STEM activities (Science Technology Engineering and Math) are all the buzz in education. Kids love finding out how things work through fun, hands-on projects and teachers love knowing that they’re preparing students for their techy future.
These 40 kid-approved STEM activities are the perfect complement to the 150+ print-and-play STEM centers that are all available a VIP Plato Pack member!
Science Projects
We love science so it’s hard to pick a favorite in this first category of STEM activities.
Make exploding pop rockets.
Pull together an easy water drop race. // What We Do All Day
Create fireworks in a jar. // I Can Teach My Child
Blow up a batch of magic balloons.
Create a water cycle in a bag.
Make ordinary flowers glow in the dark. // Fun at Home with Kids
Whip up some magic dancing raisins. // Coffee Cups and Crayons
And speaking of dancing, make gummy worms boogy.
Test out a simple recipe for Oobleck. // STEM Mom
Turn your name into crystals.
Pour a rainbow in a jar.
Whip up a batch of Magic Aqua Sand. // Paging Fun Mums
Make pipe cleaners mysteriously float.
Use just a couple common household ingredients to pour hot ice.
Build a giant sand volcano. // Growing a Jeweled Rose
Grow plants from seeds.
Make clouds in the kitchen. // Modern Parents Messy Kids
Create some magnetic slime. // Frugal Fun 4 Boys
Technology
Using STEM activities to prepare kids for the future requires that they experience technology too.
Teach kids about computer coding.
Study the stars with the Star Walk app.
Build globby structures in World of Goo.
Practice strategy by playing Blokus.
Explore pictures and data from NASA missions.
Design treehouses to ferris wheels with Simple Physics.
Practice math facts with Operation Math – a fast paced drill game.
Engineering
Engineering projects are also an important piece of STEM activities for kids!
Solve LEGO challenge cards. // The STEM Laboratory
Make junk boats.
Design straw bridges.
Race K’nex cars.
Create straw roller coasters. // Frugal Fun for Boys
Cut out this free balancing robot. // Buggy and Buddy
Build simple {and FAST!} spinning tops. // I Can Teach My Child
Print free activity cards and throw together a portable LEGO kit. // Fun at Home with Kids
Make a bottle water fountain. // Learn with Play at Home
Math
To help kids build a solid foundation of math skills, STEM activities also incorporate math.
Go on a shape hunt.
Play math fact dominoes.
Play a fun subtraction game. // Buggy and Buddy
Print and play Place Value Concentration.
Practice math facts with a flower game. // Nurturestore
Build shapes out of marshmallows and pretzels.
Play a fun round of Loose Tooth Subtraction. // Heidi Songs
Make a batch of Number Trail Mix.
Find different ways to make the numbers 3-10.
Teach kids doubles {3+3, 4+4, 5+5…} with a helpful flip chart. // Mrs. T’s First Grade Class
Cut apart some hundred chart puzzles.
Practice addition with some free write and wipe cards. // The STEM Laboratory
Play a round of Catapult Addition. // Relentlessly Fun Deceptively Educational
Grab a ball for Add It Up! // Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
And finally, work on addition AND shapes at the same time with these playful roll and cover pattern block mats.
Endless STEM Challenges
Excited to get your hands on these 150+ print-and-play STEM centers!? Hop over to become a Plato Pack member and join THE most valuable membership for pre-K, kindergarten and first grade teachers!
I am very much interested in implementing STEM studies into my home school. Grade k – 8th . Please help me understand what is the best way to start with your products. Thank You
Awesome & brilliant idea it`s very helfful of child education.
“Create straw roller coasters. // Frugal Fun for Boys”
First thing I want to say is that I love the fact that websites like this exist but…
I’m a civil engineer. I design the structural systems for buildings and bridges. I was looking for a project to do at a transportation summer camp when I came across this project. I am ultimately disappointed in you because you target roller coasters for boys. Really? Please correct as it is hard enough as a girl to be told that you can’t play with Erector sets or Legos because they are for boys as well…
Thanks
Hi Kelsey,
Thanks for reaching out. We couldn’t agree more that Erector sets and LEGOS are just as much for girls as they are for boys. The site that published the article is run by a mom of four boys (and one baby girl). When she started her blog “Frugal Fun for Boys” many years ago, she intended to share all of the cool, low cost projects her four boys designed together. The blog title has nothing to do with “boy only activities” and everything to do with the gender of her kids. In fact, since welcoming her daughter, she updated her blog logo to say “Frugal Fun for Boys AND Girls”. Hope that helps clarify!
Warmly,
Kimberleigh