I’ve had several parents and teachers ask me if we are going to have more middle school STEM activities on STEAMsational, and that is something we’re going to be focusing on now as part of our goal in offering STEM activities for kids to every child of any age!
A lot of schools follow NGSS middle school science standards, which means that STEM is a big part of the science classroom.
While my daughter’s middle school follows the Texas science curriculum, I like to supplement her science education with NGSS projects, because she is interested in science and I want to ensure that she gets all of the hands-on learning she can, especially during summer break.
That is how we have such a large collection of middle school STEM activities on STEAMsational on many different topics. Find your perfect STEM activity for middle school below.
Table of Contents
What does STEM Look Like in Middle School?
Before middle school, STEM is all about introducing scientific concepts and learning how to think like a scientist.
But in middle school, it is the first time that most kids are exposed to the application of STEM. In middle school, kids focus on how to use STEM topics to solve real-world problems.
- Questions or problems at the middle school level must meet these criteria:
- A real-world problem or issue
- An issue must be relatable to the students
- The problem has multiple solutions
- Middle schoolers can work to approximate a solution that could work in the real world
Always start STEM projects with a question. For example, if children ask, is there a better way to protect packages during delivery (for example, if more robots are in charge of delivery), then you can do the egg drop challenge as a solution.
If you don’t know what sort of questions your middle schooler could answer, you can check out the Next Generation Science Standards.
Middle School STEM Activities for the Classroom
Here are some more STEM activities for middle school to try in your STEM lab or classroom!
STEM by DesignSTEM Education Teacher Lesson Plans, Strategies and Activities Guide – for Grades 5 Though 9 – by School Datebooks
STEM to Story: Enthralling and Effective Lesson Plans for Grades 5-8
Arguing From Evidence in Middle School Science: 24 Activities for Productive Talk and Deeper Learning
Mark Twain – STEM Labs for Middle Grades, Grades 5 – 8
An Educator’s Guide to STEAM: Engaging Students Using Real-World Problems
- Fun Laminar Flow Experiment with a Balloon
- How to Make Hot Ice From Vinegar and Baking Soda
- Physics in a Glass: Oil and Ice Experiment
- Middle School STEM Projects
- How to Create a Laminar Flow
What does a middle school STEM activity look like?
The secret to a good STEM activity in middle school is keeping things open-ended. Just like in the real scientific world, in middle school STEM, there are no “right” answers in science.
During the lesson, a middle schooler should apply scientific knowledge and other STEM skills to creating potential solutions for problems, then testing them out and recording the results.
If a child does their best, then they are doing STEM correctly, even if their experiment or hypothesis “fails.”
Our Favorite STEM Books for Middle School
STEM by DesignSTEM Education Teacher Lesson Plans, Strategies and Activities Guide – for Grades 5 Though 9 – by School Datebooks
STEM to Story: Enthralling and Effective Lesson Plans for Grades 5-8
Arguing From Evidence in Middle School Science: 24 Activities for Productive Talk and Deeper Learning
Mark Twain – STEM Labs for Middle Grades, Grades 5 – 8
An Educator’s Guide to STEAM: Engaging Students Using Real-World Problems
Creative STEM Projects for Kids in Middle School
Without further ado, here are some of our favorite STEM projects for kids in middle school!
If your middle schoolers want to try STEM activities with LEGO bricks, check out these LEGO STEM activities for middle school!
These winter STEM activities for middle school take STEM activities to a whole new level!
Explore the science of hearts and love with these Valentine STEM Activities for Middle School.
When spring is around the corner, learn with these Exciting Easter Science Projects for Middle School!
Here are some fun summer camp themes for middle schoolers that won’t make them roll their eyes and have a fun STEM twist!
Check out these amazingly fun and refreshing Summer STEM Activities for Middle School!
When it starts to get cold, break out these fall STEM activities for middle school!
Middle schoolers shouldn’t have to miss out on Halloween fun! These Halloween STEM activities for middle school are a fun way to bring the holiday into the classroom.
Here are even more Halloween STEM challenges for middle school!
In November, try these Thanksgiving STEM activities for middle school with your class!
Take a break from challenging STEM activities and try these Thanksgiving crafts for middle school!
Middle schoolers will have a lot of fun with these Christmas STEM activities for middle school.