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25 Quick and Easy STEM Activities for 5th Grade

All everyone seems to talk about right now are STEM activities. STEM activities can be quite complicated, but they don’t have to be. These easy STEM activities for 5th grade are perfect for kids in fifth grade and teach the basics of science, technology, engineering, and math.

STEM activities are so much fun, and fifth graders will have a blast with these in the classroom or at home.

These easy STEM activities for 5th grade are perfect for kids in fifth grade and teach the basics of science, technology, engineering, and math.

50+ STEM Projects for 5th Grade

Kids will love these fun STEM activities for 5th grade and they are the perfect STEM activities to try in the classroom or at home if you’re just getting started with STEM projects.

How to do STEM Activities for Fifth Grade

A STEM activity is an activity that contains elements of science, technology, engineering, or math, and sometimes two or more of those disciplines. When we do STEM activities, we like to include three of the letters if possible.

In a STEM activity, children are learning how to use several types of knowledge together to solve a specific problem.

We like to make our STEM activities fun for fifth graders because if STEM activities aren’t fun, kids will start to hate science.

Fifth Grade STEM Activities

You’ll also like: THE COMPLETE LIST OF STEM ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Why Should Teachers Try Fifth Grade STEM Activities?

elementary stem challenge cards

There are a lot of reasons to do STEM activities in 5th grade, not the least of which is that it’s required by many schools today.

Schools have recognized the importance of STEM education and it’s a large part of most elementary schools.

When doing fun STEM activities, elementary kids learn a lot more than just science, technology, engineering, and math. They can also learn:

  • Teamwork
  • Logic
  • Problem-solving
  • Creative thinking

My daughter is currently in fifth grade, and thanks to our focus on STEM at home, she consistently comes home with 100s on all her science projects and STEM challenges.

Make STEM activities fun with these easy STEM activities for elementary! These STEM activities are perfect for kids in elementary school and teach the basics of science, technology, engineering, and math in a fun and easy way! Perfect elementary STEM activities for the classroom or home! #elementary #iteachtoo #teachingresources #engineering #stem #stemed #scienceexperiments #technologyactivities #math

Don’t Miss: CREATIVE STEM ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

What Do Kids Learn Doing STEM Lessons in 5th Grade?

Easy STEM Activities for 5th Grade

My favorite thing about fifth grade STEM activities is how it teaches kids that what they learn in school can be applied to life. There aren’t many other subjects in school that use several subjects at once, although once you’re out of school you constantly use things together.

What I love about STEM activities is that it provides a more holistic approach to education, and there isn’t really a “right” answer. This makes it easier for kids to learn the actual concepts, and they aren’t afraid of getting things wrong.

You can often tell which kids are involved in STEM activities based on how they answer questions.

10 years ago, kids were paralyzed to get the “wrong” answer and would often not engage in lessons.

Most kids today are ready to jump in and explore a concept, and I attribute much of that to the newer way children are taught in school, which includes a lot of STEM-based learning and integrative learning in other areas.

Check out: THE BEST SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS FOR KIDS

Tips for Doing STEM Activities in the 5th Grade Classroom

5th grade stem challenges

If you’re doing STEM activities with a group of kids, you’ll have to keep a few things in mind. Here are my best tips for completing STEM activities in a group:

  • Set up in advance
  • Show a demonstration
  • Make sure kids know how to use equipment
  • Have a dedicated time for experimenting
  • Have a dedicated time for recording results
  • Have a dedicated time for analyzing the experiment
  • Make a part of the lesson clean-up time

If you follow these tips, it’s easier to do hands on projects with kids and you’ll have less of a hard time getting the class to focus. In a hands-on learning environment, elementary kids can easily get off track and lose the lesson, so organization is a must.

You may also want to try: SCIENCE FAIR PROJECTS FOR ACTIVE KIDS

Supplies for 5th Grade STEM Activities

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The Mason Jar Scientist: 30 Jarring STEAM-Based ProjectsThe Mason Jar Scientist: 30 Jarring STEAM-Based ProjectsAMSCOPE-KIDS Student Beginner Microscope With LED,100X/400X/1200X Magnification,Includes Accessory Set and Box-redAMSCOPE-KIDS Student Beginner Microscope With LED,100X/400X/1200X Magnification,Includes Accessory Set and Box-redKids First Intro to Engineering KitKids First Intro to Engineering KitHands-On Math!: Ready-to-Use Games & Activities for Grades 4-8 (J-B Ed: Hands On)Hands-On Math!: Ready-to-Use Games & Activities for Grades 4-8 (J-B Ed: Hands On)ThinkFun Code Master Programming Logic Game and STEM ToyThinkFun Code Master Programming Logic Game and STEM ToyKids Science Set - Over 60 Experiments Kit, How-to DVD and Instruction Manual. 55 Pieces, Year-Round Fun Educational Science ActivitiesKids Science Set – Over 60 Experiments Kit, How-to DVD and Instruction Manual. 55 Pieces, Year-Round Fun Educational Science ActivitiesSTEAM Kids: 50+ Science / Technology / Engineering / Art / Math Hands-On Projects for KidsSTEAM Kids: 50+ Science / Technology / Engineering / Art / Math Hands-On Projects for Kids

