Environmental Engineering STEM Activities for Kids (9 results)

The human population on Earth is now more than 7.5 billion, and growing quickly. With more and more of us living an energy-intensive, modern lifestyle, the environmental stresses from human activity continue to increase. Greenhouse gases leading to global warming and fertilizer runoff resulting in marine "dead zones" are just two examples of large-scale environmental impacts from human activity. See how science, engineering and technology can help us take good care of our environment while still enjoying the comforts of a modern lifestyle.

Drinking Water Cleanup

STEM Activity

13 reviews

Do you know where your drinking water is coming from? Sure, it comes out of your faucet, but how does it get there? Drinking water all over the world originates from either surface waters—such as lakes, reservoirs, and rivers—or from underground sources, such as groundwater. But would you want to drink water straight from a river or lake? Probably not; they can be really dirty and muddy! To become clean and safe, this water first has to undergo several treatment processes; the first… Read more

Sweltering Science: Are Rooftop Gardens a Cool Idea?

STEM Activity

14 reviews

Have you ever seen a rooftop garden? Around the world, rooftops are being transformed into living green expanses. Besides beauty, rooftop gardens have a number of advantages, including growing food. How would you like some sky vegetables for dinner, or some fresh-cut roof flowers to put in vases in your house? Rooftop gardens can also take carbon dioxide out of the air while releasing breathable oxygen. But can rooftop gardens also keep your house cooler and lower… Read more

Time to Spring Clean…Your Water!

STEM Activity

8 reviews

It’s easy to take our clean water for granted, we’re so used to being able to drink from a fountain or faucet whenever we’re thirsty. But did you know that over 1 billion people in the world don’t have access to clean water? Part of the problem is that cleaning (or purifying) water is not an easy task. Not only do you need to remove dirt and other debris, you also have to get rid of all the invisible bacteria and micro-organisms that can make people sick. In this… Read more

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Make String from Algae

STEM Activity

60 reviews

Did you know that the seaweed you've seen in the ocean or even eaten as a snack is inspiring innovators to imagine new materials? Large brown algae, like kelp, contains polymers—long chains of molecules—that are more environmentally friendly than the ones in most plastics. These natural polymers (alginates) could eventually be used to create sustainable everyday objects. Try your hand at using a bit of chemistry to turn biodegradable polymers from algae into your own custom… Read more

Sorbent Science: Cleaning Up Oil Spills

STEM Activity

4 reviews

Have you ever seen news coverage or other pictures of an oil spill in the ocean and wondered how all of that oil could be cleaned up? Oil spills can devastate wildlife by covering them with oil, and they can damage our precious water resources by contaminating them with oil. Part of the problem of managing oil spills is that the oil can be challenging to clean up. In this science activity, you can test the absorptivity of different materials (called sorbents) to discover which ones are best at… Read more

Can the Color of Your House Reduce Your Energy Footprint?

STEM Activity

8 reviews

Have you ever wondered if changing the color of your house does anything other than alter its appearance? Could it also be doing something as practical as influencing how much money is spent on energy bills? On hot summer days, people consume a lot of energy to keep their houses cool. If less energy could be used to do this, not only would it save people money, it might also help the environment by decreasing the amount of energy we use! In this activity, you will test which colors may keep a… Read more

How Fast Can You Get It Done?

STEM Activity

8 reviews

Do you hate doing the dishes, folding laundry, or cleaning up your room? Do you wish you could figure out a way to get these tasks done faster? Figure out how as you take on the role of a production engineer in this fun activity! Read more

Salvage Science: Build and Test an Indoor Composter

STEM Activity

Have you ever seen a product labeled “biodegradable” or “compostable” and wondered just how well it decomposes? A lot of different products claim to be biodegradable or compostable, such as food containers, bags, packaging materials, and spoons and forks. Not only do they clearly come in different shapes and sizes, but they’re made of different materials as well. Do they decompose differently, and, if so, which decomposes the fastest? In… Read more

Wild Winds: Turbulent Flow Around Structures

STEM Activity

Have you ever seen a wind turbine? Wind turbines are large towers with blades on top that are spun by the wind. They are a great source of clean, renewable energy. Environmental engineers have to figure out where to put wind turbines so they get the best exposure to steady, consistent winds. In this project, you will play the role of an environmental engineer and figure out whether it is a good idea to put wind turbines near tall buildings. Read more

Sliding Science: How are Landslides Caused?

STEM Activity

2 reviews

Have you ever seen a video of a landslide? Landslides are powerful geological events that happen suddenly, causing fear in people who live in areas with unstable hills, slopes and cliff sides. Each year in the United States, landslides can cause billions of dollars in damages, in addition to changing the environment and damaging the surrounding habitats. In this science activity, you will model landslides using a clipboard and pennies, and investigate how friction and the angle of a… Read more

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