25 Clever Winter Stem Activities To Stay Warm And Bright

Winter is a wonderful time for kids to explore and learn, even when the weather is chilly outside. If you’re looking for fun and educational activities to keep your little ones engaged during the winter months, you’ve come to the right place!

Fun Winter STEM Activities

Winter is a magical time to explore STEM through snow, ice, and seasonal creativity. Whether your kids are building marshmallow towers, experimenting with hot chocolate, or coding a winter-themed game, these activities offer engaging ways to learn and play. Here’s a list of 25 ideas to spark curiosity and keep minds active all winter long.

1. Design a Marshmallow Igloo

Grab a bag of marshmallows and some toothpicks, and challenge your kids to build a mini igloo. This activity introduces engineering and architecture as they figure out how to create a stable dome. It’s a great way to explore structure and balance—and they can snack on a few marshmallows when they’re done!

2. Create a Popsicle Stick Snowflake

Using popsicle sticks, glue, and paint, kids can design their own symmetrical snowflakes. This craft teaches pattern recognition and geometric principles in a hands-on way. Encourage them to experiment with different shapes and angles. It’s a perfect blend of art and math.

3. Make Ice Ornaments

Fill molds or muffin tins with water, berries, leaves, and twigs, then freeze them to create beautiful ice ornaments. Hang them outside and watch how they change with the weather. This activity teaches about freezing, melting, and the properties of water. Plus, it adds a touch of natural beauty to your yard.

4. Build a Snowman Thermometer

Place three water-filled containers outside, each with a different amount of food coloring. As they freeze, kids can observe how temperature affects freezing rates and create a colorful snowman thermometer. It’s a fun way to explore temperature and phase changes.

5. Try Ice Excavation

Freeze small toys or trinkets in a container of water, then let your kids excavate them using spoons, salt, or warm water. This activity teaches about melting points and the effects of temperature on solids. It’s also great for developing patience and fine motor skills.

6. Construct a Cardboard Sled

Challenge your kids to design and build a sled using cardboard, tape, and creativity. Test it on a snowy hill and see how well it performs. This activity introduces engineering, friction, and weight distribution. It’s a thrilling way to learn through trial and error.

7. Make Rainbow Snow

Fill spray bottles with colored water and let your kids paint the snow in your yard. They’ll learn about color mixing and absorption while transforming the landscape into a vibrant canvas. It’s a creative way to combine art and science outdoors.

8. Grow Borax Crystal Snowflakes

Twist pipe cleaners into snowflake shapes and submerge them in a Borax solution to grow crystals. This activity teaches about solubility, saturation, and crystal formation. The results are stunning and make great decorations. It’s chemistry with a sparkle.

9. Create a Winter-themed Rube Goldberg Machine

Use household items to build a chain-reaction machine with a winter twist—like ringing a bell or launching a snowball. Kids learn about energy transfer, momentum, and cause and effect. It’s a fantastic way to combine creativity and engineering.

10. Conduct a Hot Chocolate Science Experiment

Mix hot chocolate with different liquids or toppings and observe how they dissolve or float. Kids explore solubility, density, and temperature effects. You can even test which ingredients make the richest cocoa. Science never tasted so good!

11. Build a Bird Feeder

Make a simple bird feeder using pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed, then hang it outside. Kids learn about animal behavior, habitats, and seasonal adaptation. Track which birds visit and research their species. It’s a great way to connect biology with backyard observation.

12. Make a DIY Snow Globe

Use mason jars, glitter, water, and small figurines to create personalized snow globes. This activity teaches about buoyancy, viscosity, and sealed environments. Kids can design winter scenes and experiment with different materials. It’s a creative mix of science and art.

13. Design a Popsicle Stick Catapult

Build a simple catapult using popsicle sticks, rubber bands, and a spoon. Kids learn about force, angles, and projectile motion. Test different launch distances and materials. It’s a hands-on way to explore physics and engineering.

14. Create a Winter-themed Egg Drop Challenge

Challenge your kids to protect a raw egg using materials like cotton balls, feathers, and tape. Drop it from a height and see if it survives. This activity teaches impact absorption, design thinking, and physics. It’s messy, exciting, and full of learning.

15. Construct a Marshmallow and Toothpick Tower

See how tall and stable a tower your kids can build using only marshmallows and toothpicks. This activity introduces structural engineering and balance. Encourage them to test different shapes and supports. It’s a sweet way to explore design principles.

16. Grow a Crystal Snowflake

Using Borax and water, kids can grow their own crystal snowflakes on pipe cleaners. This activity teaches about chemical reactions and crystal growth. The results are beautiful and make great winter decorations. It’s science with a touch of sparkle.

17. Make an Ice Lantern

Fill balloons with water and freeze them to create glowing ice lanterns. Once frozen, remove the balloon and place a tea light inside. Kids learn about freezing, light diffusion, and temperature effects. It’s a magical way to light up winter nights.

18. Conduct a Snowball Experiment

Test different types of snow to see which makes the best snowballs—powdery, wet, or icy. Kids learn about snow density, moisture content, and cohesion. Record results and discuss why some snow sticks better than others. It’s outdoor science with a playful twist.

19. Create a Winter-themed Coding Game

Use paper, markers, or a simple coding platform to design a winter-themed game. Kids learn about logic, sequencing, and computational thinking. You can create mazes, puzzles, or animations. It’s a tech-savvy way to bring STEM into storytelling.

20. Make a Solar-Powered S’mores Oven

Build a solar oven using a shoebox, aluminum foil, and plastic wrap, then test it by melting s’mores. Kids explore solar energy, heat transfer, and insulation. Track temperature changes and cooking time. It’s a sunny experiment—even on chilly days.

21. Build a Paper Cup Telephone

Connect two paper cups with string and test how sound travels between them. Kids learn about vibration, sound waves, and communication. Try different string lengths and materials to compare results. It’s a classic physics experiment with a winter twist.

22. Grow a Bean Sprout in Snow

Plant a bean seed in a container of snow and observe how it grows. Kids learn about plant biology, temperature effects, and adaptation. Track progress in a journal and compare with indoor sprouts. It’s a cool way to explore life science.

23. Create a Winter-themed Pulley System

Use string, pulleys, and baskets to build a simple lift system for toys or snowballs. Kids learn about mechanical advantage, tension, and simple machines. Challenge them to lift different weights or design a snowball delivery system. It’s engineering with a seasonal twist.

24. Make Ice Cream in a Bag

Combine milk, sugar, and vanilla in a small bag, then place it in a larger bag with ice and salt. Shake until frozen and enjoy! Kids learn about freezing point depression and energy transfer. It’s a tasty way to explore chemistry.

25. Design a Winter Ecosystem Terrarium

Create a mini terrarium using moss, rocks, and small plants to simulate a winter ecosystem. Kids learn about habitats, environmental science, and seasonal changes. Add figurines or labels to personalize the scene. It’s a peaceful way to explore biology indoors.

🧊 Final Thoughts

Winter is full of wonder—and the perfect time to explore STEM through snowflakes, hot cocoa, and creative builds. These 25 activities help kids ages 10 to 16 dive into science, technology, engineering, and math while having fun and making memories.

Whether you’re experimenting in the kitchen or building in the snow, you’re nurturing curiosity and confidence all season long.

I hope these 25 winter STEM activities spark some amazing adventures and learning experiences for you and your kids. Have fun and stay curious, parents!