15 Best STEM Toys for Teenagers

Many people find fun in launching things in the air, and the AquaPod Water Bottle Rocket Launcher delivers on that excitement for teens. This project will transform an ordinary two-liter plastic soda bottle into a cool "rocket" that can soar up to 100-feet in the air. This is among the 15 best STEM toys for teenagers that can get them eager to learn about science while playing at the same time. Once some room is made outside, they can assemble the AquaPod, add water into the bottle and, using a standard bike pump, add some pressure via pumping air. It comes with a 15-foot launch cord to keep them a safe distance from the "blast zone" so they can launch the bottle without any harm done.

The Snap Circuits LIGHT Electronics Exploration Kit contains more than 50 parts that teens can use to create over 175 cool light projects. This offers hands-on learning about electronics and how it's possible to conduct real working circuits. Teenagers can even plug in their phones to see how the circuits will react and to see if they've done the projects correctly. Filled with educational fun, this kit comes with a full-color instruction manual that offers more than 100 pages packed with learning. They can follow along and create the laid-out circuitry, or they can experiment and create customized circuits. Lessons start out simple and increase in difficulty as they learn. The pieces are numbered and color-coded too to make the process smoother without sacrificing the educational part.

The 4M Green Science Salt Water Powered Robot Kit is one of the best STEM toys for teenagers that teaches them about alternative power sources. It is backed by a safe chemical reaction of saltwater and charcoal. This kit comes with all the robot parts so teens can get started with their creation immediately. There is a specially designed battery compartment where the water mixture will go to send the robot off. Not only will teens enjoy building their own miniature robot, but they also get to tackle a science project by mixing charcoal and saltwater. The result is incredible as they can watch the tiny robot take off on its wheels. Also, they can play with this for a substantial amount time since no batteries are needed. All they have to do is make the mixture again.

For the budding meteorologist out there, the 4M Weather Science Kit allows teenagers to explore the world a bit more as they learn how weather works. With weather experiment tools and the instructions, they will create a functional mini weather station that allows them to tackle projects and observe the results. It is a multi-functioning weather station, in fact, since they will be able to perform six weather-based experiments. They can create clouds in the palm of their hand, study the greenhouse effect and acid rain, and even play around with static electricity to cause lightning. To create the experiments, teens will need to provide additional supplies such as baking soda and vinegar, potting soil, a plastic bottle, etc.

This Ultimate Robot Kit is a top STEM toy for any teenager with an interest in robotics. It is a 10-in-1 kit since they can cycle through different building forms with unique application senses such as a robot that acts like a bartender, or a design that looks like a robotic ant, and even one that can become a camera dolly. There are three encoder motors and aluminum mechanical parts for durability. Not only does this teach robotics, but it also focuses on engineering and programming. With the Bluetooth connection, teens can fully control their robot through smart devices like phones or tablets. There are programs that are suitable for beginners and up to advanced users who have done this before.

Teens will love the Project Mc2 Perfume Science Kit as it allows them to explore their creativity and skills in making fragrances. This comes with a large perfume station that they'll work at. While being fun, this also teaches them some interesting facts about perfume and fragrances. They'll learn that how strong or lasting a scent is depends on how fast or slow the molecules evaporate in the air once sprayed. Through the use of numerous household materials, teens can play with this kit time and time again. They can use a variety of items from rosewater to citrus and vanilla to create scents that are unique and personal to them.

The Erector by Meccano is a 5-in-1 roadster pull-back car building kit. It is a Level 2 kit in terms of difficulty, so novice builders can enjoy working their way through the steps and learning more about construction so they can prepare to build more complex designs. This one alone comes with 174 parts, two real tools, and a sticker sheet to apply more authenticity to the car once it's built. There is a single instruction sheet to help guide them through the build process step-by-step. The finishing result is a cool, realistic vehicle that has a working front scoop. When it is all set up, teens can set it aside to admire their creation or play with it as it works like any other pull-back toy. Simply pull it back and release to see it take off.

With this Basic Circuit Learning Starter Kit, teens can get a jumpstart on discovery how circuitry and electricity works. It addresses the basic principles across 18 chapters that are filled with exciting and fun projects. They can create things like a hand crank generator and fruit battery to see how other items can be used for power. It is a wonderful kit to use in school as it's useful for physics class. This comes with more than 50 different items to complete the projects, and there is even a 40-page manual that is fully colored to be as detailed and helpful as possible. All that is needed are batteries to get the projects going once everything is constructed.

