I would like to share some of my favorite STEM tools and toys that I use with my students. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. Put these tools in your classroom to challenge your students to plan, design, and build various things. Make STEM a part of your classroom! Read all about how I do STEM in my preschool classroom HERE.
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Favorite STEM Tools & Toys for Preschool, Pre-K & Kindergarten
Building Materials
Get the creativity flowing with these STEM building blocks for preschool, pre-k, or kindergarten students. They fit together easily and come with round and straight pieces. There are also wheels included in the set.
This set has over 800 pieces to give your little learners the chance to build something great! These are building straws that connect together with the included connectors. The straws are flexible so the building possibilities are endless!
These larger lego-type blocks are great for young children to develop dexterity and fine motor strength. They snap together and can be arranged for countless building opportunities.
Grab some extra base plates so more students can work on creations at a time. They are also great to have to encourage children to create larger structures or towns.
My students LOVE these magnetic blocks. They are easy to put together and stay pretty well in the structure. The set comes with several shapes and lots of colors for added creativity.
Grab this set to accompany the magnetic blocks above. This set gives children the chance to add wheels to their magnetic blocks!
This is another option for magnetic blocks. They stick together easily and can be used with young learners since they are large in size and durable.
Students can use this kit to create awesome marble runs! There are so many options to create really neat tracks for the marbles to go down. Students will love building with this kit!
Melissa & Doug Colored Building Blocks
Kids love to build, and this set comes with everything they need to create the biggest and greatest creation of all time. The colors are vibrant and thanks to the high quality, this set will be around for several years. I have a tub of these blocks with some STEM I Can Build Cards in my discovery center.
Something simple like plastic cups can turn into the coolest creations! Students can stack them to create tall structures that can be knocked down safely since they aren’t heavy.
Students will spend hours building and creating with this large set of lego blocks. There are tons of colors and sizes included so students can explore and build!
Your little learners will like to create with these interlocking discs. They are an interesting shape and connect in ways that are different than traditional building blocks.
Pattern blocks are a great tool for students to use their imaginations to create pictures of objects or stack them to create structures. They are made in basic colors and shapes to help little learners master those skills.
Students will love playing this rainbow version of Jenga or just building and designing new structures with lots of colors.
Grab this set of cardboard tubes that are different lengths. Students can use them to create marble runs, race tracks, and so much more.
Give students some colored masking tape to help them secure their materials and make their structure stronger. I like masking tape because it is easier to remove than other kinds of tape and students can rip it themselves.
These pipe cleaners are really fluffy and so much fun to work with. Students can use them for so many things!
This set of felt pieces includes 40 colors and is great for little learners to explore and create with. I put felt in my block and STEM centers so that students can use it for grass, dirt, or anything else their imagination wants.
Give students these natural wood logs to encourage students to explore and build things that they have seen in their environment.
Accessories to Add
Set out some loose pieces to give students the chance to use their imaginations and create something beautiful. I love seeing what students create with loose pieces.
Do you have your students design and build with small blocks? Then these family counters are perfect. They are just the right size for small blocks! Challenge your students to plan, design, and build houses, pet shelters, and so much more with these family counters. The perfect addition to the blocks center or your STEM drawers.
Lay out some small fruit counters to spark creativity. Students can build a store, shopping cart, pantry, or whatever they feel like.
These animals are the perfect size for little learners to use in the sensory bins and in their STEM designs.
These animal counters are another option for students to use to create structures.
Grab this set of 18 vehicles that are from all over the town. Students can create so much to match these vehicles.
Get all kinds of small cars with this set of 100 cars. They are metal cars that are small and colorful for young children.
STEM Books
A wonderful picture book that shows children they can create so many different things with simple items that are all around them.
This nonfiction book is great to learn about skyscrapers with simple vocabulary and bright pictures.
Check out the other books in the Amazing Structures series: Bridges, Stadiums, Tunnels, and Roller Coasters.
I love all the books in the Legendary Landforms series. They all have great photographs and simple but rich vocabulary for little learners.
Check out the other books in the series: Mountains, Waterfalls, Canyons, Volcanoes, & Rivers.
Don’t forget a BIG part of STEM is the planning and designing. Have your students create blueprints or sketches of their structures before or after they build! Have you discovered any new STEM tools and toys to use? Share your favorite STEM picks in the comments.
Check out how to set up your STEM area here.
Learn how to set up your blocks center here.
Grab the STEM I Can Build BUNDLE to get tons of ideas and resources to use in your classroom!
Love these STEM tools? Pin this image!
Want to check out more of my favorite things for little learners? Check out my Favorite Things Blog Series with over 15 different favorite things lists (and growing)! If there are any favorite things for a theme you need, just let us know so we can create it for you.
