We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
Setting time aside for STEM, and offering varied STEM materials to create with, is one of the best things I’ve done for our homeschool. This time for investigation gets their imaginations working. It ignites problem-solving skills. It is a time to play, to create, to invent. To see themselves as makers.
The biggest hurdle for me has been getting out of my own way long enough to realize that there didn’t have to be any finished “product” at the end. And, that they didn’t need fancy and expensive supplies to do STEM.
Instead, the time spent exploring and using their minds to think through problems was the purpose and the goal. Something to show at the end was just a by-product of the real learning that was going on.
Below I’ve put together a giant list of 115+ ideas of frugal STEM materials to offer to your kiddos.
Most of these ideas are frugal items you probably already have around your home. But, I did include things like LEGO, even though they’re not inexpensive, because chances are you already have some form of blocks in your home. Either way, the purpose is to spark new ideas for STEM materials. Maybe materials you already have but didn’t consider.
Keeping the cost of STEM materials down means more time for investigating. So, grab an idea from this list of 100+ frugal STEM materials and get STEM-ing!
100+ Frugal STEM Materials
- Bottle Caps – Check out our Bottle Cap STEM Art
- Tin Cans – Check out our Frugal Tin Can Wind Chime Project
- Milk cartons
- Dowels
- Velcro
- Keys
- Felt
- Q-tips
- Handsoap Pumps
- Sponges
- Bungee Cords
- Tape
- Pennys
- Yarn
- Paper Clips
- String
- Balloons
- Ribbon
- Wrapping Paper
- Paper Bags
- Plastic Grocery Bags
- Tin Foil
- Plastic Wrap
- Parchment Paper
- Toothpicks
- Pine cones
- Acorns
- Fabric Scraps
- Tacks
- Corks
- Safety Pins
- Buttons
- Thread
- Thread Spools
- Beads
- Kitchen Utensils
- Silverware
- Puzzle Pieces
- Game Pieces
- Dominoes
- Cardboard Boxes
- Envelopes
- Washers
- Nuts
- Bolts
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Greeting Cards
- Old socks
- Nylons
- Rocks
- Sticks
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Soda Tabs
- Soda Cans
- Pringles Cans
- Toilet Paper Tubes
- Paper Towel Tubes
- Tissue Paper
- Coffe Cans
- Coffee Filters
- Coffee Stirrers
- Clamps
- Rubber Bands
- Marbles
- Hair Ties
- Popsicle Sticks
- Tongue Depressors
- Clothes Pins
- Pencils
- Solo Cups
- Dixie Cups
- Tupperware
- Legos
- Duplo
- Wooden Blocks
- Cereal Boxes
- Ziploc Bags
- Dry Beans
- Cheerios
- Pasta
- Tissue Boxes
- Foam Peanuts
- Pool Noodles
- Styrofoam
- Bouncy Balls
- Coat Hangers
- Wire
- Skewers
- Bread Ties
- Tape Measures
- Rulers
- Buckets
- Carabiners
- Small Wheels
- PVC Piping
- Funnels
- Pipe Cleaners
- Paint Sticks
- Spray Bottles
- Springs
- Erasers
- Knobs
- Scrap Wood
- Duct Tape
- Cord
- Sport Cones
- Tennis Balls
- Golf Balls
- Ping Pong Balls
- Fridge Magnets
- Water Bottles
- Egg Cartons
- Pom Poms
- Bangle Bracelets
- Straws
Whew! That was a whopper of a list! And, I could have gone on…
But, the point is to give you a few new ideas. But, don’t stop with my suggestions. Go ahead and think outside the box. Use whatever you have lying around. That’s sure to keep the cost of materials down. And, make STEM investigations easier so they happen more often.
Kids are seriously imaginative and can play for hours with just a cardboard box (Well… at least mine still do;). So, they will come up with a million and one ways to use a material we might not even consider.
Allowing my kids to learn through STEM play has been freeing for me and them. Now, I don’t always worry about where their heading with their investigations. And, having frugal materials ready any time is key to making it happen often.
Read more about how we STEM in Tinker Trays, STEM Boxes, and Purposeful Destruction.
Heidi
Find more STEM inspiration from my STEAM Pinterest Board!
https://www.pinterest.com/poolnoodlespixiedust/steam/
