Intro to STEM: 5 Activities to Launch the School Year

Complete one activity per day or sprinkle them in with your existing curriculum as needed. Each lesson below can be adapted for remote/distance learning.

1. Tech in a Bag

Start the school year by anchoring everyone in the true definition of technology. In this activity, students learn that technology encompasses more than the things we power with electricity.

2. Airplane Algorithms

This activity is an excellent follow-up to Tech in a Bag. With this activity, lead your learners from the evolution of technology to its basic building blocks—algorithms. 

3. Adaptive Design

Build on your learners’ knowledge of technology and algorithms by introducing them to the engineering design process next. Adaptive designs not only help those in need; adaptive designs help everyone and make life better for us all.

4. Sink, Float, and Hover

The dollar store is optional with this 1-2 day activity. Adapt this lesson with any items you and your learners can find around your homes. Take the engineering design process one step further, and compile the data your learners generate from testing designs. Stretch this activity into 2+ days by concluding with the following lesson…

5. Inspiring Iterative Design

Algorithms, technology, and the engineering design process come together in this lesson as incredible tools kids we can all use to get better and better at solving problems. Inspire learners how to find everything they need to become STEM experts at home with these two TED Talks:


Complete the activities, and post photos using #dollarstorestem. Got questions? Click Connect to drop us a line.