Invent the Future, One Idea at a Time
STEM Inventions provides accessible, hands-on engineering kits and open-source project guides designed to inspire young minds to build, experiment, and solve real-world problems.
About STEM Inventions
Founded in 2011 by project-based educator and author Lance Akiyama, STEM Inventions began as an initiative to make hands-on engineering accessible to every child through open-source project guides and everyday materials. What started as a grassroots collection of creative, classroom-tested activities has grown into a trusted resource for educators, parents, and camp leaders worldwide. Today, STEM Inventions designs and supplies bulk hardware kits, custom parts, and comprehensive lesson plans that allow students to explore real physics and engineering concepts through tinkering—turning abstract STEM theories into tangible, working creations.
STEM Inventions in the Classroom
STEM Inventions transforms abstract scientific concepts into unforgettable hands-on experiences, making it an invaluable tool across K-12 classrooms, afterschool programs, and home learning environments. By prioritizing open-ended problem-solving and rapid iteration, these projects encourage students to embrace trial and error—building key 21st-century skills like critical thinking, spatial reasoning, and resilience. For educators and group leaders, pre-sorted bulk components and step-by-step guides streamline prep time and fit seamlessly into structured lesson plans or makerspace activities. For parents and homeschoolers, they offer an approachable, screen-free way to spark natural curiosity, giving kids the confidence to think like real engineers wherever learning happens.
