Creating a STEM Bin

Hey there friends! I am so excited to talk to you about my kids’ most used activity in our house for 5 years running (literally since the day we created it!)… our STEM bin!

Creating a STEM bin (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) for your kids at home is a fantastic way to not only beat boredom, but it will boost their creativity. When we started, I simply put items we were going to recycle or toss such as boxes of various sizes, containers, and random school supplies we had around the house. Our STEM bin has since evolved, and I thought we should share what we now have included.

STEM Bin Essentials

Here’s my guide on how to prep an at-home STEM bin:

1. Select a Theme

Selecting a theme for your STEM bin is completely optional, but can help to hold interest and keep things organized. You can choose a STEM theme that aligns with your child’s interests or covers a broad spectrum of STEM fields. For example, you could focus on robotics, chemistry, or simple physics experiments. In our house, our main STEM bin is for engineering and designing ways to solve problems and create outlandish houses, castles, and traps. Another fun STEM bin is our circuit bin made up of old printer parts, a circuit kit, and tools. We also have a bin of expired spices and other basic cooking ingredients that Wyatt loves mixing to watch for reactions.

2. Gather Basic Supplies

This is where you can start simple and build from there. The supplies also depend on your child’s/student’s age. I try to keep many of these materials below in our STEM bin. When something runs out the boys let me know, and they get to be creative with what they have on hand, so that also boosts the creativity.

Here are some of the essential supplies that are common across many STEM activities:

• Safety gear (goggles, gloves)
• Magnifying glass
• Measuring tools (rulers, measuring cups)
• Various types of paper (construction paper, graph paper, foam sheets, and felt)
• Craft materials (glue, tape, scissors)
• Markers, colored pencils, paints, and crayons
• Small containers for mixing substances
• Other building or joining materials – paperclips, binder clips, rubber bands, brass brads, pipe cleaners, toothpicks, skewers and popsicle sticks/tongue depressors, yarn/string 
• Assortment of recycled containers (Egg cartons, cracker boxes, cut-up cardboard pieces)

I have also put together an Amazon list that includes lots of ideas and items to add to your STEM bin. (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.)

3. Include Experiment-Specific Materials

Depending on your chosen theme, include materials specific to certain experiments. For example, if focusing on chemistry, include baking soda, vinegar, food coloring, and test tubes. For robotics, include small motors, batteries, wires, and building blocks.

4. Educational Resources

Having STEM books, magazines, articles, videos, etc. included in our STEM bin has been super helpful to ignite creativity. Educational materials can be:

• Age-appropriate STEM books and magazines
• Instructional videos or documentaries
• Printouts with simple explanations of scientific concepts
• Step-by-step guides for various experiments. You can find many online or create your own. Ensure the instructions are clear and easy to understand.

We have a few general STEM books on hand and when the boys have had a specific goal in mind, like Wyatt is currently excited about rockets, we search Google and the library for resources. Some of our favorite stories to use for STEM projects are the “How to Catch a…” books written by Adam Wallace. I have created several STEM challenges based on these books that are fun to do at home or in a classroom setting.

These “How to Catch a…” STEM challenges are also available in my website shop.

5. Safety First

Again, your child’s or student’s age and their experience level impact the amount of precautions you need to take. I always emphasize safety. I include a lot of tools, but there are some I keep in a separate place so they have to check with me before use. This reminds me to check in frequently as well. For example, our wire cutters and the hot glue gun are mom-involved tools. If certain activities require supervision, make that clear.

6. Encourage Creativity

Add elements to your STEM bin that encourage creativity such as:

• Blank notebooks for recording observations and ideas
• Art supplies for designing and decorating projects
• Open-ended challenges that allow for different solutions

7. Regularly Update and Rotate

Keep the kit dynamic by updating materials and experiments regularly. This prevents boredom and maintains your child’s interest over time. Check out a fun book at the library or from the bookstore and add it to your STEM bin. Also, in each of my STEM challenges, I include ideas for those “I’m not sure what to build” moments that you can keep in your STEM bin or pull out in a moment of problem-solving.

Another great way to keep things exciting is to continue to add materials that you would ordinarily just throw away or recycle. Sometimes the packaging of those bins, boxes, and tins is all that it takes to inspire an idea!

8. Create a Designated STEM Space

Set up a designated area for STEM activities. Having a specific space can help create a routine and make cleanup easier. YES…my kitchen counter has been a science lab more times than I can count, but we now have two STEM spaces, the dining room (that we turned into a game den) or the basement where we have a simple hard plastic card table that is easily wiped down. I also recommend these amazing silicone mats we use to protect surfaces. We have used them for years with paints, sharpies, and tools.

9. Engage Together

My kids can get pretty independent with our STEM bin, which is AMAZING, but I also make a point of checking in, asking questions, and sometimes brainstorm ideas/solutions with them.
Creating a collaborative environment by participating in activities with your child is important for so many obvious reasons. It not only enhances their learning experience but also strengthens your bond and… STEM is fun!

Remember that the goal is to make learning exciting and interactive. You can adjust the difficulty level based on your child’s age and abilities, and be open to exploration and discovery. Letting your child make mistakes is half of the fun and a huge part of experimenting. Doing these activities together also can teach your child that we all make mistakes, we just need to reflect and learn from them. Sometimes, it is hard to stand back and watch and let this happen, but oh man I have LOVED observing their thought processes. It always amazes me.

All in all, I promise that you will not regret creating a STEM bin for your children to use. Whether you are a parent, guardian, classroom teacher, homeschool teacher, or a super fun uncle, having a STEM bin for your little scientist to utilize will bring so much fun and joy into your space!