Recycled materials are terrific for lots of hands-on science and engineering activities. Paired with craft products and some tape or glue, kids can turn recycled containers and cardboard into the basis of a fun and engaging science exploration.
Do not throw those out! Conserve all the empty cardboard tubes! These simple materials can be used in enjoyable hands-on science and engineering activities. This roundup highlights 10 totally free STEM activities you can do with empty cardboard tubes from bathroom tissue or paper towel tubes.
By Amy Cowen
on May 12, 2023 6:00 AM
These eight hands-on science activities all utilize simple cardboard tubes– like the ones you end up with when the bathroom tissue or paper towel roll is empty:
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For extra resources to explore science related to the projects highlighted above, see:.
Make a Cotton Ball Launcher: use a cardboard tube, a pencil, and an elastic band to make a fun launcher. How far can a cotton ball go?
Can You Kazoo?: use a cardboard tube to explore sound using a homemade kazoo.
Develop a Telescope: use a cardboard tube to make a DIY telescope or spy glass and check out the science of concave and convex lenses.
Build A Wall Marble Run: utilize cardboard tubes to develop a marble and develop run and explore how it uses kinetic and potential energy.
Build Your Own Sports Equipment: use cardboard tubes (taped together if you need them longer) to make sports devices like golf clubs or baseball bats– and after that head outside to try them out!
Construct a Paper Airplane Launcher: you can utilize a variety of products to construct your own paper plane launcher, however bathroom tissue tubes work well!
Build a Robot Hand: check out robotics (no electronic devices needed!) when you utilize cardboard tubes and recycled or craft materials like modeling clay, straws, and elastic band to create a robotic hand.
Junkbots: Robots from Recycled Materials: use cardboard tubes to design and build robots from recycled products. (A couple of specialty electronics parts, or the Bristlebot Kit, are also needed.).
Make Your Own Stethoscope: kids can check out heart beat science with a simple homemade stethoscope.
Balloon Magic with Bernoullis Principle: experiment to see what happens to 2 balloons when you blow air between them through a cardboard tube.
For other STEM activities that use easy, everyday materials, see:.
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