9 Stimulating STEM Activities for Teens

If you think back to your own teenage years (some of us might have to think a little further back than we’d like), you may remember how important those years were. Not just to establish social skills and secure party invites, but also to establish your personal interests and what you would like to do with the rest of your life.

Choosing a career is daunting, and so many teenage students have no idea how many possibilities exist.

So, as these students transition into the challenging world of academics and begin to think about their future career paths, this is really the perfect time to foster their interest in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). That’s why incorporating fun, hands-on STEM activities for teens into your lesson plans can help them see the benefits and possibilities these subjects offer as well as possible career paths they can follow.

STEM activities offer teen students a wide range of benefits and applications that extend far beyond the classroom and can one day help them in whichever career they choose.

Hands-on STEM activities for teens foster essential skills needed in everyday life and also some specialized skills that can provide valuable real-world experiences and help them excel in their respective careers, whether they become a teacher, astronaut, chef, engineer, or something else.

We’ve put together a collection of some of our favorite teen STEM activities that are sure to wow your students.

Why Include Teen STEM Activities in Your Lessons?

The benefits of STEM education are practically endless.

STEM can help students develop various skills like critical thinking that can help encourage students to analyze problems, think critically, and develop logical solutions. They can also gain practical problem-solving skills by tackling real-world issues in STEM projects.

By doing STEM activities, teens can learn to approach problems systematically, break them down into manageable parts, and come up with creative and effective solutions. STEM activities can also nurture creativity by allowing students to explore innovative ideas and approaches. Creativity is crucial in fields like engineering and technology, where novel solutions are often required.

STEM activities also expose teens to a wide array of STEM disciplines, helping them discover their interests and passions. This exposure is invaluable for making informed career choices and choosing their subjects and major when they go to college.

We all know our world is always changing, and these STEM activities encourage students to use their knowledge and creativity to become innovative and inventive. They learn to identify opportunities for improvement, develop creative solutions, and design new technologies.

STEM activities provide hands-on experience, allowing students to apply theoretical knowledge that they learn in school, be it in a traditional classroom or in a homeschool setting,  to practical scenarios. This experiential learning enhances retention and understanding.

Many STEM projects also address real-world challenges, from environmental issues to healthcare problems. By learning about these problems, and exploring different outcomes, these students have the opportunity to contribute to meaningful solutions.

Our Favorite STEM Activities For Teens

To make STEM subjects more exciting for teenagers, we’ve compiled a list of age-appropriate, engaging STEM activities suitable for both homeschool and traditional school settings.

1. Dragon Fire

Any teen has undoubtedly seen a fire or flame at some point in their lives, and we can all agree that it can be mesmerizing- be it a small flame on a candle that illuminates a room, or the roaring flames of a campfire where you roast your marshmallow.

If you’ve seen fire, you might have noticed that some flames burn differently than others, both in intensity and color. This difference is due to which element or substance is being burned. In this project the students will light a number of different chemicals on fire to see what color each chemical will burn.

Experimenting with different elements can be dangerous if not done correctly, which is why this beautiful experiment should only be done with close adult supervision. This Dragon Fire experiment is a good way to teach students about chemistry and physics, while teaching them a sense of responsibility.

Get the full project: Dragon Fire Experiment

2. 3D Edible Candy DNA Model

With just a handful of candies and a sprinkle of imagination, your teen scientists can whip up their very own DNA models. It’s a fun, hands-on activity that’ll get their curiosity buzzing! This edible candy DNA model is a sweet choice, especially if your teens enjoy hands-on activities with a tasty twist.

So, why not dive into this tasty edible science experiment to school your kids on DNA, the double helix, and the ABCs of genetics? Once you’ve soaked up the knowledge, you can use it for a cool science project, maybe even spice up a science fair entry, or dive into some exciting STEM action.

It’s a chance to grasp the secrets of life’s blueprint in a fun and unforgettable way. Whether you’re raising future biologists or just satisfying those curious minds, crafting candy DNA models will be a hoot, all while uncovering the wonders of genetics.

Get the full project: Edible Candy DNA Model

Saltwater Circuit

Engineering puts the ‘E’ in STEM and this saltwater circuit will make your students feel like electrical engineers. An Electrical engineer is able to design and build small- and large-scale electrical systems that we use in our everyday lives.

It is important for your students to know that water and electricity should not usually mix, since it can be very dangerous, but there are some instances where cool things can be created when these two elements mix- like this saltwater circuit.

This project will allow your students to apply their knowledge of conductivity and deepen their understanding of electrical systems and currents. Before starting this project, you might want to ask your students a few questions about their knowledge of electrical circuits and conductivity, like: “What is a current?” “What makes it flow?” “Does the amount of salt in the water affect the electrical current flowing through the circuit?”

