Getting Started With First Grade STEM Activities and Challenges

Teaching STEM in first grade can be a little intimidating, but you can do it!

We created a few activities for you to teach students what an engineer is, how to be curious throughout the school year, how to use their imagination to design new ideas, and what science is.

All of these STEM Challenges can be found inside the STEM Teachers Club Membership.

STEM is a great way to teach first graders about how to be kind, safe, and work hard as they discover the joy of STEM learning.

4 First Grade STEM Challenges to get started with STEM:

1. A Box Can Be Many Things Engineering Read Aloud STEM Challenge

2. If I Built a House Engineering Read Aloud STEM Challenge

3. Marshall Mellow Engineering Read Aloud STEM Challenge

4. Intro to STEM Be a Maker Read Aloud STEAM Challenge

Each challenge connects to a read aloud book to help students connect to the activities and is designed specifically with first graders in mind.

They build simple projects to give them a firm foundation in engineering. The lessons align with First Grade NGSS covering all of the engineering standards.

A Box Can Be Many Things by Dana Meachen Rau

Unlock creativity and engineer endless ideas out of simple materials! 

Connect STEM and Literacy with this amazing Read Aloud STEM Activity as a companion to A Box Can Be Many Things by Dana Meachen Rau.

Being an engineer takes a lot of work! Engineers are curious about things and ask a lot of questions. They observe the things around them, take notes and draw things that they see.

Students have time to explore with simple objects and talk with a friend about what those objects could be. Then they become an engineer and design what their box will be, just like in the story.

Material List:

• A Box Can Be Many Things by Dana Meachen Rau

• pencils and STEM journals

• cardboard boxes and other recyclable materials

• scissors

• tape and/or glue

• colored paper

• crayons or markers

This STEM Challenges aligns to NGSS Engineering Standards for first Grade, but can be used in K-2.

If I Built a House by Chris Van Dusen

Design and build your dream house! 

Connect STEM and Literacy with this amazing Read Aloud STEM Activity as a companion to If I built a House by Chris Van Dusen. 

Students design and create their own floor plan for a house.

Material List:

• If I Built a House by Chris Van Dusen

• pencils

• crayons, markers, or colored pencils

• popsicle sticks

• clothespins

This STEM Challenge aligns to NGSS Engineering Standards for First Grade, but can be used in K-2. 

Marshall Mellow by JJ Landis

Build a marshmallow catapult! 

Connect STEM and Literacy with this amazing Read Aloud STEM Activity as a companion to Marshall Mellow by JJ Landis. 

Students design, build, and test 2 catapults. After they complete their challenge, they compare and reflect on what they learned.

Material List to Build the Bridge:

• Marshall Mellow by JJ Landis

• popsicle sticks

• plastic spoons

• rubber bands

• toilet paper rolls

• binder clips

• tape

• bottle caps

• marshmallows

This STEM Challenges aligns to NGSS Engineering Standards for first Grade, but can be used in K-2. 

Be a Maker by Katey Howes

Integrate 1st Grade STEM at the beginning of the school year!

Connect STEM and Literacy with this amazing NGSS Aligned back to school Read Aloud STEM Activity as a companion for Be a Maker by Katey Howes.

In the story, the girl makes a tower and learns about balance. She makes art, movement, and music. She imagines things and building things. She makes blueprints and maps.

In this 1st Grade STEM Challenge, students will create a new design for transportation between home and school. Students will also have an opportunity to build their name out of classroom supplies to introduce themselves to their class.

Material List:

• cardboard tube

• pipe cleaners

• play dough

• Chart Paper

• Scissors 

• Glue

• Name Building Materials (ex. straws, popsicle sticks, blocks, pipe cleaners, sticks)

• Be a Maker by Katey Howes

This STEM Challenge is for First Grade, but can be used in Kindergarten, First Grade, or Second Grade.

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