STEM in a Bag

Everyone Can Explore:

STEM in a Bag Resources

Get ready for FREE STEM learning! We’re thrilled to bring you our STEM in a Bag program, a fantastic resource developed in 2019 thanks to the incredible support of dozens of partners and volunteers. We’re making convenient, high-quality STEM learning a reality for families, classrooms, and community groups throughout Tulsa and beyond!

Explore STEM concepts like engineering, computer science, math, and natural science with each STEM in a Bag! We include all the materials and easy instructions for a fun, hands-on activity. You’ll also discover inspiring STEM heroes, find great book recommendations, and see how it all connects to Oklahoma Academic Standards. Plus, with instructions and videos in both English and Spanish, everyone can get involved!

Missed out on a STEM in a Bag kit? No problem! All of the instructions for our kits are right here on this page, completely free. Most materials are easy to source and budget-friendly — think everyday items from home, your local grocery store, or a quick online order — making them simple to pull together for your family, classroom, or next community event.

Want to supercharge your classroom or afterschool program with STEM in a Bag? We’re thrilled to collaborate with Assistance League of Tulsa! Their dedicated STEM initiative provides bundled class sets of our kits to support educators like you. To inquire about requesting these valuable resources, please email STEM@ALTulsa.org or use the Find A Kit Tool.

Find Your Kit

Ready to explore STEM? Use the tool below to find the nearest kit location or — if you’re a teacher or educator — request a classroom set through our partners at Assistance League® Tulsa.

Discover a new world of STEM every month! Each of our self-serve kiosks offers a different themed hands-on kit, with plenty available at each location. Designed for flexible learning in parks, classrooms, or at home, these kits empower families, students, and both formal and informal educators with engaging hands-on activities. Kiosks are located inside Community Centers at the parks below and are open during normal park hours on a first-come, first-served basis.

Chandler Park
6500 W. 21st St.
Tulsa, OK 74107

Martin Regional Library
2601 S Garnett Rd.
Tulsa, OK 74129

LaFortune Park
5501 S Yale Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74135

O’Brien Park
6149 N. Lewis Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74130

South County Recreation Center
13800 S. Peoria Ave.
Bixby, OK 74008

STEM On Demand

Looking for a quick and easy way to access some STEM magic? Our STEM in a Bag curriculum is your answer! Packed with brief, engaging projects, these resources are perfect for times when you want to inject a little STEM inspiration without a big commitment. And because we’re passionate about making high-quality STEM learning incredibly accessible, every single one of our activity guides is available in both English and Spanish!

Creating your own STEM in a Bag kit is a breeze! Just check out the activity guides below, print the ones that catch your eye, and gather the basic materials to bring them to life.

Note: Please check back soon, as we are actively working on this resource! For now, find older versions in our STEM Experience Playbook.

Alka-Seltzer Rockets

Did you know rockets have been around for thousands of years? The ancient Chinese used rocket-powered arrows, and even the U.S. National Anthem mentions “the rocket’s red glare”! But it was a scientist named Sir Isaac Newton who helped us understand how rockets actually work — when something pushes out (like gas), the rocket pushes up!

Backyard Biodiversity

Imagine an ecosystem bursting with life – that’s the power of biodiversity! The more diverse, the stronger and healthier it becomes. But what happens when variety disappears? Find out why biodiversity is crucial for our planet and how you can act like a scientist to analyze the richness of life in your own backyard!

Binary Bracelets

Binary is a special language built on just two choices—like on/off, yes/no, or the famous 1s and 0s. Even though it seems simple, computers use these two options to store information, send messages, and solve problems at lightning speed. In this kit, kids will discover how binary works, why the prefix “bi” means two (just like in bicycle, bipedal, and binoculars), and how those two little digits can be combined to represent letters, pictures, and more. It’s a fun, hands-on way to see that computer science isn’t magic—it’s patterns, logic, and a whole lot of creativity. Happy coding!

Build A Bridge Challenge

Did you know there are more than 120 feet of suspension bridges at Tulsa’s Gathering Place? Bridges are everywhere — connecting roads, rivers, and people! From towering suspension bridges to sturdy beam bridges, each one is carefully designed to balance strength, shape, and stability. Now it’s your turn to engineer a bridge that can hold your favorite toy or stuffed animal over a 1-foot gap! Get ready to build, test, and connect through STEM!

