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You might think that STEM activities for high school students are difficult to come by, but if you’re willing to look a little deeper, there are plenty of fun STEM activities and projects for you to choose from.
Is your teen interested in STEM and looking for ways to explore, experiment, and build at home?
You don’t need an engineering lab of fancy equipment to experiment with engineering and science at home. All you need are some simple materials and a little time to explore!
Trust me – you definitely want to engage your teens in STEM lesson plans. Or perhaps even a full-on STEM curriculum. Let’s take a look at the activities I love to use!
Scientific Method Worksheets – Free Download
Before you move on, we’ve got some free scientific method worksheets for you to download and enjoy. These printable worksheets are useful for any science experiment, science project, STEM challenge, or STEM projects your students might be engaging in.
Turn every science project and STEAM activity into a thought-provoking STEM challenge. Plus give left brain and right brain kiddos alike a chance to utilize their strengths and improve their weaknesses. Get yours now!
Fun and Educational STEM Activities for High School Students
Here are some excellent STEM activities for high school students that you can try today.
And of course they are appropriate for mature middle school students as well, should you so choose.
1. DIY Electric Pencil Sharpener
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Learn how to build your own electric pencil sharpener with this project kit from KiwiCo. Designed for ages 12 and up, this design kit comes with everything you need to construct the core, add the battery, and wire your sharpener up.
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Put your engineering skills to the test and create something you’ll really use – an electric pencil sharpener of your own design!
With step-by-step instructions, you can construct the core, power it up, and wire everything together.
Then explore how far technology has come – from exploring the story behind its invention to discovering fascinating features like limit switches which automatically turn on when they sense that a pencil is in place! Unleash all your creative potential with this fun project.
You can get the Electric Pencil Sharpener project kit from KiwiCo by clicking this link.
Want to learn more about KiwiCo? Check out this article.
2. Homemade Archery Bow
Does your teen love Hunger Games or Lord of the Rings? If so, there is a good chance they’re interested in archery.
With a half-inch PVC pipe, an inexpensive heat gun, a handsaw, and some polypropylene string, you and your teen have all the craft supplies you need to make a fully-functional bow at home. You will plan out the shape and grip, measure, and cut. In about an hour, your child will have a light-weight, custom-built archery bow.
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- Ideal Gift: This is the best gifts for children and teens. Archery teaches concentration and increase patience and self discipline. It can promote hand-eye coordination and targeting. Enjoy outdoor backyard activities with your children with this bow and arrows set.
- Strong And Sturdy With Perfect Design: Easy to assemble design. Fiberglass arrow gives durability. Ambidextrous reinforced handle for both right and left handed boy and girl, soft-touch grip for excellent handling.
- Archery Bow: 44.3 inches overall length with 22 - 24 inch draw length and 16-20 lb draw weight. Recommended user's age: 10 years old or More than 10 years old.
- Safety First: non-sharp arrow tips, finger saver attached to the bowstring, and arm guards in the bow set will keep your kids safe while shooting. Wear and use instructions are in the user manual.
- Included :1 * Bow, 9 * Safety Fiberglass Arrows, 4 * Target Faces Paper, 1 * Arm Guard, 1 * Arrows Quiver, 1* Pin Sight , 1* User Manua
Of course, you’ll also want to have a conversation about archery safety and boundaries for use. But there’s no doubt your young engineer will get a kick out of the project.
You can find full information on how to make a homemade bow out of PVC pipe here. This is a wonderful STEM challenge that teens and educators alike will remember for years.
3. Multi-Colored Fire
Have your high schoolers ever made multi-colored fire? Teenagers love fire and what better way to allow them to combine adventure with education than by enjoying a multi-colored flames science experiment?
In this dragon-themed STEM activity, high schoolers will get to experiment with various chemical elements as they determine what color of flame each element will create. This science activity opens up a fun discussion on chemical reactions, physical reactions, and of course, fire.