Ideal for young teens, the ROBOTIME 3D Wooden Puzzle Music Box Kit comes in six different designs: Fishing Kitty, Moving Flavor, Dancing Ballerina, Amusement Park, Ocean Park, and Little Performance. This way, teens can choose the design that best suits their interests. Regardless of what they choose, they get a DIY music box that can play real music once it's built. There are laser-cut wood pieces to use that feature moving gears and a hand crank. The pieces are numbered and painted, and how many pieces are required depends on the specific kit design that's purchased. At the end of it all, teens are left with an incredible wooden music box that plays tunes and has unique motions such as the cat in the Fishing Kitty moving the fishing reel up and down.

The National Geographic Construction Model Kit is a cool STEM toy that teaches the intricacies of historic machinery that Leonardo da Vinci proposed improvements for. They come in four available kits: ballista, catapult, bombard, and the battalion that features all of the previous three designs. When built, projectiles can launch several feet through the air. Each kit will come with 15 projectiles and 18 paper targets to set up and strike. There are laser-cut wooden components, so the kit may take around an hour or so to fully assemble. No special tools are required to build anything, however. Along with the clearly laid out instructions, teens may finish this cool project without help and learn more about medieval artillery weapons.

The Penguin Bot Biped Robot Kit is an adorable little friend that is available in three different colors. Based on the Arduino platform, this compact robot features numerous talents. It can avoid obstacles as it walks, dance and play music, and auto-follow so that it moves with the teens. All of this is controlled via the Bluetooth app. Besides the color variations, the bot also has six different design "heads", otherwise known as head masks. Teens can use the premade ones or customize some of them so that the robot is unique to them. If they've never built a robot before, this comes with a step-by-step instruction sheet along with a CD tutorial for those that are more visual learners.

The Elenco Teach Tech Robotic Arm Kit is one of the 15 best STEM toys for teenagers that dive heavily into the workings of robotics. This is a great tool for budding engineers to discover more about technology and how it works by constructing and using this innovative robot arm. It is a wonderful introduction as the robot has great range of motion through several pivot spots. There are five motors that power that power the five joints. This allows teens to have greater control and a more flow-like movement as they play. Once it is assembled, it has a lifting capacity of 3.5oz. It can extend horizontally 12.6 inches for a good reach, and it can even go vertically at about 14.96 inches The base can rotate too at 270°. There's even a cool searchlight function at the end of the arm.

For the teens who love all things mazes and puzzles, they may enjoy checking out the Rowood 3D Wooden Marble Run Puzzle. It is an extensive puzzle to craft, and it commonly can take more than five hours to put together. As such, it's best suited for a patient teenager who is eager to learn. There are extensive directions to help guide them through the process. This comes with 254 pre-cut wooden pieces and 10 metal marble balls. No batteries are required as it operates on physical principles. There are even gears and levers, and teens can rotate the crank to run the gears. This helps them learn and experiment with the likes of kinetics and gravity as they witness their marbles race through the maze.

The Sillbird STEM Educational Solar Robot Toy is a 12-in-1 set that gives teens plenty of room to play around with several different exciting robot designs. All of them can move on land, and the designs start out at a more entry-level pace for those who may not be familiar with robotics. However, things can get more advanced to challenge those that are more experienced. This STEM toy teaches about the thrill of solar power. No batteries are needed for any of the designs as the robot runs purely on the sun's energy. It comes with a solar power panel that absorbs solar heat energy and sends it to an electric energy drive motor to get the robot moving. They can enjoy their various creations outdoors on land, or even build the Row-Bot or Surf-Bot and get the toy moving in the water instead.

The Raspberry Pi 4 Starter PRO Kit is one of the latest generation models from the Raspberry Pi family. It is a 4GB RAM version that features a 64-bit quad core processor that runs at 1.5 Ghz. It is the perfect way to excite any teen who has a love of programming and tinkering. With this kit also comes a quality ABS 3-piece plastic case. It's specially designed for Raspberry Pi 4 as it also has GPIO access. The included fan is designed to have a low-noise output. Additionally, this comes with a Samsung 32GB EVO+ Class 10 MicroSD card that is pre-loaded with NOOBS. With this kit, teens may build a retro gaming console or transform a TV into a media center.