If you’re planning to incorporate more STEM challenges into your middle school classroom, having the right supplies on hand can make all the difference. The good news? You don’t need expensive kits or fancy materials. Most of what you need can be found in your school supply closet, the recycling bin, or the dollar store.
Below, I’ve grouped together common supplies by type and included a few ideas for how you can use each set in your STEM lessons. These are materials I return to again and again because they’re easy to find and super versatile for project-based learning.
What You Need to Get Started with STEM Challenges
You don’t need to collect everything at once. But having a small stash of these items makes it easy to run STEM challenges without the stress of last-minute prep. Here’s a breakdown of the most useful materials and how you can use them.
1. Simple Supplies That Work for Building Projects
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Popsicle sticks
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Pipe cleaners
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Straws
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Plastic cups
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Construction paper
These classroom staples are perfect for any STEM activity that involves building, engineering, or designing from scratch. Popsicle sticks are strong and lightweight, great for bridge-building or framing structures. Straws work well for making prototypes of wind turbines, towers, or even track systems. Pipe cleaners allow for flexibility and are great for adding joints or curves to a build. Construction paper adds color and surface area to designs, especially for gliders, parachutes, or decorative elements. Plastic cups are useful for stacking challenges, base supports, or even acting as launch platforms. Keep a variety of these materials available so students always have something creative to work with.
2. Materials for Movement and Force
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Rubber bands
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Marbles or ping-pong balls
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Cardboard tubes
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String or yarn
These are ideal when your challenge involves motion, energy, or physics. Rubber bands are great for building launchers or tension-based mechanisms like catapults. Marbles and ping-pong balls make perfect test objects for rolling ramps, tracks, or collision experiments. Cardboard tubes can be used as funnels, tunnels, support beams, or part of a track system.
String or yarn is key for pulley systems, zip lines, or tethered builds. These materials encourage exploration of force, gravity, and aerodynamics in a way that’s both fun and hands-on.
3. Items to Help Measure and Hold Projects Together
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Masking tape
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Elmer’s glue
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Rulers or measuring tapes
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Aluminum foil
These supplies may not be flashy, but they’re essential for building and testing designs. Masking tape is useful for holding prototypes together and marking off measurement zones. Elmer’s glue is great for permanent projects or anything that requires drying time to test later.
Rulers and measuring tapes are critical for data collection, such as measuring distances, bounce height, ramp angles, and more. Aluminum foil is an underused gem, students can use it to create reflective surfaces, waterproof layers, or lightweight but strong parts for ovens, boats, and solar challenges.
4. Recycled Items That Are Always Useful
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Cardboard tubes
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Paper plates
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Plastic lids
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Small cardboard boxes
Recycled materials are both budget-friendly and great for teaching resourcefulness. Cardboard tubes from paper towels and toilet paper rolls can become launch pads, tower supports, or structural columns. Paper plates work well for building windmill blades, shields, or rotating components. Plastic lids serve as wheels, spacers, or circular bases for various projects. Small cardboard boxes are excellent for designing prototypes, packaging, or miniature shelters. Encourage students to bring clean recyclables from home and keep a class bin for spontaneous STEM inspiration.
Extra Materials That Make a Big Difference
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Binder clips or clothespins
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Index cards
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Dry-erase markers and boards
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Zip-top bags
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Paper towels and baby wipes
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Old magazines or newspapers
Need a Great Place to Start?
If you’re just getting started with STEM challenges or you’re looking to refresh your existing materials, my STEM Activities Bundle is a great place to start. It’s packed with engaging, hands-on challenges that align perfectly with the classroom supplies listed above, and no complicated tools or expensive materials are required.
Here’s what’s included in the bundle:
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Over 30 unique STEM challenges for middle school and upper elementary students
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Printable student challenge sheets with instructions, diagrams, and planning spaces
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Teacher guides with setup tips, material lists, and ideas for differentiation
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Design and engineering prompts that get students thinking creatively and solving real-world problems
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STEM tasks tied to seasonal themes like fall, winter, spring, and summer, are perfect for year-round use
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Challenges that focus on building, testing, improving, and presenting designs in a fun, structured way
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Activities that support collaboration, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
If you want a closer look at how these activities work in the classroom (or at home), be sure to check out this blog post, At-Home Activities and STEM Challenges
Whether your students are building a mini golf course, creating a balloon-powered vehicle, or engineering a marble trampoline, this bundle provides the structure and variety to make STEM learning fun, flexible, and effective all year long.
Explore the STEM Activities Bundle here