Learn more about this fun dragon fire science experiment now! Trust me – this will be a STEM activity your high schoolers will not soon forget.
4. Aquaponics Project
If your high school student is interested in biology and the environment, consider helping them build a miniature ecosystem at home.
Aquaponics combines a hydroponic indoor garden with a fish aquarium. This is a wonderful STEM activity for high school students, combining tech, engineering, and earth science which of course makes it one of the best real-world science activities on this list.
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- Aquaponics Ecosystem: Our VIVOSUN aquaponic fish tank is a magical system of symbiosis wherein fish, vegetables, and microbes work together to benefit each other; Microbes break fish dung down into nutrients which fuel the growth of the plants on top, and the plants clean the water for the fish to swim in
- Siphon Oxygen Supply & Thermostat Equipped: The tank comes equipped with a siphon system and a water level at the top of the tank keeps the water in a tidal-like fluctuation which not only keeps the plants roots immersed, but also keeps them regularly oxygenated; A natural oxygen supply circles every 2 minutes, offering your lovely fish a more natural existence; The included thermometer reads water temperature instantly, helping maintain a constant comfortable environment
- Self-Cleaning Function: The hydroponic system helps make dirty water clean; The mini pump draws dirty water into the tray on the top, the fish waste in the water is converted into plant fertilizer, and then the filtered clean water is returned into the tank for the fish
- Suitable for Various Hydroponic Plants: Our VIVOSUN fish tank aquarium is suitable for use with over 150 hydroponic vegetables and plants, like green dill, asparagus, pocket coconut, mint, basil, and rosemary, to name a few; A great gift for foodies and aquaponic grow lovers
- Value Pack Includes Compatible Aquarium Heater and More: The complete pack includes 1x fish tank, 1x transparent tube, 1x aquarium cover, 1x siphon cover, 1x connecting adaptor, 1x flow pump, 1x pack of ceramsite, 1x pack of white stones, 1x additional thermostat, and 1x color manual; Suitable for the VIVOSUN 50W submersible heater which can provide consistent heating for your aquatic creatures
To begin, you and your student will plan together what fish and plants will thrive in the space available. Next, you assemble the main components: a tank, pump and filter system, grow-bed, and light. Once everything’s built, you can add plants and gilled friends.
An aquaponics project will provide both a construction activity and ongoing care and maintenance opportunities for your STEM-focused youngster.
We have plenty more information and resources on classroom aquaponics as a fun and educational science activity.
5. Soda Mentos Rocket
No matter the high schooler, they will love the idea of a little at-home combustion.
This activity is a fun, safe way to engage in rocket propulsion. Plus, they’ll learn something in the process. This STEM activity will teach your high school student about chemical reactions and physics. It lets you get outside and work with simple tools and materials.
Besides soda and a roll of Mentos mints, you will need two 2-liter bottles, a small length of PVC pipe, a single adapter, a ball valve, and some epoxy glue. The only tools are a saw and some sandpaper. You can buy everything at Lowes for less than twenty dollars.
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- Pump not included.
- Kit contains 1 plastic bottle, 4 fins (One for spare), 1 fin support, 1 bung, 1 bung connector, 1 pump connector, 1 extension plastic pipe and detailed instruction.
- Recommended for children ages 14+
- Construct your own rocket
- See how the rocket flies, Blasts over 30 feet
- Mechanics kits are innovative, inspiring and full of action
- Kit includes all required parts and instructions
- Educational kit that demonstrates a science principle
From there, you and your teen can create your two-chamber rocket setup at home. In the process, your student will learn how acidic and base elements combine to produce carbon dioxide and what happens when that gas builds up.
Be sure to make a video of the explosive results! The full step-by-step guide for this DIY soda bottle rocket STEM project is here. This is a STEM challenge that combines science experiments with engineering challenges. You could even throw in some technology if your teen was ambitious enough.
