20 Epic Halloween STEM Activities

Description

STEM Challenge where students build a bone bridge for length, strength, or capacity.

Good for Last-Minute?

Yes, if you have cotton swabs and other building materials available.

Non-Halloween Approach

Focus on connections to the skeletal system, bridges / transportation, and/or forces.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 45 min – 60 min+ (Students will take as much time to build, test, & share as you give them. Don’t be afraid to stop the build before they finish to discuss & reflect to that point.)

Description

Paper airplanes with a twist! Students design bat wings to achieve the maximum flight distance, accuracy, or even flight tricks or style!

Good for Last-Minute?

100%! All you need is paper & scissors for this challenge. It’s also good to have some tape on-hand, but it isn’t required.

Non-Halloween Approach

Focus on connections to bats, life science, or as a supplement to the picture book, Stellaluna.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 30 min – 60 min+ (Students will take as much time to build, test, & share as you give them. Don’t be afraid to stop the build before they finish to discuss & reflect to that point.)

Description

Students build a device to launch candy built for maximum distance and/or accuracy. (The Halloween story is that someone has the flu and wants to distribute candy to trick-or-treaters while keeping his distance.)

Good for Last-Minute?

If you have materials & candy on-hand, yes. Materials don’t have to match exactly what you see in the video. Feel free to make substitutions.

Non-Halloween Approach

No adjustments are needed, really. Candy isn’t only for Halloween! Just nix the Halloween story and use the non-Halloween version of the handouts included (if you’re using my resource).

Notes

~ Lesson time: 45 min – 60 min+ (Students will take as much time to build, test, & share as you give them. Don’t be afraid to stop the build before they finish to discuss & reflect to that point.)

Description

Students will build a device to catch as many “creatures” as possible.

Good for Last-Minute?

If you have materials on-hand, yes. Materials don’t have to match exactly what you see in the video. Feel free to make substitutions.

Non-Halloween Approach

Focus on connections to spiders, food webs or chains, or energy pyramids.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 45 min – 60 min+ (Students will take as much time to build, test, & share as you give them. Don’t be afraid to stop the build before they finish to discuss & reflect to that point.)

Description

Students designs a ghost transporter to lift “ghosts” from the ground to the top of a pulley.

Good for Last-Minute?

Probably not. You may want to take the night before to turn cotton balls or marshmallows into ghosts with a sharpie while you watch TV.

Non-Halloween Approach

If using my resource, there is a “Grapes in the Vineyard” version that you can use any time of the year. You can also just say the cotton balls represent people or animals that need to be rescued.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 45 min – 60 min+ (Students will take as much time to build, test, & share as you give them. Don’t be afraid to stop the build before they finish to discuss & reflect to that point.)

Description

Students will create a never-before-seen create-ure! It’s perfect to tie to lessons on adaptations, habitats, food chains/webs, life cycles, genetics & heredity, evolution, human body systems & more. Students can demonstrate understanding through application to their creations!

Good for Last-Minute?

Probably not. I’ve done this challenge with nothing but newspaper and tape, but I’ve also done it with a LOT of materials (see video). It’s a lot more engaging with a wide variety of materials and students really get into this challenge. It’s helpful to have a little extra time to prepare.

Non-Halloween Approach

No adjustments are needed. There is nothing specifically Halloween about this challenge. I actually used to do this challenge in the spring and tie it to life science lessons.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 45 min – 60 min+ (Students will take as much time to build, test, & share as you give them. Don’t be afraid to stop the build before they finish to discuss & reflect to that point.)

Description

Students design a pedestal, platform, or tower that suspends 10 pumpkin candies off of the ground. (Substitutions can be made.)

Good for Last-Minute?

If you have materials on-hand, yes. Materials don’t have to match exactly what you see in the video. Feel free to make substitutions. If you don’t have pumpkin candies, crumple up orange paper or use blocks, for example.

Non-Halloween Approach

Pumpkins are a fall fruit, so no adjustments are needed.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 45 min – 60 min+ (Students will take as much time to build, test, & share as you give them. Don’t be afraid to stop the build before they finish to discuss & reflect to that point.)

Description

A monster named Lou is always misplacing his spare eyeballs. Design a dish where he can keep his replacements safe, clean, and easy to find!

Good for Last-Minute?

If you have materials on-hand, yes. Materials don’t have to match exactly what you see in the video. Feel free to make substitutions. (I got the eyeball ping-pong balls at Dollar Tree.)

Non-Halloween Approach

You might be flying too close to the sun here, but there are so many picture books about monsters that you can probably tie this challenge to one of them and be OK. Use your best judgment given your population.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 45 min – 60 min+ (Students will take as much time to build, test, & share as you give them. Don’t be afraid to stop the build before they finish to discuss & reflect to that point.)

Description

Design a pirate ship with a sail to fill with as much gold as possible.

Good for Last-Minute?

If you have materials on-hand, yes. Materials don’t have to match exactly what you see in the video. Feel free to make substitutions. (I got the coins at Dollar Tree around St. Patrick’s Day, but you can use base ten blocks, pennies, or any uniform objects.)

Non-Halloween Approach

Pirates aren’t just for Halloween. No adjustments needed. In fact, Sept. 19 is International Talk Like a Pirate Day, so do this challenge then!

Notes

~ Lesson time: 45 min – 60 min+ (Students will take as much time to build, test, & share as you give them. Don’t be afraid to stop the build before they finish to discuss & reflect to that point.)

