If you’ve ever wanted a go-to low prep STEM activity you can use on any day — sub days, Fun Fridays, or that awkward 5-10 minutes before dismissal, this one’s for you.
You can absolutely make your own version at home or in class:
Just grab a stack of index cards, write a bunch of animals on half of them and everyday objects on the others, and have students draw one from each pile to create a wacky design challenge.
Example:
🐘 + 🧤 = Design gloves an elephant could actually wear!
🐦 + 🏠 = Create a bird-friendly house with built-in feeding stations.
Simple, right? Kids can sketch their ideas, list what the “client” (the animal!) needs, and explain how their design works. You’ll get instant creativity and critical thinking — no hot glue, popsicle sticks, or chaos required. 🎉
Here’s the thing, though — when kids get a combo like penguin + umbrella or frog + skateboard, many will get stuck without knowing much about the animal itself. That’s where a little background knowledge makes all the difference. Having animal photos and quick fact sheets on hand helps students design with purpose — thinking about body structure, environment, and adaptations.
If you’re DIYing this activity, you can certainly add a research component, but that extra step often eats up precious class time. That’s exactly why I built Design Domino with those animal visuals and facts already included — so every student (even the reluctant ones) can jump straight into meaningful, well-informed design thinking without losing momentum.
Why This Low Prep STEM Activity Works
Low prep STEM doesn’t mean low value. Activities like this let kids practice some of the most essential engineering and SEL skills without needing bins of supplies or an hour of cleanup.
Students build:
✨ Critical Thinking – figuring out real-world solutions for imaginary problems (and because these combinations are unique, e.g. skates for a kangaroo, there’s nothing they can copy; they have to think critically to solve novel problems!)
✨ Creativity – brainstorming multiple ways to make a design work
✨ Problem-Solving – considering materials, size, and function to customize & serve their animal clients
✨ Communication – explaining their designs clearly to others
✨ Curiosity & Flexibility – adapting designs when ideas don’t pan out
It’s STEM thinking in its purest form — accessible, engaging, and easy to fit anywhere in your day.
Save Time and Level Up with Design Domino
If you love the idea of low-prep design cards but don’t have time to create and organize them yourself, STEM Design Domino is ready to roll.
This print-and-go resource includes:
✅ 12 Design Cards with 432 possible animal-and-object combinations
✅ Editable student planning pages for criteria, constraints, and evaluation
✅ Teacher guide with tips, extensions, and troubleshooting
✅ Print & digital formats — perfect for any classroom setup
✅ Animal fact sheets and photo references to support thoughtful, realistic designs
No supplies required — just paper, pencil, and a domino, die, or number spinner.
It’s a classroom favorite for:
- Sub plans that actually keep kids engaged
- Fun Friday or early finisher work
- Low prep STEM centers and choice boards
- Quick 5–10 minute enrichment sessions
Students love the silly combinations (“design a bicycle for a goldfish!”), while educators love how it sneaks in creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking — all without lifting a single glue stick.
True Innovation Without the Mess
Unlike typical STEM builds where everyone ends up making the same tower or bridge, Design Domino challenges students to design something completely unique every time. No copying, no templates — just imagination and original problem-solving.
That’s what makes it so powerful. It’s low prep STEM that still develops innovation, creativity, and higher-order thinking — the skills that truly matter in STEM learning.
Ready to try the easiest low prep STEM activity you’ll ever love?
👉 Grab Design Domino on TPT or grab it here on my site.
And if you’re building your “no-materials” STEM toolkit, you’ll also find Design Domino inside the STEM Activities in 30 Minutes or Less Bundle — a time-saving collection of quick, flexible challenges that fit any schedule.
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