6. Edible DNA Model
High schoolers, even those with a strong interest in STEM, sometimes find genetics abstract and difficult to grasp. The terminology and rules governing DNA can seem impenetrable.
One surefire way for you to enliven DNA learning in life science is with a three-dimensional visual aid. Even better, you can construct it from your child’s favorite sweet treats and enjoy an edible science experiment.
As you may or may not remember, there are four nitrogen bases that sequence to form a unique DNA strand: Adenine, Thymine, Guanine, and Cytosine. They arrange according to certain rules.
Use Twizzlers (or Red Vines, if you prefer) as the phosphate backbone of the strand, and either gumdrops or colored marshmallows as the nitrogen bases. You can even have younger siblings sort the colors!
From there, using a DNA strand plan coded to the candy colors, your student forms base pairings on toothpicks. Once all the pairings are set and sequenced, you can spear them in a “ladder” formation with the Twizzlers. With one twist, you’ll have a lovely, tasty double helix DNA strand.
You can find all the DIY edible DNA project details here. Enjoy this life science STEM activity in your homeschool or in a public school setting.
7. Bath Bombs
Have your teens ever made homemade bath bombs?
This STEM experiment is great for showcasing chemistry at its finest. Work with chemical reactions, learn about citric acid (C₆H₈O₇), baking soda (NaHCO₃), and how they react when they combine (3NaHCO3 + C6H8O7 → C6H5Na3O7 + 3CO2 + 3H2O).
Learn about catalysts and why they are important. You could even take this adventure further and dive into teenaged entrepreneurship!
It’s all very complicated and extremely fascinating.
Plus when you’re done, you’ll have some fun bath bombs to enjoy! Go enjoy your own DIY bath bomb science experiment now!
8. Crystal Egg Geodes
Growing salt or Borax crystals on pipe cleaners might be too juvenile for high school teens, but have your students ever grown crystals inside of eggshells?
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- CREATE YOUR OWN GEMSTONES - Make any stone sparkle and polish everyday rocks into dazzling gemstones! This rock polisher kit makes it fun and easy to turn rough rocks into beautifully polished gemstones, thanks to its simple operation and durable design.
- A TUMBLER THAT'S MADE TO LAST Our high-quality tumblers are made with a durable motor thats designed to last for years. The leakproof rubber barrel reduces sound, making it 75% quieter than other plastic models. Makes an excellent STEM gift or activity for girls and boys.
- ALL-IN-ONE TUMBLING KIT - This complete kit has everything you need to create polished gemstones. In addition to the tumbler, four polishing grits, sifter, and rough gemstones, this bundle includes refill packs with 1lb each of rough gemstones and rough jasper. Learn all about the gemstones in your kit with the detailed, full-color learning guide.
- EASY TO USE Simple instructions and one-touch settings make rock tumbling fun and easy. Control the number of days for each tumbling cycle with the one-touch timer and automatic shutoff feature, so you can set it and forget it. This is a great gift for kids!
- SATISFACTION GUARANTEED The National Geographic STEM series provides kids high-quality educational toys that are a whole lot of fun! If your experience is anything less than extraordinary, let us know so we can make it right for you.
This STEM activity combines the simplicity of crystal growing with the complexity and delicacy of eggs. Eggs are very fragile and your students will have to use extreme patience in order to get every scrap of the membrane off of the eggshells.
Once that is done, they will have to pay close attention to the clock so they catch their crystal egg geodes before the crystals cement the eggshells to the bottom of the jar.
This is a project that combines science, engineering, art, and even a little bit of math. Perfect for some high school STEM fun! Take a closer look at crystal egg geodes now!
9. The Science of Cookies
High school students are plenty old enough to be able to invent their very own chocolate chip recipe. This is a fun STEM activity that will really test their knowledge of chemistry, science, and baking.
But first, they must learn how each ingredient in a cookie recipe reacts with each other and how they affect an overall recipe. Learn the science of cookies with this fun STEM activity for high school students and then challenge your students to write their very own recipe.
