STEM On A Budget: Cheap and Fun Ways to Learn

The number one question I get about STEM projects is “Where can I find the supplies cheaper?” Teachers’ budgets are tight, almost non-existent. Household money in many families is tight too. But this shouldn’t be a deterrent to learning about Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. So I gathered up some of my friends and we brainstormed ways to learn without spending a lot. Their creative ideas include cool stuff like backyard STEM, make your own plastic, and learning in the kitchen. All great stuff, all really cheap.

Teaching budget tight? Here are a ton of inexpensive science, technology, engineering and math activities for kids.
Teaching budget tight? Here are a ton of inexpensive science, technology, engineering and math activities for kids.

These activities show that you don’t have to have a lot of money to have great learning activities. You can make your own toys, do some edible science or create by tinkering. Here’s what’s inside this post (you can click the link to jump ahead):

Paper STEM and STEAM Activities

Paper is one of our go-to materials when budgets are tight. A lot of fun can be had and learning accomplished with just a sheet or two of paper or some inexpensive paper cups and straws.

Technology Learning Activities on a Budget

Next up are some screen-free coding ideas. No expensive tech to buy!!

Kick up your next coloring session with some coding in these fun color-by-number coloring pages that incorporate ASCII binary code into the mix. Kids will love both the astronaut and unicorn versions and some of our other favorites in the shop like Earth Day Color by Coding, Hot Air Balloon Color by Coding, and Holiday Color by Coding!

To have the Astronaut Color by Coding Printable emailed to you, simply fill out the form below.

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FREE! ASTRONAUT COLOR
BY CODING PRINTABLE

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To have the Unicorn Color by Coding Printable emailed to you, simply fill out the form below.

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FREE! UNICORN COLOR
BY CODING PRINTABLE

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Recycled STEM Activites for Kids

One of the best ways to do STEM on a budget is to use recycled materials. Here are a few of our favorites on Left Brain Craft Brain.

More Inexpensive STEM Activities for Kids

This list just keeps going! Check out some budget STEM ideas from some of my favorite bloggers.

STEM On a Budget Collage 2 Left Brain Craft Brain
STEM On a Budget Collage 1 Left Brain Craft Brain
STEM On a Budget Collage 3 Left Brain Craft Brain

28 Days of Hands-On STEM Activities for Kids

These STEM On a Budget activities are part of an amazing series of hands-on STEM activities for kids. I’ve joined up with 28 other bloggers and we’re creating 60+ fun science, technology, engineering & math activities. Click here for the full list of activities or check out our other topics: STEM Goes Green, STEM Challenges and Coding for Kids.

28 Days of Hands On STEM featured

More STEM and STEAM the Kids Will Love!

Looking for some more STEAM inspiration that you can use right now? Instant gratification style? Check out STEAM Explorers!! The coolest creative experience for kids is here! It's a digital book of the month club filled with tons of fun stuff for the kids to do and learn. All engineer, teacher, and mom-approved. And most definitely KID APPROVED!⁣

What’s included?⁣

  • A monthly digital magazine with cool themes that are fun to read
  • Hands-on, exciting projects the kids will love.⁣
  • Science, tech, engineering, art, and math learning YOU’LL love.⁣
  • Delicious recipes the kids can make.⁣
  • Fun printables and games⁣

Join us as we make some music in March!! All in the name of having fun with STEAM, of course. We’re exploring sound waves and animal ears and of course, music through hands-on projects the kids will love. The kids will love creating their own rhythms, testing sound with spoons, seeing sound waves with salt, amping up their ear power with paper, and so much more! You’ll love the helpful standards-based learning, printables, and tools that make STEAM exploration easy! 

We’ve split the issue into four weekly themes:

  • This issue has four weekly themes to inspire your kiddos:
  • WEEK 1: MAKING NOISE
  • WEEK 2: SEEING SOUND
  • WEEK 3: HEARING NATURE
  • WEEK 4: CREATING MUSIC

1 thought on “STEM On A Budget: Cheap and Fun Ways to Learn”

  1. Pingback: STEM On A Budget: Cheap and Fun Ways to Learn • Little Genius International Kindergarten and Educational Center

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