Coding with cards

Did you know you can "code" without a computer? In this fun activity, you'll learn to write an "algorithm" – a set of step-by-step instructions – that uses "conditional statements" to create your very own card game. Think of it like teaching a computer to make decisions: "If this happens, then do that!"

Design a Hand Pollinator

Did you know that bees use static electricity to aid in pollination? Their tiny hairs become charged as they fly, allowing them to collect and transfer pollen between flowers—and even detect the electric fields of flowers. In this month’s STEM in a Bag kit, you’ll design a hand pollinator and explore how humans can replicate this process by imagining, building, and testing your own creation using the Engineering Design Process.

Engineering a Bionic Hand

Ever stopped to think about how incredible your own hand is? The way it moves, grasps, and helps you do countless tasks is truly amazing! But how do engineers design an artificial hand that can mimic those complex movements? Explore the fascinating world of bionics, where science meets engineering to create incredible solutions.

Factor Bingo

Turn math into game time with Factor Bingo! As players multiply numbers to find products, they uncover the factors that make each number work—building fluency with multiplication while spotting patterns along the way. This playful math challenge helps learners build confidence, sharpen problem-solving skills, and see how recognizing patterns makes math easier every day.

Flying High with the Bernoulli Effect

Ever looked up at a giant airplane soaring through the sky and wondered how it defies gravity? Get ready to explore the amazing science of flight! You'll unravel the mysteries of lift and gravity and understand just what it takes to get an airplane off the ground!

Happy Pi Day!

Did you know there's a magical number that connects the distance around any circle to the distance across it? For thousands of years, people have been fascinated by this relationship, even when trying to measure things as huge as planets. Get ready to celebrate Pi Day by becoming a math detective!

Let’s Go Fly a Kite

Turn a breezy day into a hands-on STEM adventure! With this activity, families become aerospace engineers as they design and build their very own diamond kite using simple materials like a kite template, bamboo stick, and string. As the kite soars into the sky, participants explore the four forces of flight—lift, weight, thrust, and drag—while discovering how balance, symmetry, and tail length affect the way it flies. Inspired by the same kite experiments used by Benjamin Franklin and the Wright Brothers, this creative challenge takes learning outdoors for all ages.

Marble Run

Turn your love of slides and roller coasters into a hands-on STEM adventure! With this activity, families become engineers as they design and build a wall-mounted marble run using simple materials like cardboard tubes, funnels, straws, and tape. As marbles twist, turn, and race through the course, participants explore motion, gravity, and acceleration while practicing the Engineering Design Process—brainstorming, building, testing, and improving their designs along the way. Inspired by favorite roller coasters or local playground slides, this creative challenge is a fun indoor activity for all ages.

Get Involved

Survey

Calling all STEM Explorers & Educators! 📣
Have you and your family or students experienced the hands-on fun of our STEM in a Bag kits? We want to hear all about it! Your valuable feedback will help us make these learning adventures even better. Share your thoughts on how you're using the kits, what you love, and a little about who you are. Your insights will directly shape the future of STEM learning in our community!

Share Feedback

Volunteer

Be a STEM Kit Creator!
Want to directly contribute to hands-on learning fun for Tulsa's young minds? Bring your team and volunteer to help assemble our popular STEM in a Bag kits! You'll be playing a crucial role in preparing engaging activities that spark curiosity and bring STEM to life in homes, parks, and classrooms. Lend a hand and be part of making learning accessible and exciting!

Volunteer with Us

Sponsor

Fuel Future STEM Explorers! 🚀
Ready to make a tangible investment in the next generation of innovators? Sponsor a STEM in a Bag kit and directly provide a child with the tools and materials for exciting hands-on learning! Your generous support will ensure more young learners have access to engaging STEM experiences, fostering their curiosity and setting them on a path of discovery.

Sponsor Today

2025-26 STEM in a Bag Supporters:

T.D. Williamson

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Support the future of STEM! Become a sponsor and help us nurture young minds and inspire the next generation of innovators.

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