10. Edible Stained Glass
Do your teens have a passion for art? Are you looking for a STEM activity that is appropriate for high schoolers but still easy and tons of fun? What about edible stained glass?
This is one of our favorite STEM project ideas.
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- Sales Now: Limited time offer!Use tools to accurately score, break and smooth edges on glass pieces.
- Totally 16 pieces hand tools, great for glass art and stained glass work.
- Includes 3 mixed pliers, 4 mixed styles glass cutters, cutting square, glazing hammer, fid, small suction cup, lead vise came, safety glasses and protective gloves.
- Come with a free carrying case,can be taken anytime, anywhere. Note: This tool kit has two different packages and we will send it at random.
- A low-cost way for beginners to get started in glass or for experts to get more essential tools at a bargain price.
When your kids enjoy an edible stained glass STEAM activity, they will get to experiment with chemistry while making (or melting) their hard candy. They will work with geometry while making their stained glass templates and determining how much of each colored candy they will need.
Students can take this project further by researching how glass is made or the history of stained glass through time. Use this project in math class, art history class, or just as a fun, hands-on STEAM activity. Your students will love it.
Learn more about edible stained glass now.
11. Dry Ice Experiments
Let your teens experiment with dry ice! First, have your students build their own smoking dragons. This is a simple way to introduce them to the basics of dry ice.
Then, when they’ve mastered that (which should be simple at this age), let them see if they can make a contraption that blows bubbles out of dry ice. This is a STEM fun activity your high school students are not likely to forget. Go read more about smoking dragons and dry ice experiments now.
12. Dragon Paper Airplanes
Can your students take a regular paper airplane concept and transform it into a dragon-shaped piece of origami that flies? High school students will enjoy making dragon paper airplanes and learning the history of this Japanese art form.
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- PILOTED FLIGHT - Grab a sheet of paper, fold it, and go! Instantly put yourself in the co*ckpit of an amazing smartphone controlled paper airplane that does high speed tricks. The bluetooth module, which includes autopilot control, connects to your phone so you can experience the sensation of flying countless paper, foam, and even Balsa Wood airplane models.
- INCREDIBLE STABILITY - Loops, Barrel Rolls, & Hammerheads are achieved with the special Acro Mode! Your paper planes onboard computer automatically calibrates your paper airplane for imperfect weather with a built-in launch assist and wind stabilizer. Now hobbyists, tinkerers, or students can become the flight controller!
- RAPID CHARGING - A 30 minute quick charge gives you 10 minutes of flight time along with an incredible range of up to 230ft! Traveling up to 20mph, your plane will spend less time on the tarmac and more time in the air. Simply connect the included micro USB cable to a charging port and plot out your next journey.
- STEM READY - Experience the aerodynamic forces that make flight possible through various wing configurations. Lift, drag, thrust, and gravity are learned first hand. Purchase the Night-Flight Kit and Accessory Kit to see how different parts create a new experience. Great for an outdoor class or exploration together with family.
- DURABLE - A near indestructible heavy duty carbon fiber body includes a nylon reinforced nose and motor mount. The POWERUP 4.0 paper airplane set is designed to withstand bumps, bangs, and even an unexpected crash. If your paper plane flies out of range, the onboard computer will safely land itself! Includes a one year warranty.
Take the learning even further by having your teens get into some data statistics, graphing, and charting. They can even experiment with making graphs and charts in a computer software such as Excel or something similar and you’ve got a full-on high school-appropriate STEM activity on your hands!
13. Regrowing Kitchen Scraps
This activity focuses on regrowing food from kitchen scraps. Your teens will be able to learn about sexual vs asexual reproduction in plants. Did you know there are several kinds of asexual reproduction? What method do onions and lettuce plants follow?
Your teens will be able to tell you all about the 4 methods of plant reproduction by the end of this earth science activity. Plus they’ll have some applicable life skills that will keep them in delicious and healthy food for the rest of their lives! It’s a win-win! Go learn more about regrowing food from kitchen scraps now.
