stem activities for kids

25 STEM Activities That’ll Turn Your Kids into Little Einsteins!

August 25, 20245 min read

STEM activities are a great way for children to engage in interactive and hands-on learning experiences to learn and have fun.

1. Build a Block Tower

Building towers out of blocks is a classic activity for young children, but it also promotes STEM learning. Encourage your kindergartners to explore engineering concepts by building tall and stable towers. Have them experiment with different block sizes or shapes and see what kind of structures they can create.

2. Sink or Float Experiment

Introduce your kindergartners to the concept of buoyancy with a simple sink or float experiment. Provide a bowl of water and a variety of materials like apples, leaves, and toy cars. Let the kids predict which items will sink or float, then test their hypotheses. It's a fun and interactive way to learn about scientific concepts.

3. Magnetic Alphabet Letters

Use magnetic alphabet letters as a fun and educational STEM activity. Have your students explore magnetism by observing how the letters attract or repel each other. They can create words or simply experiment with how the letters interact. It's a playful way to introduce early physics concepts.

4. Nature Walk Scavenger Hunt

Take your kindergartners on a nature walk scavenger hunt. Provide a list of items to find, such as different types of leaves, rocks, or flowers. It's an opportunity for children to observe and learn about the world around them, while also developing their observation and critical thinking skills.

5. Design a Car or Boat

Encourage your kindergartners to think like engineers by designing their own car or boat. Provide materials like cardboard boxes, paper plates, and straws. They can create models of their designs and test them out to see what works and what doesn't. It's a great way to teach about engineering and problem-solving skills.

6. Lego Building Challenge

Challenge your kindergartners to a LEGO building challenge. Give them a prompt, such as creating a tall tower or building a vehicle. The activity teaches teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills while also promoting creativity.

7. Paper Airplane Races

Paper airplane races are a fun way to teach about aerodynamics and physics. Have your kindergartners create their own paper airplanes using various materials like paper, tape, and scissors. Then, have them race their planes to see which one goes the farthest and analyze how the design affects the flight.

8. Straw Structures

Challenge your kindergartners to build structures using only straws and tape. This activity teaches important engineering concepts, like stability and strength, while also promoting creativity and teamwork.

9. Shadow Puppets

Use a projector or a flashlight to create shadows on a wall. Encourage your kindergartners to create their own shadow puppets using materials like paper or cardboard. They can put on a shadow puppet show and learn about light and shadow along the way.

10. Build a Marble Run

Set up a marble run with tubes and ramps, then encourage your kindergartners to build their own using materials like cardboard, tape, and bouncy balls. They'll learn about physics concepts like gravity and momentum while also building problem-solving skills.

11. Plant Life Cycle

Teach your kindergartners about the plant life cycle by planting their own seeds and watching them grow. Use clear plastic cups or pots and fill them with soil. Have your children plant seeds and observe what happens over time. It teaches patience, observation, and botany skills.

12. Build a Straw Rocket

Teach your kindergartners about rocket science by building straw rockets. Cut a small triangle from a piece of paper and tape it to a straw. Blow through the straw to launch the rocket. It's a simple and fun activity that teaches about aerodynamics and physics.

13. Build Bridges

Challenge your kindergartners to build bridges using materials like popsicle sticks and tape. They'll learn about engineering concepts like load-bearing and stability while building problem-solving skills.

14. Build a Robot

Encourage your kindergartners to build their own robots using materials like cardboard, tape, and paint. This activity teaches basic robotics concepts and encourages creativity and imagination.

15. Cooking Science

Make cooking a STEM activity by teaching about science in the kitchen. Have your kindergartners explore chemistry by experimenting with baking soda and vinegar or learning about nutrition by creating a balanced meal plan

16. Scratch Art Patterns

Use scratch art paper to teach about patterns and math concepts. Have your kindergartners create patterns and shapes on the paper, then discuss the patterns they've made.

17. Rain Gauge

Introduce your kindergartners to weather science by building a rain gauge. Cut the top off a clear plastic bottle, insert a ruler along the side, and place it outside to measure the amount of rainfall. It's a fun and interactive way to learn about weather patterns.

18. Build a Parachute

Teach your kindergartners about gravity and air resistance by building a parachute. Provide materials like coffee filters, string, and tape. Have them experiment with different designs and materials to see what works best.

19. Build Simple Machines

Introduce your kindergartners to simple machines by building levers and pulleys. Use materials like popsicle sticks, tape, and string to create simple machines and teach about mechanical concepts.

20. Seed Dispersal Experiment

Teach your kindergartners about seed dispersal by conducting a simple experiment. Provide different seeds and have them observe how each seed moves. They'll learn about plant life and ecology while also developing their observation skills.

21. Straw Tunnels

Have your kindergartners build tunnels using straws and tape. It teaches engineering concepts like stability and structure while also promoting creativity and teamwork.

22. Egg Drop Experiment

Teach your kindergartners about physics by conducting an egg drop experiment. Have them design containers that will protect an egg from breaking when dropped. They'll learn about materials science and engineering concepts along the way.

23. Animal Habitat Research

Encourage your kindergartners to research different animal habitats and create their own habitats using materials like paper, paint, and cotton balls. They'll learn about animal behavior and ecology while promoting creativity.

24. Build a Circuit

Teach your kindergartners about circuits by building one using materials like batteries, wires, and LED lights. They'll learn about electricity and engineering concepts through hands-on learning.

25. Airplane Design Challenge

Challenge your kindergartners to design and build their own airplanes using materials like paper, tape, and straws. They'll learn about aerodynamics and engineering concepts while also developing their creativity and problem-solving skills.

Back to Blog