Get the full project: Saltwater Circuit Project

Newton’s Cradle

Newton’s Cradle is not only mesmerizing to look at, but it’s also a great device to demonstrate to your students how energy and momentum are conserved by using these swinging spheres. It is named after the famous scientist- Sir Isaac Newton, who is thought of as one of the fathers of science.

Newton is most known for his three laws of motion, namely; Inertia, Force, and Action and Reaction. This experiment with Newton’s Cradle explores Newton’s third law- Action and Reaction.

This project is a great way to introduce the topic or reinforce the concept. The great thing about this project is that it can be made very simple, or very complicated, by using items you can find around your house.

Get the full project: Newton’s Cradle

Paper Airplane Launcher

Sometimes something as simple as simple as a paper airplane and launcher can be used to amuse and teach teens a quick lesson about aerodynamics and force. That’s why we love this quick STEM activity.

We all know paper airplanes can fly for a few seconds, but with this paper airplane launcher, your plane will get more hang time as it launches it through the air.

This launcher is the perfect project for older students since it requires hammers, nails, and a little calculation. They will be building a ramp-like contraption that can be used to mount and launch a paper airplane, giving it force and lift as it is thrust through the air.

Once the hard work of building the launcher is done, your students can get creative with their own paper planes and launch them to race each other through the sky.

Get the full project:  Paper Airplane Launcher

Paper Roller Coaster

The theory part of STEM subjects can sometimes be a little boring and dull but this project will get your students engaged and exhilarated as they build their own rollercoaster out of paper!

This project is very flexible and can be done in one sitting, or be extended for weeks. The most important thing is that the students have fun while they learn. These roller coasters can be used to teach students about geometry, the physics of energy and motion, as well as the importance of engineering design.

Allow your students to get creative in the design aspects to see all the cool things they can come up with. At the end of the project, you can also have a little competition, or give out prizes for the scariest or longest roller coaster.

Get the full project: Paper Roller Coaster

Hand Model Craft

Teenagers’ innate curiosity about the human body provides a perfect gateway to delve into science and biology. In this project, we venture into the realm of hands, those remarkable tools we use daily. By creating a Hand Model STEM Craft, your students can explore the intricate workings of their hands while having a blast.

Teenagers may sometimes underestimate the wonder of their hands, the versatile instruments through which they perceive the world. Hands help us grasp, touch, create, communicate, and so much more. They’re a marvel of biology in action.

To unravel the mysteries of our hands, we’ll construct a model that mimics the intricate movements of real hands, complete with bones and tendons. Building anatomical models like this can be incredibly engaging for teenagers, as they may have encountered in the similar projects listed here, such as building a model of a beating heart.

Get the full project: Hand Model Craft

Beating Heart Model

Ever wondered how that amazing pump in your chest, your heart, works? Or maybe you’ve heard about heart health but never had a hands-on way to explore it. Well, get ready to have a lot of your questions answered with this amazing, working heart model.

Your heart rate is how fast your heart beats, measured in beats per minute. You can calculate it by counting your heartbeats for ten seconds and then multiplying by 6 (since there are 60 seconds in a minute). Many factors can affect heart rate, including age, health, activity level, and even your caffeine or sugar intake.

In our heart model, we will use different things you can find in and around the house to represent how blood flows through the heart’s chambers, namely: right atrium, left atrium, right ventricle, and left ventricle. Blood travels from the right side of the heart to the left side, going from the body to the heart, then to the lungs for oxygenation before returning to the heart and heading back out to the body.

Get the full project: Beating Heart Model

Climbing Through Paper Activity

I need to ask you a very serious question… Can you fit through a piece of paper? I know, I know, you probably think I’m crazy, but, I’m here to tell you that it can be done!

This activity will push your students to think hard about the challenge and how they might find a way to beat it! And to some it may seem simple, but to others it can open up a whole new world of learning and thinking.

The challenge is to give each student a paper and tell them they need to fit through it. You can either leave it to the students to figure it out, or you can help and guide them along the way.

Although, there is a simple solution to the problem- and it involves some scissors and mathematical knowledge about surface areas.

Get the full project: Climbing Through Paper Activity

LEGO Air Hockey Game

Anyone who has played air hockey can tell you just how much fun it is to play, and if you’ve never played it before, well then, you’re in for a little treat!

This project will test your student’s abilities to build sound structures and use their knowledge of surface and shape to create a fun project that they can play with after they’re done.

The best part of this project is that you can build it as big or as small as you wish! All you need is a bunch of LEGOS and some creativity.

Get the full project here: LEGO Air Hockey Table

Want More STEM Projects and Ideas?

We have tons of fun STEM activities, projects, and ideas just waiting to be explored! Our STEM Made Easy Digital Subscription will help you come up with new, fun ways to keep your child or students intrigued and engaged in the world of STEM. Every month, you’ll receive a carefully curated collection of STEM project blueprints in your email inbox, complete with resources and worksheets to help reinforce and broaden your child or students’ learning. Hit the button below to learn more…

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