This article may contain affiliate links. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.
Spark curiosity and inspire innovation with these engaging engineering activities for middle schoolers! Perfect for homeschoolers or classrooms, these hands-on projects build problem-solving skills, creativity, and teamwork.
Are you looking for fun engineering activities for middle school students? Engineering activities are a great example of STEM activities for middle school students. If your student is into STEM, engineering, or working with his/her hands, this list is definitely for you.
Fostering an early interest in engineering is like laying the groundwork for a brighter future.
As homeschool parents and teachers, you have the unique opportunity to introduce your middle schoolers to the fascinating world of engineering, a discipline that not only stimulates their problem-solving skills but also encourages creative thinking and teamwork.
Engineering isn’t just about building bridges and designing machines; it’s a gateway to understanding the world in a way that few other subjects can offer. It’s the perfect blend of science, mathematics, and innovation, making it a critical area of study for our future leaders, thinkers, and problem solvers.
More than ever, the 21st century demands individuals who can adapt, innovate, and tackle the challenges that lie ahead. Engineering equips children with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly changing world, and it can teach kids to approach complex problems with confidence and resilience.
Engaging young minds with fun and engaging engineering projects not only makes learning fun but also solidifies important concepts and principles. These hands-on activities can spark a sense of wonder, encouraging children to explore, experiment, and develop their problem-solving skills organically. Plus, they foster teamwork and communication, essential skills for any budding engineer.
Read on for a great collection of engineering activities to incorporate into your STEM curriculum.
Easy Navigation
Is Engineering A Part Of STEAM?
Is engineering a part of STEAM? Yes, in fact, engineering is a huge aspect of STEAM education. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. When you are looking at STEAM instead of STEM, that added ‘A’ stands for art.
As you can see, the ‘E’ in STEAM stands for engineering and engaging in activities that include engineering is a great way to include this important educational topic.
Engineering activities are not just limited to engineering professionals or students who want to be professional engineers. Engineering is everywhere, starting with the student’s environment. This list will get your student thinking about what can be done in their everyday lives and how they can apply it to STEM!
What Is Engineering?
So what is engineering? Engineering is the application of scientific and mathematical principles to practical ends such as the design, building, and operation of engines, machines, and structures.
In other words, engineers take what they know about science and math and apply it in a way that makes things work better or easier. This might be designing something new like a car or airplane, improving an existing product or system, or figuring out how to build something that can withstand natural disasters.
Some other examples of engineering include civil engineering (designing buildings), architectural (designing buildings, houses, etc.), biomedical engineers (engineers who improve our health and wellness by designing devices like artificial limbs or heart valves), chemical engineers (engineers who work with chemicals, whether it is studying them to make medicine or working in a paint factory), software design engineers (engineers who design and build computer programs and robotic systems) and so on.
Building simple machines or completing mechanical engineering projects that can make real-world situations easier and more effective is all part of the engineering design process.
In short, if you are an inventor, odds are good you are working with engineering on some level or another. Engineers typically work in teams and use their knowledge of science, math, and technology to solve problems.
Now that we have a basic understanding of what engineering is, let’s take a look at some fun engineering activities that are perfect for middle school students. These engineering activities are designed for kids between the ages of 12 and 14 but some activities can be used by older or younger students as well.
Follow your students’ lead when determining which activities they are going to be capable of. Each engineering challenge on this list can either be used by homeschooling families at home or by educators in the classroom. Whether you are looking for STEM projects to pass the time or a solution to an upcoming STEM challenge or engineering challenge, hopefully this list helps you along the way.
Scientific Method Worksheets – Free Download
Before you move on, we’ve got some free scientific method worksheets for you to download and enjoy. These printable worksheets are useful for any science experiment, science project, STEM challenge, or STEM projects your students might be engaging in.
Turn every science project and STEAM activity into a thought-provoking STEM challenge. Plus give left brain and right brain kiddos alike a chance to utilize their strengths and improve their weaknesses. Get yours now!
20+ of the Best Engineering Activities for Middle School Students
If you're on the lookout for engineering activities for middle school students, you've definitely come to the right place. We've got an engineering challenge for everyone!
Classroom Aquaponics
Have your kids ever designed their own classroom aquaponics system? This STEM challenge requires a lot of engineering skills, making this the perfect engineering challenge for middle school students.
Learn how to design and build an aquaponics system that will keep both your plants and your fish happy and healthy, making for a productive mini-ecosystem that you designed all on your own!
Soda Bottle Rocket
Have your kids ever seen a coke and mentos geyser? This engineering project takes that simple STEAM activity and turns it up a few notches.
Instead of just dropping mentos into a bottle of coke, your students will need to design and build a device that will allow you to control that dropping of the mentos and divert the resulting explosion into another empty bottle. The result is a very messy but incredibly fun soda bottle rocket!
Edible DNA Model
If your students have an interest in science, medicine, or the human body, this engineering activity is going to be right up their alley.
Challenge your middle school students to build 3D models of human DNA using only pieces of candy. When you're done, have a discussion on what they learned, both about human DNA and engineering in general.
Homemade Bow for Archery
Do you have a student who is interested in outdoor sports such as archery? Teach them how to design and build their very own homemade bow!
These bows are made from PVC pipe making them very cost-effective while also being strong and durable. This makes for a great engineering activity for middle school students.
Gingerbread Structures
Did you know there is a lot of engineering knowledge to be had from building gingerbread structures? Whether it is Christmas time or not, this is a great example of an engineering challenge that is perfect for middle schoolers.
