STEM Fall Halloween Activity: Candy Grabber Math & Engineering Activity
Students will work in teams to design and build a device that uses the power of levers to pick up candy from a distance. After completing the project, use the provided handout to discuss the real-world STEM career as a prosthetist.
Grades: 3rd - 9th; Homeschool
Teaching Duration: 3 Hours
“We used this resource in our science class before Halloween. The students worked in teams and created their own candy grabbers. It was a very engaging lesson. This [resource] was great.”
lesson overview
Fall or Halloween STEM Activity - updated with digital STEM journals and teacher slides!
**Note: this challenge is identical to the Valentine's Day Candy Grabber Challenge but with a Halloween and fall theme!**
This engineering design challenge is perfect for a fun and educational STEM Halloween project! Note: the word "Halloween" is not in the product - the pages are in black and orange with a candy graphic. Students will work in teams to design and build a device that uses the power of levers to pick up candy from a distance. After completing the project, use the provided handout to discuss the real-world STEM career as a prosthetist. Our students have loved this activity, and we know yours will too!
Included in this product:
Detailed teachers guide with links to resources
Editable teacher slides
Grading Rubric
Handout teaching the concept of levers
Editable student handouts to guide them through the engineering design process
Student recording sheet for each step of the process
Math connection problems including areas, percentages, and graphing (With an answer key) in both customary and metric units
Related STEM career connection
Recommended Materials
Wooden paint stirrers or 12” square dowel sticks
Tape (Duct works best)
Plastic straws
Single-hole punch
Corrugated cardboard (like from a cardboard box)
String
Scissors
Brass fasteners (long works best)
Rubber bands
Paper clips
Sandpaper
Toothpicks
Testing materials: Candy variety (lollipops, candy hearts, chocolate candy, etc.)
Container (Tupperware, box, etc. to drop candy in)
Looking for more STEM lessons? Find the Vivify resource guide here: bit.ly/VivifyResourceGuide
About STEM Challenges: Click here to learn more about the 3 Stages of STEM. STEM challenges are an engaging way to incorporate the engineering design process into your classroom or after school program! These hands-on activities allow students to work in teams, apply the engineering design process, and connect science topics to real-world applications. The teacher will provide the structure to the project, but students will take an active role in designing and building their own device
