Superhero Arm: STEM At Home Activity
Originally Posted: April 16, 2020
Updated: April 2024
STEM Space At Home Video Challenge
STEM Space At Home is a video series led by an engineer using materials you can find at home. The videos are intended to support elementary and middle school students through fun engineering design challenges with a real-world connection. Find all episodes here.
Educators - Click for the full Robot Hand teacher guide for classroom instruction along with printed and paperless STEM Journals for distance learning.
STEM Space At-Home is brought to you by Vivify STEM and Communities In Schools of San Antonio with funding from the NASA and the WEX Foundation’s “New Worlds Await You” program.
Superhero Robotic Arm STEM Challenge
Mission: Learn how to build a moveable robotic hand, and then turn it into a wearable superhero arm!
Materials needed: Watch the video for ideas of materials to use around the house.
Scissors
Tape
Materials for robotic hand: string, 5 straws, marker, paper or construction paper
Materials for superhero arm: Construction paper, recyclable materials (cardboard, paper towel rolls etc.)
Click to watch the video!
Check out the video of middle school student submissions of the Robot Hand STEM challenge! Students are part of the Space Club program - open to any middle school site. Click here to learn more about Space Club!
Additional Resources:
Vivify’s Robotic Hand Challenge: Check out our complete lesson for using in the classroom or for distance learning. Includes editable Google Slide STEM journals and take-home packets.
Check out these awesome STEM career videos:
Want to learn more about robotic exoskeletons? Check these videos out;
Good luck engineers! We can’t wait to see your superhero arms! Don’t forget to post your design using #𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗠𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲 and tag us on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter!
Click for Vivify’s lesson to the robot hand STEM activity with digital STEM journals to support distance learning.