14. Paper Mache Dragons
Have you ever made paper mache with your students? Making paper mache is a great example of a fun STEM project idea for middle schoolers and high schoolers alike.
Kids can learn to think like an engineer while also solving a multitude of problems and getting very messy. This is a multi-day project, making it perfect for older students such as middle schoolers and high schoolers.
Go learn how to make your very own paper mache dragon now!
15. DIY Composting Bin
Composting is a great way to reduce your waste and help the environment.
Did you know that you can do a composting STEM project with your teenager? It’s easy, and it’s a fun way to learn about science and recycling.
These DIY composting bin instructions will walk you and your students through the science behind a compost bin, how to build a successful composting bin, and how to keep the learning going for many weeks and months to come! This is a STEM project your high school won’t soon forget.
16. Saltwater Electrical Current
This one requires closer supervision, but it’s an excellent opportunity to learn about electrical currents.
For this activity, you need a light bulb and socket, plus some four pieces of insulated copper wire. You can find these at any hardware store. Most of the other items are probably already in your house: a plastic food storage tub, popsicle sticks, aluminum foil, a 9V battery, and electrical tape.
Attach a wire to each diode on the battery and each screw on the socket. Connect one diode wire to one screw, then tape the other two wires to popsicle sticks wrapped in foil. Touching these foil electrodes will close the circuit and light up the bulb.
Then, submerge the electrodes in water in the plastic tub, and add salt. Guess what? The bulb lights up!
This STEM activity will demonstrate to high school students how a closed circuit works and how sodium ions transmit electricity. Pretty cool!
Everything you need for this DIY saltwater electrical current activity is here. This activity brings problem-solving and critical thinking into the mix in addition to other STEM education lessons.
There is no need for your child to leave STEM exploration and experimentation behind when they aren’t at school. With these STEM activities for high school students, you can bring that scientific curiosity home!
The Benefits of High School STEM Activities
By doing STEM activities, students learn a number of important hard and soft skills they can carry with them for the rest of their lives.
These activities offer more than just an opportunity to explore scientific concepts; they equip students with essential skills and attributes that are increasingly crucial in our technologically driven world.
- Hands-On Learning: STEM activities provide a hands-on approach to learning, allowing students to move beyond theoretical knowledge and experience the practical application of STEM concepts. .
- Problem-Solving Skills: STEM activities inherently involve problem-solving. Students learn to analyze complex issues, break them down into manageable components, and develop creative solutions. These skills can go a long way in helping them navigate real-world situations.
- Critical Thinking: STEM activities encourage critical thinking by fostering inquiry and exploration. Students learn to ask questions, gather and evaluate evidence, and make informed decisions.
- Collaboration: STEM activities often involve teamwork. Students work together on projects, learning to communicate and collaborate with one another effectively.
- Creativity: STEM activities encourage creative thinking by challenging students to think outside the box to make their experiments work.
- Career Readiness: High school STEM activities offer a way to get kids ready for the future. Exploring STEM topics in high school will give them an edge when they enter college or the workforce.
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More STEM Resources for High School Students
- The Ultimate Collection of STEM Activities
- Quick STEM Activities
- More STEM Activities for Teenagers
- Educational Board Games Collection
- Homeschool STEM Curriculum
- Valentine’s STEM Activities
- The Best Online STEM Classes for Kids
- The Benefits of STEM Education
- Pi Day Activities
- DIY Anemometer STEM Activity
- Ocean Zones in a Jar Project
- DIY Jack in the Box STEM Project
- STEM Night Activities
- LEGO STEM Activities
- Author
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Charlene Hess
Charlene Hess is the founder of Hess UnAcademy. She spent many years teaching before she had her own kids. She now has 8 kids of her own, whom she has been homeschooled for over a decade.
She has now moved on from Hess UnAcademy to focus on her family and her new site, Secret Life of Homesteaders.
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