Challenge your students to design their own structures, using science and math to determine if they are going to be structurally sound. Then have them build out their structures and see if their designs are successful!
Toothpick Bridges
While toothpick bridges are traditionally considered to be an engineering challenge for elementary students, there is no reason why you can't enjoy this project with middle schoolers. All you need to do is up the ante a bit!
Challenge your students to design their structures after real-world structures. Make the goals they have to meet more complicated, such as supporting more weight or spanning over a larger amount of space.
Trust me - your middle school students are going to love the toothpick engineering challenge. They won't think it's too childish at all!
Dragon Paper Airplanes
Do your middle schoolers know what it takes to make an airplane fly? What about making an airplane fly fast vs a good trick plane? This engineering project will teach them all of this and more.
Students will design and build out a variety of paper airplanes. Then they will compare and contrast how each airplane does in a contest of speed, tricks, distance, and so on. Learn about the physics of flying with this fun engineering activity.
Paper Mache Dragon
Have you ever made paper mache with your students? Making paper mache is a great example of a fun STEM project for middle schoolers.
Kids can learn to think like an engineer while also solving a multitude of problems and getting very messy. This is a multi-day project, making it perfect for older students such as middle schoolers and high schoolers.
Whether your students are into arts and crafts, dragons, medieval times, or just getting their hands dirty, they are going to love this dragon paper mache STEM project.
DIY Composting STEM Project
You might not think of a composting bin as an engineering project but think again! Before you begin a successful composting pile, you must first provide a place for your compost to, well, compost!
Turn this STEM project into an engineering adventure by designing and building a bin for your compost to live.
Floating Boats
This floating boats activity is another example of an engineering challenge that works for older and younger students alike.
Challenge your students to build a boat that floats using only recycled materials. Can they do it?
Homemade Water Mill and Battering Ram
This engineering project challenges your middle school students to build their very own working watermill and battering ram. This activity is both fun and educational at the same time! Plus, when you throw in the lessons on medieval times, it's a historical adventure as well.
Build a Hydraulic Elevator
With this engineering project, students will be challenged to build their very own hydraulic elevators. This is a great way to combine all the aspects of STEAM in one fun and engaging project.
Paper Cup Challenge
The paper cup challenge encourages your students to design and build a structure that will allow them to put all of their weight on just a couple of flimsy paper cups - without breaking a single one!
Hydraulic Bridge
Hydraulics are fascinating and this hydraulic bridge challenge shows your kids how to design and build a hydraulic bridge of their very own! This activity makes a great engineering project for middle schoolers!
LEGO Duplo Pendulum Painting
Combine physics, engineering, math, and art with this classic STEAM challenge. Using LEGOs, your students will need to design and build a tower and then hang a cup of paint from the tower like a pendulum.
Now calculate the swing of the cup so all of the paint splatters over a piece of paper you have standing by. Great ready to create your very own work of art using engineering!
Law of Inertia Experiment
Using just a fidget spinner, middle school students will get to experiment with the law of inertia.
Catapult Challenge
Who doesn't love building catapults? Middle school students will get to build their very own catapults using what they know about engineering and physics.
This STEAM challenge is perfect for kids between the ages of 10 and 15, but feel free to branch out to older and younger students as well.
Simple Newton's Cradle
Do your students know what a Newton's Cradle is? Perhaps - but do they know how to build one? This engineering project is fun, simple, and highly educational.
Paper Airplane Launcher
Your kids might have built paper airplanes in their time, but have they ever built a paper airplane launcher? See how fast and how far those simple paper airplanes can fly when launched off of this engineering project!
Roller Coaster Project
One of my favorite engineering projects in school was making our own marble roller coasters. Now your kids can enjoy that memory as well with this fun and engaging engineering activity.
Mechanical Grabber Hand Project
Do your students know how the human hand works? Design and build your own mechanical grabber hand using your knowledge of engineering and the human body. Then have fun with your brand new toy!
The Importance of Engineering Education for Middle Schools
Why do engineering projects with your middle school-aged students? Well, engineering education is vital for middle school students for several reasons:
- Problem-Solving Skills: Engaging in engineering challenges helps students develop critical thinking and creative problem-solving abilities.
- STEM Literacy: Engineering activities deepen students’ understanding of how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are interconnected.
- Creativity and Innovation: Engineering fosters creativity and encourages students to think outside the box to develop innovative solutions.
- Collaboration and Teamwork: Engineering projects require collaboration, teaching students effective communication and teamwork.
- Technical Skills: Engineering introduces students to designing, prototyping, construction, and testing, building practical technical skills.
- Growth Mindset: Engineering education promotes a growth mindset by teaching students that failure is an opportunity for learning and improvement.
- Real-World Relevance: Engineering connects classroom knowledge to real-world applications, making learning more meaningful and practical.
By embracing engineering education, middle school students are better prepared for future academic and career success in STEM fields. Simply put, using these projects is a good idea!
More Engineering Activities and Resources
I hope you liked this list of middle school STEM and engineering activities. For more engineering and STEM activities and project ideas that are designed for more than just middle schoolers, check out the following articles:
STEM activities for elementary school students
STEM activities for high school students
The Ultimate Collection of STEAM Activities
- Martin Luther King, Jr. Writing Prompts (2025 Update) - June 4, 2025
- 8+ Super Fun Dinosaur STEM Activities for Kids - June 4, 2025
- The 6 Best Learn To Read Programs for Kids (2025 Guide) - June 4, 2025