -- pulling things apart, putting things together. We believe that this hands-on science helps them relate ...
Two Looper Airplanes
The two looper airplane is a great model for having students engineer other designs. Fantastic to iterate through the engineering design process multiple times because it only takes straws, tape, and index cards to let ...
Wack-a-Pack Science – PQRST
Our favorite phenomenon - Wack-a-Packs from Dollar Tree! These can generally be found for every holiday and also in the birthday section. Use this phenomenon to drive questions for lots of different avenues of exploration ...