Build & Investigate
Explore these AWIM-inspired STEM resources for DIY activities, fun experiments, and learning extensions.
STEM Extensions
Build a foundation for STEM or continue learning from anywhere with these self-paced lessons and hands-on activities.
Preschool Fun with Living Things
What are living things? Help your preschool students develop an awareness and appreciation of living things in nature including different plants, animals, trees, and insects as well as their homes and habitats. This fun, hands-on STEM exploration teaches students basic concepts in life science through compelling plant and animal activities and sparks conversations that support their early STEM skills.
Preschool Fun with Weather
Why isn’t air temperature the same everywhere on earth? Help your preschool students learn about Earth and Space Science by investigating weather and weather-related phenomena including clouds, wind, and rain. This hands-on STEM exploration also includes step-by-step instructions on making a simple rain gauge, wind sock, and more as well as ideas for ongoing weather investigations.
Preschool Fun with Building
Which shapes are the strongest for building structures and why? Help your preschool students learn about the physical properties of building materials, push and pull forces that affect how their structures stand or fall, and the engineering design process. This STEM exploration will have young learners transforming simple materials into tall towers, fairy houses, and more.
More About Motion
How can a simple balloon power a toy car or a rocket? Learn more about the science of balloons, Newton’s Laws of Motion, and how to build your very own balloon-powered rocket with items found around your house. This fun hands-on STEM experience will have you thinking like an engineer as you test your designs to see how far and how fast they can go.
Thinking Computationally
What is computational thinking? Learn how to break down a problem, recognize patterns, eliminate abstractions, and write algorithms to solve everyday tasks. This module features unplugged STEM activities that will expose students to basic computer programming and logic. By the end, you will be equipped to create algorithms for tying your shoes, brushing your teeth, and more.
Up, Up, in the Air!
How do birds continue to inspire the science of human flight? In this module, we’ll explore the early origins of flying machines as well as learn about Newton’s Third Law of Motion, the Bernoulli Principle, and the four forces of flight: lift, thrust, drag, and weight. Hands-on STEM activities throughout help bring each concept to life.
Machines at Work
How do simple machines and mechanisms make our lives easier? Levers and pulleys make it possible to lift heavy objects, ramps make it easier to move objects, and screws allow us to exert much greater force than would be possible by hand. Learn more about the six types of simple machines and experiment by making your own Rube Goldberg’s machine to perform a simple action.
Energy in Motion
Did you know energy is all around us? Even though it’s invisible, it takes energy to clap your hands, peddle your bike, and cook your breakfast. In this module, we’ll explore energy, friction, momentum, and inertia. This hands-on STEM experience includes a toy car race, spinning eggs, a marshmallow catapult, and more.
A World of Sounds
What would life be like without sound? How do we use sounds to communicate? How do musical instruments produce different sounds? This module explores how sound waves and vibrations are used to create sound. We’ll learn how the eardrum works, explore sign language, and generate sound by making a DIY wind instrument.
Autonomous Expedition
Take students on a thrilling journey where they guide a Motorized Autonomous Response Vehicle (MARV) through a simulated cityscape.
In order to operate as an autonomous taxi, MARV must learn the complexities of driving without human help. MARV will be tasked with safely navigating several traffic challenges. Equipped with advanced technology systems and machine learning, each attempt is an opportunity to collect and interpret new data. This information is the key to programming MARV with the skills needed to predict and respond to any scenario. Get ready to drive into the future of autonomous mobility!
STEM Starters
Looking for an easy way to have fun with STEM? Try these quick hands-on experiments, including activities created by students participating in SAE's university programs.