3 Mini STEM Experiments Using Just a Wrench and Rubber Bands

June 3, 2025

Who knew STEM wrenches were packed with so much learning? With a simple wrench and a few rubber bands, your child can uncover the science behind force, motion, and mechanics.

This short read introduces parents and caregivers to the surprising educational power of a simple wrench paired with rubber bands. You will learn what a STEMwrench is, why it matters in hands-on STEM learning, and how it helps kids build real-world skills using real tools for kids.

What Is a STEM Wrench?

A STEM wrench is a real wrench used in educational activities to teach science, technology, engineering, and math principles. It is not a toy or a miniature; it is a real tool designed for safe, supervised use by children.

How a STEM Wrench Develops Core STEM Skills

When kids engage with real tools for kids, like a wrench, they go from simply using them to build objects to also developing essential thinking and problem-solving skills that last a lifetime. Here are five skills that stand out:

Force and Motion Awareness: Kids feel the physical outcomes of applying effort.
Simple Machine Mechanics: They explore leverage, torque, and resistance firsthand.
Fine Motor Coordination: Handling a wrench improves grip strength and control.
Spatial Reasoning: They start to understand how tools fit and move within a workspace.
Scientific Inquiry: Experiments with real outcomes spark curiosity and critical thinking.

We dive deeper into this in our guide: “Building a Foundation: Nurturing STEM Skills for Early Learning with Handy Famm”

Experiment 1: Tension and Force in Action

This experiment introduces how tension works when forces are applied in opposite directions.

Steps

Tie two strong rubber bands together to create a longer stretchable piece.
Loop one end of the rubber band around the handle of the wrench.
Have your child hold the other end and slowly pull back.
Anchor the wrench under a heavy object like a book and pull again, observing the difference.

What They Learn

Kids observe how the tension builds as they pull the rubber band and how the wrench acts as an anchor point. They learn how force is distributed through the system and begin understanding potential versus kinetic energy when the band snaps back. This is a clear, hands-on way to grasp how materials store and transfer energy.

Experiment 2: Lifting With Less Effort

This experiment shows how levers make lifting easier, using the STEM wrench as a simple machine.

Steps

Place a small wooden board flat on the floor or table.
Slide a rubber band under the board’s center for resistance.
Position the wrench under one edge of the board, acting as a lever.
Press down on the wrench handle and lift the board.

What They Learn

Children see that applying force at one end of the wrench lifts the board on the other end with much less effort than lifting it directly. This introduces the mechanical advantage concept and shows how real tools for kids help them understand engineering basics firsthand.

Experiment 3: Exploring Elastic Energy and Motion

This experiment turns the wrench into a mini launcher to explore energy transfer.

Steps

Wrap a rubber band tightly around the wrench handle.
Insert a small object like a paperclip or lightweight straw into the stretched band.
Pull the object back and release it, launching it forward.
Measure the distance and test variables like angle, pull-back strength, or object weight.

What They Learn

Kids experience how stored elastic energy converts to motion. They test hypotheses, make adjustments, and see how different inputs affect outcomes. This hands-on exploration reinforces scientific thinking and encourages experimentation using real tools for kids.

Final Words

In the end, using a STEM wrench gives kids the chance to explore, learn, and build meaningful skills through hands-on experience. Every project becomes an opportunity to strengthen their curiosity, confidence, and problem-solving abilities.

As Edutopia puts it, “When students engage in hands-on learning, they deepen understanding and make meaningful connections that stick with them.”

And that’s why we believe every project becomes a chance for children to explore, experiment, and grow through real, meaningful experiences.