STEM Projects for Kids Using Cricut Machine

I've been trying to find more activities that I can do with the kids using my Cricut Maker machine. I love having my kids do hands on projects to reinforce specifically science and mathematics they've learned in school. I wanted to bridge both math and engineering with our daughters so that I could continue their love of STEM topics (science, technology, engineering, and math). By trade, my husband is an engineer and my day job involves working with data scientists and engineers combing through data.

STEM projects are definitely a great way for them to get truly hands on experience with understanding some of these topics. One of the things they've been really excited about is using the Cricut Maker for their own activities for school. My third and fourth graders have started using the Cricut Machine and they love how easy and intuitive it is to use, which is why I wanted to level up some of the projects we've been working on.

A Cricut Maker allows them to explore technology using computer aided design while also creating activities that furthers the science and math aspects of the project. Here are three super simple STEM projects that you can start your kids doing:

1. Thaumatrope - an optical toy that has a picture on each side, but when spun quickly, the two pictures appear to blend into a single photo because of the persistence of vision
2. Paper Helicopter - paper helicopters that can change with different weights or papers can be used to compare what impacts a helicopter's flight
3. Walking Animals - create your own zoo with animals that walk on their own
4. Paper Pinwheel - these are fun to use on a windy day
5. Paper Rollercoasters - design a paper rollercoaster with marbles as the passenger

Using Cricut for Kids Projects

I love using our Cricut Explore Air 2 for my kids. The older kids absolutely love crafting with it as well as finish some of their school projects with it as well because it is so intuitive and easy to use with them. Here are the links to the exact machines and tools that I use for these projects:

• Cricut Explore Air 2
• Cricut Fine Point Pen
• Cricut Basic Tool Set
• Cricut Machine Mat Variety Pack (you cannot have enough of these, especially with kids who love to do projects)
• Cricut Card Stock Samplers

STEM Projects for Kids Using Cricut

1 - Thaumatrope - Make Your Own Cartoon

Before modern day cartoons, there were thaumatrope in the days before televisions and iPads. This project is an easy way to help kids understand movement in an environment. The brain processes images differently based on its ability to connect the movements based on the environments like with strobe lights, blinking, or even movement of the object.

Materials

• Cardstock
• Clear Tape
• Stick

Process

1. Design two circles on the Cricut machine in Design Space that are two inches.
2. Add in two lines to allow the stick to be inserted into.
3. Color or use the Cricut pens and markers to design a cartoon that will move.
4. Glue both sides of the circle together while adding the stick between.
5. Using hands, move the stick back and forth to watch the cartoon.

Questions to Ask

• What do you see as you look at the circles? Is it the same as what was drawn?
• What changes about how the drawings look when it is moved faster or slower?
• What happens if you blink your eyes to the pictures?

2 - Paper Helicopter - Make Your Own Simple Paper Toy Spinner

Paper helicopters can be created using the Cricut machine with different types of papers and weights. You can download the template here. By testing out thickness of papers and weights, kids can explore gravity and how air can resist movement causing the helicopter to spin faster or slower.

Materials

• Cardstock of varying textures and colors
• Stick
• Paperclips

Process

1. Design strip of papers and use Design Space into thirds.
2. Once in thirds, create a cut line close to the fold.
3. Overlap the folds.
4. Fold the bottom up and put a paperclip on it.

Questions to Ask:

• What can cause the paper helicopter to go faster or slower?
• Does adding more paper clips make it go slower or faster?
• Does the color impact it? What about paper texture or sizes?
• Why doesn't the helicopter move sideways through the air?
• Why does it spin?

3 - Walking Paper Animals - Make Your Own Zoo

This is a very simple STEM project that you can do that allows them to have their imaginations run wild. Use this template to create the paper animal.

Materials

• Cardstock of varying textures and colors
• Stick
• Paperclips

Process

1. Use Design space to cut your animals.
2. Add designs as needed.
3. Fold the legs and then create the head.
4. Add designs onto the cardstock. Include the feet color for extra appearances.
5. Have it go down a ramp and have kids move the ramp in different positions.

Questions to Ask

• What makes the animal go down the incline on it's own?
• Do shorter or longer legs make the animal go down faster?
• What happens if the feet of the animal are different shapes?
• What happens if the incline is steep or less steep?

4 - Paper Pinwheel

If your kids want to start learning how to create an easy windmill and then potentially use it to start making their own energy turbine, this is a great beginner project.

Materials

• Card stock
• Push Pin
• Pencil with eraser

Process

1. Choose a pinwheel project in design space. Cut out with design space.
2. Glue the flaps to the center.
3. Use a push pin to pin the middle to the end of a straw.
4. Use air movement to move the pin wheel.

Questions to Ask

• What makes the pin wheel move faster?
• Does the type of paper used make the pin wheel move faster?
• Can you check the wind outdoors using the pin wheel?

5- Paper Roller Coasters

If your kids want to learn about rollercoasters and wanted to design their own, there are easy ways you can get them to put on their engineering architect hats and get to work. This allows them to understand the physics of rollercoasters and starting to understand momentum and energy.

Materials

• Cardstock
• Tape
• Corrugated Cardboard
• Marble
• Scissors
• Ruler

Process

1. Design the roller coaster on Design Space. Figure out how many support beams and parts of the track that will be needed.
2. Cut out the track using the Cricut machine using this template.
3. Create the support struts using corrugated cardboard. On the bottom of the struts, cut along the lines and fold the tabs outward. Tape the tabs onto a piece of cardboard to allow the struts to stand tall.
4. Tape the segments of the track to connect them.
5. Put the marble on the top of the track, watch, document the places where the marble may have friction.

Questions to Ask

• Does the marble make it all the way through the track?
• How long can the marble make it through the track before it comes to a stop?
• If the marble didn't make it to the end, can it be taller or shorter to make it go through the track? Make changes more gradual as needed.

Summary About Cricut Projects for Students and Teachers

I hope you loved these easy starter Cricut STEM projects that you can do with kids to help them explore and learn all about math, science, and technology. I hope this inspires them to create a few more activities while merging creativity with science, technology, engineering and math.

Check out my YouTube playlist for more Cricut tutorials.

Other Cricut Projects

If you liked this Cricut post, check out some of my other projects I've done in the past as well:

• Cricut Infusible Ink with Shirts
• Cricut Joy Guide and Accessories
• Cricut Infusible Ink with Pillows
• How to Use Cricut Joy Insert Cards
• How to Make Pantry Labels with Cricut Joy
• How to Make Earrings with Cricut
• How to Use Cricut Markers
• How to Make a Card Insert
• Cricut Stencil with Transfer Tape