Check the internet, and you will find many affordable STEM subscription boxes and a lot of free STEM activities for kids to complete at home. Kids can complete some of these science activities with little help.
Meeting STEM challenges will instill a love of learning, and help kids develop critical thinking skills.
STEM and STEAM projects are fun to do with your family. Below you will find free STEM activities that encourage kids to explore and try new things.
The 8 Simple STEM Projects to Do at Home or School
1. Build a Rocket
In this STEM challenge, kids make a rocket out of a straw to launch into the air. This activity encourages kids to learn about physics, space, and things that fly.
Using free STEM printables and a straw, the wind-powered rockets will fly high in the air. The family can enjoy coloring their rockets together. To get started, visit Buggy and Buddy to print your free template and get a list of simple materials.
2. Superhero STEM Challenge
A key aspect of teaching STEAM and STEM is to create buy-in by the kids. Choosing a theme that kids love will help with buy-in, which is why these Superhero STEM Challenge Cards are one of the best resources.
With superheroes in mind, kids do some building, creating, and excavating. This resource will have kids build a skyline of Gotham City and make a tornado in a jar.
There are 12 free STEM activities to use at home or in the classroom. Left Brain, Craft Brain offers a free condensed version of these STEAM Challenge cards. Enter your email to get this free resource.
3. Code Your Name
One of the most popular technology subjects to teach kids is coding. Coding takes place on so many devices, and more and more jobs need coders.
This STEM challenge asks your kids to code their names using binary code. Kids in middle school will especially like this science activity because they are so technology-oriented. Students work with a set of materials to learn how to use binary code to design and create a bracelet.
Mama Smiles has a list of supplies needed and step-by-step instructions for teachers to use while exploring coding.
4. LEGO Challenge Cards
Students love LEGOS, and they will love any activity that incorporates LEGOS. This resource provides 10 STEM activities to think outside the box to accomplish different tasks.
Before they start building, the kids must estimate how many LEGOS they will use to create the given design. After executing the task, they will check to see how close they were to their estimation. They will explore different ways to build everyday items.
These challenges are simple to use and easy to gather supplies. They work in the classroom best but are usable at home. The STEM Laboratory offers many resources for STEM activities, and this LEGO Challenge is just one that incorporates LEGO math and STEM learning.
5. Cloud in a Jar
A Gift of Curiosity has information on how to teach a weather science lesson by creating a cloud in a jar. Students will learn how the cloud works in the jar.
This is a fun and easy activity to complete with your family or at school. After following the directions, you will see a cloud form in the jar.
There are two ways to make the cloud, and the tips for each way to make the cloud are part of the resource. Measuring skills are utilized in this STEM activity because materials are measured.
6. Simple Machine-Winch
A simple way to teach engineering is by learning about simple machines. An easy way to get your kids or classroom interested in engineering is to complete an activity that creates a simple machine like a winch. The little engineers will try to find the best way the winch is powered.
Kids will explore the recyclable materials to help build the winch. Little Bins for Little Hands has a free quick STEM Activities Guide, which provides more fun ideas for STEM activities. Simply answer a few questions and enter your email to receive the resources for the fun STEM challenges.
7. Magnetic Slime
Making slime has been a fun activity that has been very popular in the last few years. It’s a project that can be messy but has a lot of science mixed in.
Powered by a neodymium(rare earth) magnet, the slime will move. A free STEM activity is to make magnetic slime. Frugal Fun 4 Boys has all the details and resources needed to complete this science activity.
This project encourages young scientists to examine the science behind magnetism and the properties of matter.
8. Flipside Science
Flipside Science is an online tool for educators that provides a youth-powered STEM curriculum. The lessons are about environmental topics and what we can do to protect our planet.
This free curriculum has hands-on STEM activities and videos to tie into your lessons. The STEM activities and content offered by Flipside are excellent for late elementary grades as well as middle school grades.
Conclusion
Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education is important for our children. Fewer people are choosing STEM and STEAM careers, although the number of STEM-oriented jobs is increasing. Science, technology, engineering, math, and art (STEAM) are the basis for numerous jobs available today.
Teaching children to utilize problem solving skills in a fun way will encourage them to go into STEM jobs in the future. STEM learning doesn’t have to be boring, and most of the time, STEM challenges are fun for kids. Who doesn’t love doing science projects? Science projects based on STEM challenge students to think, explore, create, and build. It is easy to incorporate STEM projects into your lesson plans, especially in your science block.
The internet is full of free STEM activities for kids. All steam activities on our list will encourage young scientists to investigate, create, build, or design a project that uses science, math, technology, or engineering.
Hopefully, this encouragement will push children towards a career in the science field, math field, technology field, or engineering field.
