Autumn brings a season of change—leaves change color and fall to the ground, temperatures drop, and our schedules adjust as we settle into a new school year. Educators can capture the excitement of the season with engaging Fall STEM Activities!
One way educators can keep STEAM curriculum fresh and relevant is by planning seasonal projects. In this article, you’ll find Fall STEM activities that will encourage students to embrace science, technology, engineering, arts, and math in new ways. Explore these unique seasonal ideas and adjust them to align to your schools’ STEAM needs.
Bright idea – When stuck in a seasonal STEAM rut, educators can still capitalize on timely events by creating activities based on fun calendar holidays. Check out this calendar from TeacherVision to get started!
6 Unique Ideas for Fall STEM Activities
#1 World Space Week
From Wednesday, October 4, to Tuesday, October 10, we celebrate World Space Week internationally! This week specifically celebrates the science, technology, and engineering that enables and enhances space exploration. It also brings awareness to the advancements that humanity has discovered through our studies of space.
You may wonder why space week spans across two calendar weeks. That’s because in 1999, when World Space Week was first declared, the United Nations chose to bookend the week with the anniversaries of two important events.
- On October 4, 1957, the first human-made satellite launched into orbit! Sputnik orbited Earth, providing revolutionary data and insights on our planet and the universe in which it’s located.
- On October 10, 1967, the Outer Space Treaty was opened for signing. This treaty aligned nations in space exploration through governing principles in order to protect the moon and other celestial bodies.
Celebrate World Space Week by exploring space-themed topics in honor of these historic events! Create small groups, and task students with researching a significant space-related discovery or event. When was Jupiter discovered? Where was the first rocket launched into space from? How did we calculate the distance between Earth and the Sun? These are just a few of the endless questions that students can answer in their research. When they’re finished, provide them with materials to illustrate and present their findings to their class.
For students grades 4-6, consider our Planetary Pathways STEAM project! This activity offers students the opportunity to create an Orrery, or a motorized rotating model of the Sun, Earth, and Moon. Teach key STEAM concepts about technological devices while teaching your students about space and planets! Click here to learn more about the Planetary Pathways STEAM project.
Additionally, celebrate World Space Week with our FREE Lunar STEAM Survival Worksheet, perfect for engaging students in problem-solving and collaboration. Blast off into this fun STEAM activity by breaking students into small groups. Using the worksheet, they will walk through their journey of landing on the moon and venturing 100 miles to the meeting station for their space mission. This simple yet engaging activity will get students thinking creatively and using STEAM skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, and critical thinking.
#2 Earth Science Week
From October 8 to October 14, celebrate Earth Science Week! This week was created in 1998 to bring international awareness and appreciation to the study of our planet and its various ecosystems.
Fortunately, Earth sciences are fairly broad. This leaves you plenty of options for tying the week into your STEAM curriculum. Under the umbrella of Earth sciences, you can focus on geology, tectonic plates, oceans, weather, climate, and much more.
Meteorology, or the study of the atmosphere, helps us forecast the weather. To explore this concept with your students, check out our Weather Station STEAM project for grades 3-5. Help students answer the essential question: How can we observe and collect weather data using technology? Teach key concepts related to weather and weather patterns, as well as technology and electricity!
#3 Halloween
Regardless of grade-level, students love Halloween. Celebrate the holiday by incorporating relevant themes or characters into your STEAM projects.
For example, students can make Halloween-decorated recycled parachutes. Then, they can try to have them land inside a jack-o-lantern or cauldron. Access the TinkRpedia Makerspace Lesson Library for more information and ideas on recycled parachutes.
#4 STEM/STEAM Day
November 8 is STEM/STEAM Day — the day to do a STEAM activity!
Kick off STEM/STEAM Day with hands-on makerspace fun! Encourage students to explore creativity and innovation through engaging projects that combine science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Whether it’s building models, coding, or experimenting with circuits, makerspace activities provide students with the opportunity to apply their skills in an enjoyable, collaborative environment.
If you’re looking for ideas, our free Makerspace Lesson Library, TinkRpedia, is a fantastic resource for educators. TinkRpedia features a collection of STEAM makerspace lessons specifically designed for K-8 students, making it easy to find a STEAM Activity that’s just right for your classroom.
Explore a variety of lesson plans, from beginner-level projects using recycled materials to more advanced challenges involving 3D design and printing. Whether you’re new to makerspaces or a seasoned pro, there’s something for everyone in our makerspace library.
#5 America Recycles Day
On November 15, explore the fun of recycling to celebrate America Recycles Day. There are so many ways to incorporate recycled materials or reuse items in STEAM projects.
One option is to have students create a bird feeder out of recycled items. Fall is a great time of year to bird-watch. With the leaves thinning, it is easier to spot birds in the trees. Many birds begin to migrate south for the winter during the fall, and you may have a prime viewpoint depending on your geographical location. Make the most of it with some well-positioned bird feeders. Fill them with leftover sunflower seeds from the summer, or pumpkin seeds harvested while carving jack-o-lanterns! Visit our free Makerspace Lesson Library for more information on recycled bird feeders.
For more recycling-focused STEAM ideas, read our blog article on STEAM and Sustainability in the Classroom.
#6 Thanksgiving
In a season of giving thanks, show your gratitude for STEAM education! Lead a classroom discussion and share a few of the reasons why you are grateful for STEAM. Afterward, have students complete the I Heart STEAM Puzzle.
This allows you a chance to collect their thoughts and feedback. You can learn what excited them about STEAM, and use that knowledge to guide your STEAM curriculum going forward. Tailor your projects to the aspects of STEAM that they relate to. This will give them a stronger sense of excitement around STEAM learning!
Bonus Fall STEM Activities Inspiration
If you’re looking for ideas and inspiration for other fall STEAM activities, here is a list of more noteworthy events that can tie into lessons and projects.
- Day of the Programmer – September 13
- Anniversary of the first skyscraper opening in NYC – September 27
- Anniversary of Henry Ford introducing the first Model T – October 1
- Anniversary of Thomas Edison showing the first motion picture – October 6
- National LED Light Day – October 7
- Metric Week – October 10-16
- Chemistry Week – October 22-28
- National Mole Day (Avagadro’s number) – October 23
- International Day of Medical Physics – November 7
- World Diabetes Day (celebrated on the birthday of Dr. Frederick Grant Banting, the doctor who discovered insulin) – November 14
- Red Planet Day – November 28
In Conclusion
Whether you’re looking to refresh your approach to STEAM as a class, or you want to incorporate STEAM learning into your curriculum for the first time, the fall offers a variety of opportunities to make STEAM learning relevant and engaging to your students. Feel empowered to explore additional ideas, and customize projects and activities to engage your class. Embrace the change that this season has to offer, and revitalize your class with one of these fall STEM activities!
