Skateboard/Fingerboard STEM Challenge, Editable Worksheets, Task Cards & Challenge Sheet

 

Seeking a hands-on STEM or STEAM project that kids actually get excited about, this is it.

We’re talking real working mini skateboards, built from popsicle sticks, pony beads, straws, and lollipop sticks, that roll, turn, and even do tricks. Yes, seriously.

It’s a full-blown science and engineering challenge packed with learning opportunities: from force and motion to simple machines, friction, gravity, and design thinking. And best of all? It’s super easy, super low-cost, and incredibly fun, with free printable challenge worksheets, task cards, and a step-by-step guide. Plus, you’ll get access to the Google Slides version, so you can use it in the classroom or assign it digitally at home.   

No prep needed, just download from the bottom of the post and go!

Skateboard, Fingerboard STEM Challenge, Explore Force, Motion & Engineering Design 

Skateboard/Fingerboard STEM Challenge, Editable Worksheets, Task Cards & Challenge Sheet

Perfect for STEM/STEAM time, centers, or hands-on learning days. (Contains Amazon affiliate links. No extra cost to you, just support for us.

Materials 

All you need are a few common supplies:

1.  Wide popsicle sticks (for the deck)

2. Lollipop sticks or Toothpicks (for axles)

3. Pony beads  (for wheels)

4. Straws: paper, plastic, or bamboo (for the axle   casing)

6. Gripper tape 

7. Hot glue gun or strong glue

8. Scissors or box cutters (adult help recommended)

Optional: foam, cardstock, tape, or sturdy plastic for truck design. Sandpaper to decorate)

How to Build a Fingerboard?

Start with a wide popsicle stick. Soak it in water for about 20 to 30 minutes to make it Hot water is recommended.

Gently bend the ends up using your thumbs to shape the deck, just like a real skateboard.

TIP: Some sticks may crack! Use extras, and go slow. Let it dry fully to hold its shape.

Measure & Cut the Axles

Use a ruler to measure and cut lollipop sticks to fit the width of your board.

If the ends are too thick to fit into your bead wheels, use scissors to trim them into a triangular shape or tap gently with a hammer to fit them snugly.

Create the Axle Casings

The axle casing, what the axles spin inside, is where the magic happens. Try all kinds of straws: regular paper straws, bamboo straws, and even hard plastic ones from reusable tumblers. Some can be tricky to cut, but they make for great experiments. Here, students will find out quickly which materials hold up best and allow smooth spinning.

Design the Trucks

This is where the design process really kicked in!
Kids used

Cardstock folded for support

Foam tape for shock absorption

Thin cardboard layers

We discussed how real trucks absorb shock, like bikes or boats, and what happens when you land hard. Perfect real-world tie-in.

Assemble

Then come the trucks, the parts that attach the wheels to the board. That’s where kids can get creative. They can use foam tape, folded cardstock, or layered thin cardboard. Double-sided foam pads for shock absorption can be used. Talk about how real skateboard trucks absorb force, and with us, some kids connected it to experiences like riding bikes, tubing, or bouncing around in boats.

Attach everything with a hot glue gun (adult supervision helps here), and don’t forget the top of the board—sand the edges and add gripper tape (like the kind used on stair treads). Trim the tape neatly for that finished look.

STEAM in Action: What Kids Actually Learn

As fun as this build is, it’s also packed with real STEAM.

When kids give their fingerboard a push, they’re learning about force and motion. The board only moves when a force (your finger) acts on it—hello, 

Newton’s First Law.

Build a simple cardboard ramp, and suddenly you’ve added gravity and acceleration to the mix. The steeper the ramp, the faster it goes. Want to slow it down? Try rolling it across the carpet. That’s friction in action.

They’re also using a simple machine—the wheel and axle—which makes movement easier by reducing resistance. And when the board doesn’t roll straight, or the wheels fall off mid-flip? That’s a lesson in balance, design, and problem-solving.

Plus, you’ve got tons of opportunities to explore material properties. What holds up best under pressure? What bends without breaking? What makes a smoother ride? It’s all part of the engineering design process—plan, build, test, fail, tweak, and try again.

What Could Go Wrong? (And Why That’s Awesome)

Yes—some sticks will crack when you bend them.
Some straws will be too flimsy.

Some wheels won’t spin until you adjust the axle fit and sometimes, the board will lean to one side because the trucks aren’t even.

And that’s exactly what makes this a perfect STEM activity. Every problem is a teachable moment, and every redesign builds real-world thinking skills

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Add-On Challenges & Extensions

Want to take this to the next level?

Build a cardboard skatepark with ramps, rails, and jumps.

Use timers or rulers to measure how far or fast the boards travel down ramps.

Compare how different surfaces affect speed and friction.

Let students redesign and present what they changed and why.

Add a longboard version with a smoother, stretched-out deck.

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💡 Final Thought

This fingerboard STEM build will be a huge hit

It’s deeply educational. It hits on core science concepts, encourages hands-on building, and challenges kids to think, test, and improve.

And at the end? They have a working fingerboard that they made themselves. They’ll be flipping and rolling with pride—and probably won’t even realize they just learned a whole lot of science.

Ready to bring this hands-on STEM challenge into your classroom or homeschool? This activity is fully editable in Google Workspace, including Google Slides, allowing you to customize it for your students’ needs. Whether you're teaching a force and motion science unit, exploring simple machines, or looking for an engaging STEAM project using popsicle sticks and pony beads, this resource makes science learning fun, affordable, and meaningful. Perfect for digital or in-person classrooms, and ideal for STEM activities for elementary students—it’s a printable, interactive tool your students will love!

Download from here
Printable Challenge Worksheet

Download Cover Photo

Download Task Card

Download Challenge Sheet

Download STEM LAWS

Download Ask Section

Download Imagine Section

Download Create Section

Download Test

Download Improve Section

Download Vocabulary Page

26 Ready-to-Use Google Slides for Classroom Presentations download from here

Includes Worksheets & Challenge Task Cards Perfect for Classroom Décor, Bulletin Boards, or Your STEM Lab!

Build mini skateboards to explore force, motion, friction & engineering! Includes editable worksheets, STEM task cards & challenge sheets in Google Slides. Whether you’re a teacher looking for an unforgettable force and motion activity, a parent who loves weekend STEM builds, or a homeschooler looking to bring engineering to life, this one’s a guaranteed win.

It’s cheap.

It’s exciting.

And it works.

That’s STEM done right.