Description

Build a device to harvest a field of pumpkins as efficiently as possible.

Good for Last-Minute?

If you have materials on-hand, yes. Materials don’t have to match exactly what you see in the video. Feel free to make substitutions. If you don’t have pumpkin candies, crumple up orange paper or use blocks, for example.

Non-Halloween Approach

Pumpkins are a fall fruit, so no adjustments are needed.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 45 min – 60 min+ (Students will take as much time to build, test, & share as you give them. Don’t be afraid to stop the build before they finish to discuss & reflect to that point.)

Description

Build a device to help a person who is scared of spiders to safely trap a spider & release it outdoors.

Good for Last-Minute?

Yes! I recommend pipe cleaners, index cards or cardboard scraps and some tape, but you can make materials substitutions as needed.

Non-Halloween Approach

No adjustments needed; this is an everyday problem.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 15 min – 20 min. (Reflection & discussion are optional, but will require additional time.)

Description

Design a throne that looks like it is made of bones, is no more than 6 in. tall and has a seat 2 in. wide. (Additional options included in the resource.)

Good for Last-Minute?

Yes! I recommend cotton swabs, pipe cleaners, index cards, and some tape, but you can make materials substitutions as needed.

Non-Halloween Approach

Tie to the skeletal system or a picture book about skeletons.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 15 min – 20 min. (Reflection & discussion are optional, but will require additional time.)

Description

Create a tree that supports at least one hanging bat from its branches.

Good for Last-Minute?

Yes! I recommend pipe cleaners, index cards or cardboard scraps and some tape, but you can make materials substitutions as needed.

Non-Halloween Approach

Focus on connections to bats, life science, or as a supplement to the picture book, Stellaluna.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 15 min – 20 min. (Reflection & discussion are optional, but will require additional time.)

Description

Students practice clear communication and their listening & speaking skills when they take turns giving & receiving directions to draw the mystery picture on the card. Communication is one of the 4 C’s of Engineering, and this is a great activity to focus on that skill!

Good for Last-Minute?

100% Just print & go! (If you aren’t using my resource, have students create their own drawings and then direct peers to recreate the drawings.)

Non-Halloween Approach

The base drawings don’t have to be Halloween-themed. In fact, my original version was created to practice math vocabulary & prepositions and uses variations of lines, shapes, and shading to accomplish that goal.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 10 min – 20 min. (Assuming you have students switch roles so they can be the director and drawer at least one time.)

Description

Students practice observing, thinking, and questioning with engaging pictures. You’ll be surprised what they come up with and it’s a mindful way to begin class.

Good for Last-Minute?

100%! Project on a screen, assign through Google Classroom, or print & go! No materials needed!

Non-Halloween Approach

The Halloween version shows a cat, bats, a skeleton, & a spider, so you can focus on the connections to life science. Another option is to use the invertebrates version linked below.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 5 min – 10 min.
(3-5 minutes to See-Notice / Think-Wonder and another 5 to share out.)

Description

Students randomly select an object, material and function to create a design. All the elements on the lists are Halloween-themed and 336 design combinations are possible!

Good for Last-Minute?

100%! Project spinning wheels on a screen, assign through Google Classroom, or print & go! No materials needed!

Non-Halloween Approach

Choose the fall-themed or original version of STEM Improv instead of the Halloween version.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 10 min – 15 min.
(Divide time between doing the activity and sharing the ideas. Don’t be afraid to stop students before they’re “done” to share ideas!)

Description

Students discuss & debate Would You Rather questions from the maker & user perspective, as well as which technology they’d be willing to “give up forever”.

Good for Last-Minute?

100%! Project on a screen, assign through Google Classroom, or print & go! No materials needed!

Non-Halloween Approach

Use one of the original versions (set 1 or 2) rather than the Halloween Bellringers version.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 5 min – 10 min.
(3-5 minutes to record answers and another 5+ to discuss & debate.)

Description

Students view two objects that solve a similar problem and identify the problem solved, strengths & weaknesses of designs, and list potential research questions to extend.

Good for Last-Minute?

100%! Project on a screen, assign through Google Classroom, or print & go! No materials needed!

Non-Halloween Approach

Use one of the original versions (set 1 or 2) rather than the Halloween Bellringers version.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 5 min – 10 min.
(3-5 minutes to record answers and another 5+ to discuss & debate.)

Description

Students come up with 8 ways to use various objects. Encourage them to “vary the verb” to stretch their minds for more unexpected uses.

Good for Last-Minute?

100%! Project on a screen, assign through Google Classroom, or print & go! No materials needed!

Non-Halloween Approach

Have students focus on non-holiday uses or the items, or choose items that have no holiday decor.

Notes

~ Lesson time: 5 min – 10 min.
(3-5 minutes to record answers and another 5 to share ideas.)

Description

Choose any picture book with a spooky theme to read aloud. Have students identify a problem to be solved with STEM and plan & build their designs.

Good for Last-Minute?

Absolutely! you can skip the build to save time or materials. You just need a book to read (or find a read-aloud online)! See “Notes” below 👇.

Non-Halloween Approach

Any story will work for this activity, but if you want something Halloween-y, just not too Halloween, try Little Red Riding Hood or Stellaluna.

Notes

If you’re short on time, skip the build. Have students focus on identifying & defining problems and brainstorming solutions through discussion & possibly sketching.