By Tyler King
For middle schoolers, fostering a love for STEM can be rewarding and financially challenging. Many STEM activities cost thousands of dollars to recreate for a whole classroom, and most educators simply don’t have the funds. Fortunately, engaging young minds doesn’t have to break the bank. With a bit of creativity and resourcefulness, any student can spark curiosity and enthusiasm for science using budget-friendly experiments! So, let’s dive into three STEM activities on a budget and see why they’re just as fun as they are educational.
1. DIY Lava Lamps
This activity invites middle schoolers to create their very own lava lamps! First, they’ll fill a bottle with water and food coloring. Then, they’ll add vegetable oil and antacid tablets (or baking soda and vinegar) to create a bubbling lava lamp effect. This experiment teaches students about the separation of water and oils and the chemical reactions between antacid tablets and water. Through this activity, middle schoolers can better explore the fantastic field of chemistry and begin to understand how different substances interact!
Activity link: DIY Lava Lamps – Mcm.org
Materials needed: empty bottles, water, food coloring, vegetable oil, and antacid tablets (or baking soda and vinegar).
2. Straw Roller Coasters
This activity allows middle schoolers to explore engineering in a fun and exciting way–roller coasters! Students will construct tracks for ping-pong balls from straws and hot glue (or tape) to engineer amazing roller coaster paths. Then, they can watch their ideas come to life by testing the track for the class. This activity is a great way to introduce students to the art of engineering and architecture, which are crucial aspects of the STEM field.
Activity link: Straw Roller Coasters – Frugalfun4boys.com
Materials needed: straws, hot glue or tape, and cardboard boxes.
3. Soil Erosion Demonstration
In this activity, students will explore the power of erosion in different soil conditions! First, they will fill three different plastic bottles with grass, leaf litter, mulch, and bare soil. Then, they will water each substrate with a watering can and examine how much soil runs off through erosion! This experiment showcases a scientific exploration of erosion and can lead to further discussions on the impacts of the issue on the environment. It can even become a lead-in to address engineering solutions to the erosion problem–including another aspect of STEM!
Activity link: Erosion Demonstration – Osc.org
Materials needed: three plastic bottles, six cups of soil, one cup of mulch with leaf litter, one square of grass, one watering can, three clear disposable cups, and three 12-inch pieces of twine.
These three budget-friendly STEM experiments will captivate middle schoolers’ minds while providing valuable hands-on learning experiences. Whether creating unique lava lamps, engineering epic roller coasters, or exploring the principles of erosion, these activities demonstrate that STEM can be educational and entertaining–even on a tight budget. So, roll up your sleeves, gather your supplies, and get ready for some STEM-filled fun!
Do you want more resources on the topic of budget-friendly STEM activities? NSTEM’s vast resources database provides thousands of searchable STEM resources by category, school level, and state. This comprehensive library includes info on enrichment activities, curricula, internships, scholarships, and more. Check out a free sampling here. Or get an NSTEM membership today to unlock the complete list.
Middle school is where students are transformed, entering as children and emerging as young adults. Project-based learning enrichment helps students “connect the dots” between STEM and real life, making math and science relevant for them and keeping them engaged and interested. With a meaningful middle school experience, students are far more likely to focus on STEM disciplines in high school and beyond. To start your 6-8 middle school chapter of the National STEM Honor Society, click here.
