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STEM Bins®
What are STEM Bins®?
STEM Bins® are hands-on, play-based engineering and problem-solving activity kits designed for elementary students (Grades K–5) to use during morning work, early finisher time, or classroom centers.
Each bin holds one simple building material plus challenge cards. Students grab a bin, pick a card and build. Brooke Brown created STEM Bins® in her own classroom.
Prefer ready-made kits?
STEM Bins® kits from hand2mind
Fully stocked STEM Bins® sets and Builders Packs, made with our partner hand2mind. Materials and leveled challenges come in the boxes.
Try them free!
STEM Bins® Landmark Task Cards
Kids build the Taj Mahal, the Great Wall of China, the Pyramids of Giza and more. They’re in my FREE Resource Library.
Teacher Favorites on TPT
The STEM Bins® sets teachers buy most.
Best value
STEM Bins® MEGA BUNDLE
#1 seller
STEM Bins® Team Building Stations
Start here
The Original STEM Bins®: Task Cards & Labels
Fast finishers
STEM Bins® Speed Builds BUNDLE
What Teachers are Saying
“These STEM Bins are AMAZING! Everything I needed to get them up and running was included.”
Angie Olson
“Having STEM Bins for them to explore has provided them with a thoughtful and creative way to start the day.”
Suzanne K.
“This is one of those products that will impact students and classrooms all over the world.”
Teri A.
STEM Bins® FAQs
What grades are STEM Bins® for?
STEM Bins® are made for Grades K–5. Younger students build right from the photo task cards. For 3rd–5th graders, my advanced task cards drop the photo cues and add written response sheets, so big kids get a real challenge too!
What materials go in STEM Bins®?
Anything kids can build with! Each bin is a plastic pencil box with one building material and a ring of task cards. Think pattern blocks, base ten blocks, linking cubes, building bricks, popsicle sticks, or toothpicks and playdough. You probably have most of these already, and the dollar store and Target Dollar Spot are great for the rest.
When do students use STEM Bins®?
Anytime you hear “I’m finished! What do I do now?” Instead of more work, STEM Bins® give students more meaningful work. Teachers also use them for morning work, indoor recess, STEM centers, makerspaces and STEM Fridays. Some even set up a weekly schedule so every student gets a turn.
Do I need to buy kits?
Nope! My printable STEM Bins® sets on TPT include the task cards, bin labels and editable box covers, so you can use the materials already in your classroom. Prep is minimal: print, ring the cards and fill the bins. If you’d rather skip the gathering, hand2mind sells fully stocked STEM Bins® kits with everything in the box.
Who created STEM Bins®?
I did! I’m Brooke Brown, a National Board Certified Teacher, and I created STEM Bins® in my own classroom so my early finishers had something hands-on, engaging and open-ended to do. STEM Bins® is a registered trademark of Teach Outside the Box, LLC.
STEM Bins® was created by Brooke Brown, NBCT, of Teach Outside the Box. STEM Bins® and STEAM Bins® are registered trademarks of Teach Outside the Box, LLC. STEM Bins® kits are also available from our partner hand2mind.