Summer is one of my favorite times to use STEM activities.
There is less pressure.
Less testing.
Less rushing through lessons.
Students finally have time to build, create, experiment, and solve problems.
That’s really where STEM shines.
During the school year, STEM activities often get squeezed between standards, assessments, and packed schedules. Summer gives students the opportunity to slow down and spend more time exploring ideas, testing designs, and working through challenges.
Whether you’re teaching summer school, homeschooling, running a camp, or looking for enrichment activities, STEM can keep students learning while still feeling fun.
Today I’m sharing some of my favorite ways to use STEM during the summer months.
Use Summer STEM Games to Keep Students Learning
One of the easiest ways to use STEM during the summer is through games and challenges.
Students often come to summer programs expecting worksheets.
Imagine their surprise when you tell them they’ll be solving engineering challenges, completing design tasks, and testing their ideas instead.
Summer STEM Games & Challenges
This resource combines:
- STEM challenges
- Math activities
- Science activities
- Writing extensions
- Problem-solving tasks
What I like most is that students are learning across multiple subjects without feeling like they’re completing traditional schoolwork.
Instead, they’re focused on the challenge.
Can they solve it, or improve it?
Can they redesign it?
Those questions naturally encourage students to think deeper.
Use Engineering Challenges to Encourage Creativity
Some students are ready for bigger projects.
That’s where engineering challenges become a great fit.
End of the Year STEM Activities
This resource includes three STEM challenges that students absolutely love:
- Mini Golf Course Challenge
- Balloon Rocket Car Challenge
- Trampoline Challenge
The projects encourage students to design, test, revise, and improve.
Those four steps are a huge part of STEM learning.
Students quickly learn that the first idea isn’t always the best idea.
Sometimes they need to redesign, or troubleshoot.
Sometimes they need to completely start over.
And that’s where the learning happens.
The materials are simple too:
- Cardboard
- Tape
- Balloons
- Craft sticks
- Recyclable materials
Ancient Egypt STEM Activities
Summer is a great time to explore STEM beyond traditional science topics.
With fewer time constraints and more flexibility, students can dive into projects that connect multiple subjects together.
That’s why I love using history-based STEM activities during the summer months.
Ancient Egypt STEM Activities
Instead of spending a single class period reading about Ancient Egypt, students can spend time building, designing, and investigating how ancient civilizations solved problems thousands of years ago.
This resource includes:
- Pyramid STEM challenges
- Canopic jar projects
- Ancient engineering investigations
- Design-based learning activities
Summer gives students the opportunity to slow down and really explore these projects.
They can test designs, make improvements, and ask deeper questions like:
- How did they build the pyramids?
- Why have these structures lasted so long?
- What engineering skills did ancient builders use?
- Could we recreate something similar today?
I love these activities because students don’t just learn about Ancient Egypt.
They begin thinking like engineers while exploring history at the same time.
Explore Medieval Problem-Solving Through STEM
Summer is a great time for students to tackle bigger challenges that require planning, teamwork, and creativity.
That’s one reason I love using Medieval Times STEM activities.
The Middle Ages were filled with inventions, architecture, and engineering challenges. Students can explore those ideas while building and testing their own designs.
Medieval Times STEM Activities
This resource moves students beyond simply learning about medieval life.
Instead, they take on challenges inspired by the time period.
Students work through activities involving:
- Castles
- Catapults
- Medieval structures
- Design challenges
- Engineering concepts
What makes this resource especially useful during the summer is the opportunity for students to collaborate.
Some of the best conversations happen when groups are trying to figure out why a design isn’t working or how they can improve it.
I always find that students become much more invested when there’s a challenge to solve.
Rather than memorizing information about the Middle Ages, they’re applying critical thinking skills, testing ideas, and learning through trial and error.
Don’t Forget the Supplies Behind Great STEM Activities
One thing I’ve learned from years of using STEM activities is that the challenge itself is only part of the equation.
The right supplies can make STEM activities run much more smoothly.
Nothing slows down a great STEM lesson faster than realizing you’re out of tape, short on cardboard, or scrambling to find materials students need to finish their designs.
Summer is actually a great time to stock up on STEM materials because many of the same supplies can be used across multiple projects and challenges.
Whether students are building pyramids, testing balloon rocket cars, or designing medieval structures, having a few go-to materials on hand makes planning so much easier.
Some of my STEM favorites include:
- Cardboard
- Craft sticks
- Tape
- String
- Balloons
- Plastic cups
- Recyclable materials
- Index cards
- Pipe cleaners
If you’re looking for more ideas, check out this post:
The Best Classroom Supplies for Middle School STEM Challenges
You’ll find practical STEM supply recommendations that can be used throughout summer school, enrichment programs, STEM clubs, and classroom challenges all year long.
Bonus Resource: A STEM Bundle That Lasts Beyond Summer
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that when students find a STEM activity they love, they immediately ask:
“What are we building next?”
That’s why I like having a collection of STEM challenges ready to go.
STEM Activities Bundle
This bundle includes a variety of STEM projects that can be used:
- During summer school
- During the school year
- In STEM clubs
- For enrichment groups
- For early finishers
- During seasonal units
What I like most is the flexibility.
You can pull out a challenge during summer learning, save activities for the school year, or use them whenever students need something hands-on and engaging.
My Final Thoughts
Summer can look very different from one classroom to the next.
Some teachers are running summer school. Others are planning enrichment activities, teaching camps, homeschooling, or gathering ideas for the upcoming school year.
No matter what your summer looks like, STEM activities are an easy way to keep students engaged while encouraging creativity and problem-solving.
I love that these projects can be adapted for different ages, different schedules, and different learning environments.
A quick STEM game can fill a summer morning.
A balloon rocket challenge can turn into an afternoon of testing and redesigning.
An Ancient Egypt or Medieval Times project can connect history, engineering, and creativity all in one lesson.
If you’re looking for a place to start, check out these STEM resources:
Summer STEM Games & Challenges
End of the Year STEM Activities
Ancient Egypt STEM Activities
Medieval Times STEM Activities
STEM Activities Bundle
The projects students talk about long after summer ends are usually the ones they built, tested, and created themselves.
