Dollar Store STEM Activites

Sharing is Caring

Pedicure sandal

Simply make 3D shoes from 2D foam as both engineering and technology where a temporary shoe is needed.

Note: Inlcude the technology and engineering of gripping dots, plus some STEA(art)M. More Shoe Engineering activites are part of the 600+ activity library for #sciencefairyprojects

Allow the children to struggle in figuring out how this works.

Extended sandal option

The teaacher DIY way to make sandals for the class that gives young children opportunity to cut outer edge off with child scissors.

Tech Stylus

Grab a snack, save the bag. Pick out (2) shiny one-serving chips package (not the new healthy baked pack). Mylar is the silver inside lining. It turns out that mylar carries (conducts) electrical charge.

It also turns out that the human body conducts a small amount of electricity. Futhermore, touchscreens use this “human charge” to figure out where on the screen was touched.

1. Purchase shiny bags, a 8 pack of pens, a mini hair rubberband package, and masking tape
2. Wash the inside of bags
3. Cut sides apart and then halve the bag sides horizontally for 4 pieces per chip bag.
4. Label the pens with tape and names
5. Have children put the pen tip in the middle of their piece and wrap the excess around the pen
6. Most will need help securing it with a rubberband.
7. Try it out on a touch screen.

4 x $1.25

Fatigue stress

1. Buy a package of Fuzzy Sticks, formally known as pipe cleaners
2. Introduce double pinch hold and fold back and forth in center of stick
3. Continue until it breaks, then do halves of the halves to practice base 2 math/fractions

More activities at Hingeneering Project

1 x $1.25

Bird Beak Mimic

Experience how tweezers mimic (copy) the function of the beak on a bird.

1. Buy child’s forceps for class
2. Buy Jumbo sunflower seeds from the chips section
3. Scatter seeds and ask children to try squeezing the seeds to crack with their tool.

Note: Offer seeds to eat before beginning since they’ll be curious.

8 x $1.25 + $1.25

How to do STEM activities with groups for $20 at the Dollar Store.