Student & Family Activities

Mizzen By Mott inspires, engages and sparks learning in young people. Supported by the Mott Foundation, Mizzen is available at no cost to afterschool professionals! Please be sure to download the Mizzen By Mott app to access the activities below. 

  • Aluminum Boats and the Edmund Fitzgerald

  • Build Your Own Roller Coaster

  • Engineering a Tetrahedron Kite

  • Make It Move 1 -5: Transportation Prototype Design Challenge

Girlstart STEM at Home was created by Girlstart to empower families and communities in STEM. Find free Girlstart curriculum, STEM resources, effective messaging tips, collaboration opportunities. Join the Girlstart newsletter and receive updated information on other online resources.

EngineerGirl Try This! Design Challenge are hands-on activities using common household items. Challenges include: design a mini catapult, paper airplane, and sorting machine.

Science Fair Project Ideas - School is starting again!  Are you stuck looking for a science fair project? Over 1000 ideas and activities are listed.  And, there’s links to STEM careers associated with the projects!

Fun Math Games for Kids - Math Blaster - Save the universe as you learn math skills. This free online game engages kids in purposeful, other world (as opposed to “real world”) math. Fun to play alone or with others.

Cool Math for Kids - Combine math education and skills with the fun of gaming.

SciGirls | PBS LearningMedia - Videos document girls exploring engineering activities. Each episode features a different engaging activity.

Fun-A-Day Engineering Activities - Engineering activities for kids include printable instructions and videos. 

STEAMsational - Fun engineering and construction activities for kids and families. Kids make the connection between STEM and art. 

Materials and Manufacturing: In this activity based on the story of the three little pigs, students examine the properties, limitations, and durability of a variety of materials, then evaluate which of the materials would be best for building a model house.

Engineering Solutions to Freshwater Problems: In this activity, students are introduced to six freshwater supply problems in various locations around the world. Students brainstorm their own ideas for solving each problem and then learn about the specific solutions that engineers have proposed.

How High Can a Super Ball Bounce? In this activity students explore how engineers might use elasticity of material to help them design products. Working in pairs, they drop bouncy balls from a meter height and determine how high they bounce. Youth measure, record and repeat the process to gather data to calculate average bounce heights and coefficients of elasticity.

Community Engineering: This website provides engineering challenges that are community-based and includes learning modules on topics like school gardening, classroom renovation, and designing an accessible playground.

Engineering Design Activities on Curiosity Machine: Sign up for hundreds of FREE Technovation Engineering Design Activities with facilitation instructions and videos featuring STEM professionals and mentors.