3K Shares

Looking for STEM activities for kids? We got you covered with this straw STEM activity. This activity is great for kids of all ages, particularly preschoolers and elementary school aged kids. So whether you’re at home or in the classroom you have to try these fun STEM activities for kids.

straw globe - A STEM challenge — Let’s solve these building stem activities, using only straws!

STEM Activities For Kids

Every week we are in a classroom with 25-30 kids building something crazy with supplies we can grab from our kitchen. Today it was straws!

Related: Build a popsicle stick bridge

There are so many cool things kids can do with straws. Ask them if they ever wondered how to build a straw tower without tape? Or what about how to make straw house for school project? Who knew straws could be so much fun!! If you were looking for straw building projects, today’s your lucky day because we are doing fun science experiments using straws.

STEM Activities with Straws

I love building stem activities because they are so much fun and don’t require a lot of prep! Straws are so versatile, and that’s an amazing quality especially when you need team building games using straws.

Our STEM classroom is set up with tasks and challenges that the kids race to complete. Armed with only straws, tape, a stop watch, and a partner, the kids had 30 minutes to create a globe, from straws. Three teams out of nine were able to pull this task off! They made spheres!

This post contains affiliate links that support Kids Activities Blog.

Supplies Needed For This Fun Straw Stem Activity For Kids

Straws
Tape

How to Set up This Fun and Educational STEM Challenge For Kids:

Step 1

Pinch the mouth of the straws to make them smaller and stuff them into another straw’s end.

Step 2

Do this with three straws and then connect them together to become a triangle.

Step 3

Take five of the triangles and unite them together to make a pentagon.

Step 4

You will need three of these straw pentagons along with seven additional triangles.

Step 5

Tape the pentagons together, and as you wrap them together, connect the missing sections with the remaining triangles.

Viola!

Your kids just make a globe! Use this secret to figure out how to make things out of straws, like a straw house.

text: build with straws A STEM challenge - collage of child building a STEM straw tower with straws showing just child's hands and a stack of triangles made from drinking straws - Kids Activities Blog — What can you build with your straws?

Alternative Way To Set Up Your Straw Stem Activity

Do not give your kids the directions.

Tell them the end result and give them the tools to succeed. In this case the tools were the supplies. Your kids have to use problem solving skills as well as spatial reasoning to solve challenges.

This STEM challenge integrates geometry and engineering concepts. Kids need to merge lines (straws) into triangles, and then after making triangles connect them to create a globe, all without being told how to do it!

how to make a giant globe from straws - child's hand holding up a STEM challenge finished project in front of a white wall — Building straws are perfect for kids of all ages who like challenging themselves.

STEM Activities For Kids- Building With Straws

Looking for STEM activities for kids? Then try out this fun straw challenge. Follow the instructions to make your own 3D shape or make your own!

Materials

Straws
Tape

Instructions

Pinch the mouth of the straws to make them smaller and stuff them into another straw’s end.
Do this with three straws and then connect them together to become a triangle.
Take five of the triangles and unite them together to make a pentagon.
You will need three of these straw pentagons along with seven additional triangles.
Tape the pentagons together, and as you wrap them together, connect the missing sections with the remaining triangles.

More Fun and Educational Activities

If you are looking for additional activities like this, check out our book, 101 Kids Activities that are the Bestest, Funnest Ever!

This is one of the activities in this book and there are 100 more!

101 kids activities that are the bestest, funnest ever book cover by Holly Homer and Rachel Miller — Boredom? What’s that? With over 101 kids activities, there will never be a dull moment in your life!

More STEM Activities From Kids Activities Blog

Look at the other fun STEM activities we have here at Kids Activities Blog!

Another STEM challenge idea for kids - text: airplane challenge who can fly the most cargo - child's hand holding a homemade STEM plane with cargo taped to it in front of a green wall - Kids Activities Blog — Don’t stop the learning yet! This challenge is great for kids who love airplanes, flying, and STEM activities.

STEM Paper Airplane Challenge – kids can test their science, technology, engineering and math through flight!
Lego Scale STEM Project – science & math through LEGO building…what could be more fun?
Red Cup Challenge – Engineering moves to the front of play with this fun activity!
At Home STEM Camp for Kids
Learn how to build a robot for kids!
Here are 45 more crafts with straws!
Have some fun and learn something new with this STEM cup stacking challenge!
Make a pulley system and learn how they work!
Learn how to make a jetpack craft with recycled materials…
How to make a catapult
Let’s make a DIY catapult craft!
Check out this brain activity for kids.
Learn how to make moon rocks – sparkly & fun!
Kids love this easy paper straw bracelet craft…
This is a super easy way to make DIY straw beads!
Get creative with cool building coloring pages you can print…