20+ Fun High School STEM Activities

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Forget about simple science projects that allow students to demonstrate one skill at a time. High school STEM activities involve elements of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, as well as research, critical thinking and problem-solving skills – all in one project!

These innovative ideas inspire high school students to think outside the box, work with team members, and invent solutions to everyday problems. Learn how to bring high school STEM projects into science and math classrooms, as well as how to incorporate STEM into every subject and celebrate fun STEM-related holidays.

Participate in Environmental Science STEM Programs

STEM education is a leading force in 21st century green technologies, including solar energy and planet-saving measures. Use these STEM activities in high school to emphasize the importance of environmental science and think about creative ways to address pollution, climate change, and deforestation.

• Rain garden: Guide students to plant rain gardens outside the school or classroom and provide regular precipitation measurement reports and sustainable watering systems.
• Greenhouse effect: Place a jar of ice water in the sun and measure the temperature changes to study the impact of the greenhouse effect on the environment.
• Grass and biomass energy: Measure how much energy a pot of grass can produce through a long-term environmental science project.

High School Physics-Focused STEM Activities

Energize your classroom with physics-based STEM activities for high school students. These class projects for high school engineering courses or any other science courses are a practical way to expose students to the multi-level STEM approach.

• Rube Goldberg Machine: Have teams of students build chain reaction machines using classroom and household items to see whose device achieves the best results.
• magnetic levitation train: Create flying maglev trains that appear to float in the air as they levitate in magnetic fields.
• Rubber band guitar: Combine music and physics with a rubber band guitar project where the sound changes based on string tension and length.

Launch physics understanding with simple machines

Nothing gets students thinking and working faster than building machines. Using physics skills and teamwork, they can use levers, axles, wedges, pulleys, and more to create projects that get the job done.

Catapult Quadratics STEM Project Algebra 1 *Google Apps*
Author: Algebra Love
Grade: Grades 7-12
Subjects: Algebra, Algebra 2, Mathematics

Combine algebra, physics, and medieval weapons with engaging STEM projects that high school students will love. Complete project resources include detailed instructions, demonstration examples, and an editable Google spreadsheet for students to record the distance, power, and accuracy of the catapult structure.

Model physics concepts with everyday objects

To make physics concepts more concrete, look for everyday objects that can be used as manipulative tools to illustrate physical principles. These can also double as art projects, making it a STEAM activity.

Half-Life Modeling with Penny Activities Distance Learning
sunrise science
Grade: Grade 8-10
Subjects: Chemistry, Physics

Students will pretend that the coin represents the nucleus of the radioactive isotope Pennium. They will collect data over multiple trials, average their data, add their data to one group, and then add their data to all other groups in the class. These three data sets will be plotted and students will discover surprising patterns in the half-life plots.

Wonderful Forensic Science STEM Activities

Great for high school science fair ideas or for anyone who loves watching crime shows, the High School Forensic Science STEM Activity is a fun way to bring together biology, chemistry, physics, math, engineering, and many other concepts. Turn your classroom into a fictional crime scene and watch the science unfold!

• Blood splatter geometry: Use geometric angles to measure blood spatter patterns at simulated crime scenes.
• Forensic Escape Room: Plan a series of STEM activities for student teams, including math problems, engineering challenges, and logic code cracking, to escape the classroom escape room.

Extract DNA from food

Your course may not be able to use human or animal DNA, but taking a step back is extracting DNA from foods like strawberries. This gives students the opportunity to see real DNA.

Strawberry DNA Extraction Laboratory and Demonstration Video-DNA Structure
by Suburban Science
Grade: Grade 8-10
Subjects: Biology, Forensic Science

Who says you can’t see DNA? In this strawberry DNA extraction lab, students can actually see DNA strands! Provides teacher notes, student worksheets, lab instructions, and video demonstrations.

Solve crimes with microscopic precision

Involving students in solving fictional crimes through hands-on activities is one of the easiest ways to get everyone in the class excited about the assignment. Look for lab activities that cover multiple STEM topics to get the most out of them.

CSI Forensics | Forensic Microscopy Crime Scene Analysis Laboratory Activities
Get Nerd with Mel and Geddy
Grade: 5-11
Subjects: Biology, Environment, Forensic Science
Standard: NGSS MS-ETS1-1, 2, 3, 4

Who stole the school mascot? Investigate using NGSS-compliant forensics lab courses detective novel Household items and the mysteries of the microscope. This resource includes PDF handouts with teacher and student guidance, as well as PowerPoints and answer keys that guide students through the crime scene.

Bloodstained Scavenger Hunt
Author: Fashion Science Teacher
Grade: Grades 9-12
Topics: Criminal Justice Law, Forensic Science

This forensic activity is ready to use – just print, fold and hang! Keep activities in your classroom, or search school-wide! Either way, this scavenger hunt is sure to engage and inspire all students.

Astronomy STEM activities for high school students

Some science projects are simply unique! Bring a high school astronomy lab into your classroom and equip it with STEM skills to complete any science classroom activity.

• Backyard Rockets: Have teams design, build, and launch rockets using thrust and pressure principles.
• Gravity calculation: Study the gravity levels of other planets in the universe and create weighted models to demonstrate how much an item’s weight changes depending on the planet it’s on.
• Galaxy model: Map the location of Earth and other celestial bodies on an image of the Milky Way, then display the map in the classroom as a decorative art project.

Cool Chemistry STEM Projects for Teens

There’s no shortage of impressive chemistry experiments in high school, and when you add in STEM skills like math, engineering, and technology, you get just the right amount of classroom chemistry. Take advantage of these STEM activities during special science holidays in high school, such as Mole Day or any other time during the school year.

• Luminous water: Use a mixture of water and quinine under UV or black light to create beautiful glowing art projects.
• Analyzing Sports Drinks: Compare the electrolytes in various sports drinks with nutrient-dense STEM activities involving chemistry and drawing.
• Penny battery: Explore chemical energy using a pile of pennies, washers, and cardboard, along with salt water, vinegar, and an LED light to demonstrate the power of a penny battery.

Lab 6: What is the concentration of blue dye in sports drinks?
Chemistry Guide
Grade: Grade 10-12
Subject: Chemistry

Structured inquiry methods help streamline lab time in AP Chemistry-related activities. The document includes student handouts, teacher answer keys, and FRQ sections.

How to introduce STEM into any classroom

Feel left out because you don’t teach math or science? Don’t worry – there are STEM activities for every high school subject! Use these interdisciplinary ideas to fit STEM anywhere in your students’ schedules.

• Have students apply CCSS concepts to their STEM projects and experiments by giving an oral demonstration of what they have learned in an ELA class or by writing a full expository essay on a STEM topic they are studying.
• Music students are encouraged to find, perform, or create a piece of music that reminds them of a specific STEM concept (such as the water cycle, architecture, geometry, or modern technology).
• Celebrate Pi Day in every class with Pi Day activities and parties! Offer pie (any kind, including pizza) and encourage students to research the history of pi in social studies.
• Assign sports groups to make hypotheses about how their bodies work when playing a specific sport or game. Have them follow up on individual or group scientific research and present their findings later in the week.

Use TPT to create STEM courses that are both learning and interesting

STEM is more than just an abbreviation for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics: it is a mindset that allows students to move beyond specific topics toward more creative scientific and mathematical solutions. Whether you’re celebrating National STEM Day on November 8 or looking to inspire future innovators with daily lessons, you’ll find everything you need in these valuable high school STEM resources.