STEM Space Lander Challenge (3-5)
This STEM activity is one of our favorite engineering design challenges! The combination of ping pong balls and aliens makes this a winning STEM challenge!
Grades: 3rd - 5th
Teaching Duration: 4 hours
This STEM activity is one of our favorite engineering design challenges! The combination of ping pong balls and aliens makes this a winning STEM challenge!
Grades: 3rd - 5th
Teaching Duration: 4 hours
This STEM activity is one of our favorite engineering design challenges! The combination of ping pong balls and aliens makes this a winning STEM challenge!
Grades: 3rd - 5th
Teaching Duration: 4 hours
“As always, you ladies make the best projects. My students loved making their space lander.”
Lesson Overview
Completely Revamped (2025)!
Space Lander STEM Challenge for Elementary!
This STEM activity is one of our favorite engineering design challenges! The combination of ping pong balls and aliens makes this a winning STEM challenge!
In this hands on challenge, students create a mechanical solution to solve a problem. The unit brings together engineering and physical science topics for an engaging engineering design challenge. Students use the engineering design process to create a lander to safely keep two ping pong balls inside a cup as it is dropped from various heights. The ping pong balls represent the astronauts (Mars theme) or aliens (Earth theme) that they need to keep safe as they land! The challenge incorporates key science concepts of shock-absorption, drag forces, surface area and stability.
This project is modified for grades 3 - 5. Find the middle school version here.
As with many STEM activities that are student-driven, this challenge can be tailored to students of various skill levels and abilities. As one of our go-to STEM challenges, we have used the STEM Space Lander Challenge in elementary through high school levels with great success!
Included in this product:
Complete Teacher Guide: Detailed teacher guide with links to resources, grading rubric, handouts on a STEM career connection and science background, student handouts for the engineering design process, and math extension problems.
Editable Teacher Slides: Guide your students through the activities with Google Slides showing each step of the process. Includes one set for each theme.
Engaging Videos: Science background, STEM careers, real-world connections, and a more!
Editable Student Pages: Covering the Engineering Design Process, science background, STEM career connection, and more.
Digital STEM Journals for Seesaw. These can be used in the classroom for paperless handouts or assigned for distance learning.
2021 Texas Science Standards (TEKS):
Practices: 1A/B/D/E/F/G, 2A/B/C/D, 3A/B, 4A/B/C
Content: 3.6B, 3.8A-C, 4.8C, 5.6A
Materials Required:
Per Team:
9 oz plastic cup
8 inch paper plate
2 ping pong balls
masking tape (unlimited or 2 feet)
scissors
For building:
10 cotton balls
6 pipe cleaners
6 craft sticks
4 index cards
masking tape
