Random STEM Activities for your Elementary Student
STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities can be a great way to engage and educate your kids this year, while also fostering critical thinking skills and a love of learning. Here are a few ideas for STEM projects that are suitable for kids ages 5 to 10:
TOWER BUILD
Build a tower out of newspaper and masking tape. Challenge kids to build the tallest tower they can, using only newspaper and masking tape. This activity encourages problem-solving and engineering skills as kids try to figure out how to create a stable structure.
LAVA LAMP
Make a homemade lava lamp. This fun activity combines science and art as kids mix oil, water, and food coloring to create a colorful lava lamp effect. They can experiment with different ratios of ingredients to see how it affects the movement of the "lava."
Circuitry fun
Create a simple circuit. Using a battery, some wire, and a light bulb or buzzer, kids can create a simple circuit. They can experiment with adding additional components, such as switches and resistors, to see how they affect the circuit.
KITCHEN EXPERIMENTS
Conduct a kitchen science experiment. There are many simple science experiments that kids can do using household items. For example, they could make their own baking soda and vinegar volcano, or create a "magic" potion by mixing together different liquids and observing the reactions.
PLAY TIME
Play with math games and puzzles. There are many math games and puzzles that kids can play to practice their math skills and logical thinking. For example, they could play with a set of tangrams (a puzzle made of geometric shapes) or try their hand at a math-based board game.
PLANT AND GROW
Do a science experiment with plants. Kids can learn about the life cycle of plants by planting seeds and observing their growth. They can also conduct experiments to see how different factors, such as light and water, affect plant growth.
SOLAR SYSTEM
Learn about the solar system. Kids can make their own model of the solar system using a ball (representing the sun) and smaller balls (representing the planets) and string to hang them at the correct distances from the sun. They can also learn about the different planets and their characteristics.
SIMPLE MACHINES
Create a simple machine. Using materials like cardboard, pulleys, and levers, kids can create a simple machine, such as a pulley system or a lever-operated "claw." This activity helps kids learn about the basic principles of physics and engineering.
Overall, STEM activities for kids can be a fun and educational way to learn and explore the world around them. Whether they're building a tower, conducting a science experiment, or designing a simple machine, these activities can help foster critical thinking skills and a love of learning in kids.
