Can you build a wall that can protect an object from being moved by a hairdryer’s wind? Use household materials for this simple STEM activity with building blocks and playdough. Children create with these familiar materials in a new way with this hands-on STEM challenge.

It’s may seem easy to build a wall, but can you build it strong enough to withstand more than someone blowing on it? Create, test and alter your design until you have a solution.

STEM activities focus on skills that continue to gain importance in education. Mixing science, technology, engineering and math these activities are a great way to focus on these subjects in a hands-on, engaging way. STEM activities are also an ideal way to work on problem solving, creative thinking and team work.

For more STEM ideas check out 45+ STEM Challenge Ideas and 10 Easy Bridge Building Challenges. There are lots of ideas for more hands-on learning opportunities!

This STEM challenge adds a new element with the use of a hairdryer. You can start the experiment by simply blowing on the structure, but the hairdryer adds more of a challenge.

Simple STEM Activity Materials

The best STEM challenges don’t have to be expensive. I typically use materials from around my house, or classroom. Materials kids are familiar with, but used in the way required for the STEM activity.

The materials for this simple STEM activity are simple. You will need:

• Wooden Building Blocks
• Playdough (Roughly one container for each child building)
• Ping Pong Ball
• Golf Tee
• Hairdryer
• Activity Card (Optional)

The activity card can be downloaded for free at the bottom of this post. You don’t have to use the card, but it’s a great option to include at the center with the supplies. You can also create a STEM kit and add the building supplies and the activity card to a bag to send home.

For more activity ideas using only a few simple materials, check out 10 Exciting STEM Activities.

Simple STEM Activity

Kids can work in groups or independently for this activity. Give everyone a collection of wooden blocks and a container of playdough. If you want to make the activity more challenging, you can limit the supplies you give to each group.

For example, you can give each group twenty wooden blocks and half a container of playdough. Adding these restrictions are a great idea, especially for older kids. Decreasing the amount of playdough ends up making the challenge much harder.

Once they have the supplies, give them the challenge. “Build a wall to protect an object from being moved by a hairdryer’s wind.” the object will be a ping pong ball set on a golf tee.

Once kids have the materials, they can start building. Kids may not initially use any playdough, knowing that they can make a wall without it. However, if they test it by even blowing on it, they will quickly find out that the blocks on their own will not withstand the wind. If blowing on it knocks it down, they know they need to change the design and make it more sturdy for the hairdryer.

Once kids start designing their wall, and adding playdough, the structures become quite strong. Kids will come up with some really interesting and creative designs.

(The numbers on the blocks in the pictures are from a previous activity I used the blocks for. The numbers aren’t relevant to this challenge.)

Testing the Wall

Once kids have created a wall that they are happy with, it’s time to test with the hairdryer. I used a ping pong ball and a golf tee. You can use anything you have on hand that could easily be blown away by hairdryer wind.

Set the ball on the tee and secure it to the table using a ball of playdough. The ball should be secure on the tee, but easily blown off.

Place the hairdryer a specific distance away from the wall to start, such as two feet. Slowly move the hairdryer closer to the wall until you feel it is close enough. Does the ping pong ball fall off the tee?

If it stays on the tee, then the builder(s) of the wall are successful! If it falls off, builders can improve their design by changing or adding materials.

Some of my students made great walls, but they had gaps between the blocks and the wind got through when the hairdryer got close, and the ball fell. These kids redesigned their wall by adding playdough in between the blocks.

Simple STEM Activity Design Ideas

One of my favorite things about STEM challenges are the solutions that kids come up with. Often no two solutions are alike. There are also usually designs that I never even thought of!

One design that a child made, was a wall made almost entirely of playdough. One block was use for some stability in the middle of the wall, and the rest was a wall formed with the dough.

The wall ended up working well, but the ball was blown off the tee if the angle of the hairdryer’s wind changed. It was a unique and creative design though.

Other children created with some design in mind. Some kids made what almost looked like a house with one side taller to block the wind. This provided some stability and strength, but perhaps went beyond the instructions of making a wall.

Whatever the walls end up looking like in your simple STEM activity, kids will learn as they create. They will also learn to use materials that they are familiar with in a new way.

FREE Activity Card

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