The Complete List of 5th Grade STEM Activities

Kids will love these 5th grade STEM projects. If you like these STEM activities, you’ll also want to try: The Best STEM Activities for Elementary, Classic Science Fair Projects for Kids in Elementary, and Candy Science Fair Projects. 

5th Grade STEM Activities

Easy 5th Grade STEM Activities

These STEM activities are fun and easy!

STEM Projects for 5th Grade Science

These easy STEM activities for fifth grade are science-based.

Learn about water density, energy, how molecules work, and more in this super fun and easy hot and cold water density science experiment! Kids will be delighted with how fun it is, and the bright colors will many any kid interested in science! It's the perfect STEM activity for the classroom or home. #science #stem #stemed #scienceclass #scienceexperiment #elementary #kidsactivities #learningactivities #teachingideas

Fluffy Slime Science Experiment

Walking Rainbow Science Experiment

Ocean Slime Science Experiment

Salt Crystal Feather Science Experiment

Baking Soda Slime Science Experiment

Borax Slime Science Experiment

Fizzing Pokeball Science Experiment

Diving Fish Science Experiment

Seed Growing Science Experiment

Hand Washing Science Experiment

Magic Milk Science Experiment

Egg Shell Garden Science Experiment

Removing Salt from Water Science Experiment

Liquid Density Science Experiment

3D Carbon Atom Science Activity

Tornado in a Jar Science Experiment

Erupting Volcano Science Experiment

Hot and Cold Water Density Science Experiment

Epsom Salt Crystals

5th Grade Technology Projects

Try these easy STEM activities for elementary that use technology.

Technology activities for kids help prepare kids for life and encourage the development of logic, programming, problem solving, and creative thinking. Make your STEM activities a lot more interesting with these technology-based STEM challenges for kids! STEM education is a lot of fun with technology!

Ozobot Evo Coding Activities

Words of Affirmation Coding Bracelets

Energy Efficient Windows STEM Challenge

Make a Stop Motion Video

Light Up Unicorn Circuit

How to Use Squishy Circuits

Build a Chessboard in Minecraft

Design a Skatepark with a 3D Pen

Kid-Friendly Coding Resources

Flashlight Constellations Activity

Easy Engineering Activities for 5th Grade

Kids will love these easy STEM activities for elementary with an engineering twist.

Learn the basics of engineering with the egg drop engineering project! This egg drop engineering challenge gives several ideas for the egg drop project, including a hot air balloon egg drop. It's a super fun STEM activity and engineering challenge for kids! #stemactivities #stem #stemed #engineering #engineeringactivities #kidsactivities

Build a LEGO Rainbow

Paper Airplane Engineering Challenge

Clothespin Airplane Engineering Challenge

Egg Crate Airplane Engineering Challenge

Egg Drop Engineering Challenge

Testing the Strength of Aluminum Foil

Spaghetti Engineering Project

Build a Q-Tip Bridge

Build a Boat from Marshmallows

Build a Soap-Powered Boat

STEM Math Activities for 5th Grade

You’ll love these math-based easy STEM activities for elementary.

Want to learn more about dice probability? This Venn diagram dice probability STEM activity is perfect for teaching the basics of probability to kids.

Venn Diagram Dice Probability

Lemonade Fraction Clip Cards

Math Fraction Art Project

Multiplication Arrays Printable

Multiplication Dice Game

Learning Math with a Play Store

Soup Can PEMDAS Money Worksheet

Hands On Geometry Activities

Make a Paper Mobius Strip

Uno Math Game

Seasonal STEM Activities for 5th Grade

Find a list of seasonal STEM activities for 5th grade below!

Thanksgiving STEM Activities for 5th Grade

Check out this list of fun Classroom-Friendly Thanksgiving STEM Activities for 5th Grade!

Christmas STEM Activities for 5th Grade

5th graders will love these Christmas STEM activities for 5th grade!

elementary stem challenge cards

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