What can you build with wooden blocks? What about playdough? If you were given both of these materials could you build a tall tower? For this building block STEM challenge, you have to create a tower that is as tall as possible and stands without being held.

STEM activities encourage skills in science, technology, engineering and math. These subjects are mixed into these challenges through hands-on exploration. STEM challenges are also great for problem solving, team work and critical thinking.

Grab a collection of blocks and a few containers of playdough for this simple, popular and engaging STEM challenge! Whether you are looking for an activity for home or the classroom, this challenge is will be a hit with kids of all ages.

For more STEM activities and challenges, visit more hands-on learning from Hands-On Teaching Ideas. Check out 45 STEM Challenges, 60 Best STEM Activities and 10 Easy Bridge Building STEM Challenges.

Building Block STEM Challenge Materials

There are only a few materials you need for this STEM activity. If you work with, or have children at home, you likely already have these materials on hand. You will need:

• Wooden Building Blocks
• Playdough
• Activity Card (Free printable available at the end of the activity description)

The more of each material that you can provide children to build with, the better. Having a lot of each material allows children to build for a longer time and add details to what they create.

Alternatively, you can set a limit on how much of each material can be used. This can create an extra level of challenge which can be great for older children. When I do this STEM challenge in the classroom, I usually have to set a limit on materials simply because I don’t have enough supplies to provide unlimited amounts.

Giving each child, or group, one container of playdough can be a great way to add to the challenge. This requires children to consider how they use the dough and how much.

The activity card can be printed in black and white, or color. Download and print right away by click the grey lock box at the bottom of this activity description.

You can also create STEM bags for children to take home. Print an activity card and place along with a container of playdough and wooden blocks into a sealable bag. Children can take the bag home and build and create using the provided materials.

Building Block STEM Challenge

The activity card can be posted at a center or placed in the classroom. Children can read it and begin the challenge. The goal is to, “Use the materials to build the tallest free-standing tower possible”. Unless you specify, there is no limit or restrictions on how children use the materials.

For example, some children may choose to not use any playdough at all, that’s okay as long as they are able to create a free-standing tower. It is always interesting to see what children come up with and what they create.

Avoid giving a lot of extra instructions or suggestions. STEM challenges allow for multiple solutions and freedom for children to use their imagination.

STEM Challenge Strategies

Once children have all of the materials, they’re ready to start building! You will likely find that groups, and individual children all use different strategies. Some groups may start by building a huge base for their tower. Others may focus on building up, but may find that their tower is not free standing.

As children build, remind them that a large part of a STEM challenge is trial and error. The intention is not to create something perfect on the first try. For many groups, their tower will likely fall at some point while building. This is okay and a great learning opportunity.

STEM activities encourage children to plan, build, test and reflect on their creation. After they feel that they have a solution, or if their solution doesn’t work, encourage kids to reflect on what did work and what they need to change. Then they use the materials again to recreate their tower. Keeping what worked well, but changing what they felt needed to be improved.

Kids can change and improve their design as many times as needed. This process is the focus of the challenge, not the final product. If children can learn to reflect on their work, they learn that there is often room for improvement and they also learn to not give up.

STEM Activity

Children may use the playdough as a type of cement to help secure the blocks together. The dough will typically help to build a taller, stronger tower. However, children will also discover that the dough may cause the tower to shift and be more moveable than without the dough the taller it gets.

The dough can help, but as the tower gets taller, children will also find that the dough makes it harder to build. Encourage children to build in different ways with different amounts of dough to see what difference it makes.

Once everyone has created a tower, encourage children to walk around and see what their peers made. They will see other strategies and maybe even get ideas for their own tower.

If you want to extend the activity, you can measure the different heights of the towers. The tallest, free-standing tower wins! You can also test strength by putting a weight on the top of the tower and seeing if it holds.

I hope that your children, or students enjoy this building blocks STEM challenge as much as my kids, and students do. It’s a great activity for hands-on play and exploration. The challenge also encourages children to use familiar materials, the dough and blocks, in a whole new way!

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