These easy to use STEM challenges are budget-friendly and simple enough to leave with a sub, but offer high engagement and room for student creativity and critical thinking practice. Never look at paper plates the same way again! Why are these called simple STEM? The challenges are simple for you to set up! The focus is on one material, but multiple activities. If you see multiple grades, that means you can plan a "paper plate" week but have students in different grades complete different challenges. ✅ What You'll Get ✅ Teacher Notes: includes terminology and differentiation ideas. STEM Challenge Tips: General tips for any STEM challenge. Sample photos of completed projects. Paper plate STEM decor ✏️ Recording page for each of the 5 main STEM challenges that guide the students through the engineering design process: ⭕ roller coaster ⭕ paper plate transformation ⭕ airborne plates ⭕ basket or container ⭕ tower ✏️ Paper Plate Graphic Organizer to use with any of the above challenges or the additional task card challenges. STEM spinner page - spin a design challenge (great for independent work). Calculate the cost worksheets to create Bill of Materials ✏️ Self-evaluation and rubric options ✅ Why Teachers ❤️ It ✅ Uses readily-available, budget-friendly materials Easy enough for a sub to use! Meets NGSS Standards Gets students thinking creatively and outside the box ✅ What Teachers Are Saying ✅ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "What a wonderful resource! With just a few paper plates, my students were able to come up with such creative ideas." ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "This was a great resource! Very little prep and the students loved these challenges. " ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "My students loved the challenges using such simple materials! I used Paper Plate Transformation on the second day of school to get them thinking and talking. We were able to tie in a discussion on thinking outside of the box and the importance of making a plan." When can you use these challenges? When you are studying circles Why not celebrate Pi Day? (March 14th) Indoor recess STEM Fridays, Maker Mondays, or Tinker Tuesdays After school STEM Any time, to hone fine motor and problem-solving skills! STEM sub plans/ sub tub. The directions and materials are easy to set up and straightforward to use. Find More Easy to Use, Low Prep STEM Simple STEM with Paper Plates Simple STEM with Plastic Cups Simple STEM with Popsicle Sticks Simple STEM with String Simple STEM with Cardboard Tubes Find more STEM at my blog momgineer momgineer or at STEM Activities for Kids STEM Activities for Kids