Creative STEM and STEAM Ideas for Students

Science

Properties Exploration

Compare Mad Mattr with other building materials (wood, blocks, clay). Discuss how Mad Mattr is unique in its texture, holding shape when molded, and never drying out. Experiment with pressing Mad Mattr into various molds to see how well it captures detail.

Engineering

Freestyle Building

Provide basic challenges like "build the tallest tower" or "create a bridge that spans this gap." This lets students explore structural stability and problem-solving without rigid instructions.

Mold-Based Design

Create simple molds out of everyday objects (cups, plastic containers, cookie cutters). Instruct students to fill the molds, then use the molded pieces for building, exploring how molded components can be combined.

Mathematics

Shape Creation

Focus on creating basic 2D and 3D shapes with Mad Mattr. Provide tools like rollers, cutters, and shape templates to support this. Discuss how the shapes they mold differ from those made with rigid materials.

Measuring and Estimating

Create Mad Mattr 'snakes' of various lengths for measurement practice. Have students estimate lengths before measuring, or give them target lengths to create.

Art

Sculpting

Provide sculpting tools and encourage students to create figures (animals, people, objects). Emphasize detail work made possible by Mad Mattr’s ability to hold intricate shapes.

Themed Creations

Tie sculpting into other learning units (build a dinosaur to go with a science lesson, sculpt a historical figure for social studies, etc.).

Science

Advanced Molding Experiments

Design complex molds considering aspects like undercuts and negative space. Students predict how well Mad Mattr will work before testing.

Material Comparisons

Create the same structure using Mad Mattr and another material (e.g., cardboard). Test which holds more weight, withstands compression better, etc.

Engineering

Real-World Inspired Challenges

Move beyond "towers and bridges." Have students research existing structures, then create Mad Mattr models considering design functionality.

Functional Mechanisms

Explore creating gear systems, rudimentary hinge mechanisms, etc., out of molded Mad Mattr pieces.

Technology

3D Design Integration

Teach simple 3D design software. Students design their OWN molds, then print and use them with Mad Mattr.

Measuring and Estimating

Create Mad Mattr 'snakes' of various lengths for measurement practice. Have students estimate lengths before measuring, or give them target lengths to create.

Mathematics

Scale and Proportion

Create scaled-down models with precise ratios using Mad Mattr. Teach how to calculate scale factors based on desired final size.