Let’s be real—keeping kids engaged in STEM can sometimes feel like trying to catch a greased-up pig at a county fair. When our STEM team first started in 2017, the kids didn’t know what an engineer was. Carrying out a STEM lesson in our community was very difficult. Many of the students were considered English Language Learners. It took us many years and testing, trying, reflecting, and re-teaching to get STEM to be the kids favorite part of their week. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is incredible in lighting up kids’ curiosity and teaching them real-world skills. Over the years, I’ve tried and tested so many strategies in my classrooms near the San Diego-Mexico border, where our students bring such rich, diverse perspectives. Here are my top 5 go-to moves for making STEM fun and meaningful. Let’s Engage 4th Graders in NGSS together.
1. Let Kids Get Their Hands Dirty
Kids love building, creating, and experimenting. Hands-on activities let them dive in and learn by doing—and trust me, the messier, the better. My students get a huge kick out of the “Paper Tower STEM Challenge.” With just paper and tape, they design and build the tallest tower they can. I love seeing their teamwork and creativity shine as they figure out what works and what doesn’t. Plus, it’s hilarious watching them try to defend their towers against the fan I use for a “wind test.” Another fun hands-on activity is the classic “Marshmallow and Toothpick Bridge” challenge. It’s so cool to hear their little engineer brains working through ideas about balance and weight.
2. Show Them the “Why” Behind STEM
Kids stay engaged when they can see how STEM connects to their lives. If they know they’re solving real-world problems, they’re all in. My students LOVE the “Design a Water Filter” project. Living so close to the border, many of them have seen or heard about water challenges firsthand. This activity gives them a chance to solve a problem that feels real and important. Watching them test their filters and make improvements is always a proud-teacher moment. Another great idea is a recycling challenge where students design a prototype to separate recyclables automatically. It’s perfect for Earth Day and gets them thinking about environmental responsibility.
You can find easy to implement STEM challenges here. Many of the challenges will allow you use any resources available to you. As the teacher you are able to put the restraints on materials for the students. I tend to let the students use 3-4 materials. I teach the students that in real-life engineers don’t have an unlimited supply of materials.
3. Bring in Tech Tools
Kids + technology = a match made in heaven. There are so many apps and tools out there to make STEM interactive and exciting. We use Scratch for coding basics in my classroom, and it’s a game-changer. My “Coding for Beginners” lessons walk students through creating simple games and animations. It’s amazing to see their confidence grow as they debug their code and figure out how to make their projects work. Another tech tool that’s always a hit is Google Expeditions. Taking a virtual reality trip to Mars or exploring the deep ocean gets kids hooked on science in minutes. Engage 4th Graders in NGSS using technology, and you won’t go back.
4. Let Them Work as a Team
STEM isn’t just about science and math; it’s about collaboration. Team projects teach kids how to communicate and work together to reach a goal. I use job roles like “Builder,” “Inspector,” and “Project Manager” during group challenges in my classroom. This setup mimics how real engineering teams work, and it’s great for keeping everyone involved. My students love stepping into these roles and taking their responsibilities seriously. For a fun twist, try hosting a “STEM Olympics” where teams compete in challenges like building the tallest spaghetti tower or designing the fastest car. The friendly competition really gets the kids pumped.
If you don’t know where to start with the job roles, you can find the bundle that includes everything you will need to get started. Find that here.
5. Make STEM Fun and Relatable
At the end of the day, kids just want to have fun. When you bring creativity and a little bit of silliness into STEM, they’re hooked. Seasonal STEM activities are always a hit in my classroom. Around the holidays, we make “snow” in a bag and design Valentine’s Day catapults. These activities keep the kids engaged while sneaking in plenty of learning. They’re perfect for our community, where traditions and celebrations are such a big deal. Another favorite activity is tying STEM to storybooks. After reading Rosie Revere, Engineer, I challenge my students to invent something just like Rosie. It’s a great way to mix literacy and engineering. Find more ways to engage 4th Graders in NGSS and make learning fun in this blog post.
Final Thoughts
These strategies to engage 4th Graders in NGSS have worked wonders in my classrooms over the years, especially here on the border where our students bring so much creativity and resilience to the table. Whether you’re using my resources from Love Learning STEM or trying out ideas you found online, the key is to make STEM engaging, relatable, and FUN. What are your favorite STEM activities? I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments!