Summer is the perfect time for kids to embark on exciting STEM adventures! From thrilling experiments to creative coding, we've compiled 15 captivating STEM activities that will spark their curiosity and make the most of the sunny days ahead.
Let's dive into the world of science, technology, engineering, and math, and ensure this summer is both fun and educational!
Fun STEM Projects for Kids During Summer
1. DIY Solar Oven
Harness the sun's power to cook s'mores or melt crayons using a simple DIY solar oven made from a pizza box and aluminum foil. It's a deliciously enlightening experience!
- Ultra-Thin Paperboard: These pizza party boxes are made from ultra-thin paperboard material, ideal for lightweight use and easy storage.
- Proudly Made in USA: Our cardboard pizza boxes feature improved workmanship to prevent tearing and bending, providing better stability.
- Practical Size: With dimensions of 12" x 12" x 1.9", these boxes are perfect for keeping personal-sized pizzas fresh and delicious until ready to enjoy.
2. Nature Scavenger Hunt
Explore the great outdoors while learning about plants, animals, and ecosystems through an engaging nature scavenger hunt. Prepare a list of items to find and let the adventure begin!
- Tornio, Stacy (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 232 Pages - 06/01/2020 (Publication Date) - Falcon Guides (Publisher)
3. Water Rocket Launch
Build and launch water rockets using plastic bottles, water, and air pressure. Kids will have a blast witnessing their creations soar to new heights.
- Rocket Splash Sprinkler Summer Water Toy - Experience the thrill of our newly developed Splash Rocket Sprinkler Toy! With its concentrated water column and exceptional stability, the rocket soars through the air or hangs effortlessly, providing endless excitement in summer！The rocket head doubles as a water spout, drenching both kids and adults in a refreshing splash.
- DIY Rocket Toy - Our rocket sprinkler boasts an adorable cartoon design. Included with the product are cartoon stickers, allowing you to personalize the rocket with charming patterns following the schematic diagram on the packaging. Stimulate your child's learning abilities while nurturing their creativity.
- Height Adjustment - The water pressure determines the height the rocket reaches, ensuring a dynamic play experience for everyone. Take control of the water pressure by adjusting the outlet switch, allowing you to achieve the desired rocket height. Water gracefully sprays from the rocket head, ensuring a delightful playtime.
4. Build a LEGO Maze
Challenge problem-solving skills by constructing a LEGO maze. Kids can design, modify, and guide a marble through the maze, enhancing creativity and spatial reasoning.
- Engage your kids in pretend play by letting them build their own play toys, such as creating a toy house or toy scooter. This classic creative kit of LEGO bricks comes includes 33 different colors of bricks
- This brick box includes 8 different types of toy windows and toy doors, 2 green baseplates and 6 toy tires and toy wheel rims to create hours of creativity for kids
- Kids will become creative builders as they use these color toys to build a figure or build a castle while also engaging in kids playtime
5. Coding with Scratch
Introduce coding concepts with Scratch, a beginner-friendly platform. Kids can create interactive stories, games, and animations, making coding a delightful experience.
- Woodcock, Jon (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 224 Pages - 08/06/2019 (Publication Date) - DK Children (Publisher)
6. Ice Cream in a Bag
Explore the science of freezing point depression and make ice cream in a bag. A delicious treat while learning about the wonders of chemistry!
- YUMMY FUN SCIENCE - Inspiring young kids to learn has never been easier...or more delicious! Make instant ice that melts, invert sugar crystals, brew tasty sorbets, whip up some slushy, creamy, jelly, or yogurt flavored ice cream in strawberry, banana, or vanilla flavors...and much more all through science! Perfect christmas or birthday gift for boys, girls, kids, & teenagers Ages 8, 9, 10, 11, 12+ Years Old
- EASY TO FOLLOW - Playz next generation science kits include color laboratory guides and instructions with pictures that tell educational stories resulting in super easy to follow science projects that motivates A+ grades in school. This allows our kids to develop different cognitive skills while having fun making discoveries through challenging chemical reactions...they don't even know they're becoming smarter through chemistry recipes!
- EXCITING EDUCATION - Combine STEM toys concepts with over 18 hands on experiments to unleash a massive amount of learning potential in children and teenagers. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.
7. Paper Airplane Challenge
Engage in friendly competitions to design the best paper airplanes. Learn about aerodynamics and test different folding techniques.
- Airplanes UFOs Space Shuttles Spaceships
- Hardcover Book
- Publications International Ltd. (Author)
8. Create a Volcano
Create a spectacular volcanic eruption using baking soda, vinegar, and some crafty design. Witness the forces of chemical reactions and geology in action!
- TRIGGER bubbling volcanic eruptions in this playset and working science kit!
- SCIENCE KIT: Experiment with 5 fizzing, foaming science experiments you can perform again and again!
- DISCOVER one mysterious creature inside a Beaker Creatures Reactor Pod!
9. DIY Kaleidoscope
Craft kaleidoscopes using cardboard tubes and colorful beads. Unleash the wonders of optics and light patterns in a mesmerizing display.
- [DIY KALEIDOSCOPE KIT]- Our package includes enough supplies to create two different magic kaleidoscopes. You will see the different wonderful color patterns changing. Bring tons of fun.
- [PRISMS FOR KIDS SCIENCE]- Use this triangular glass prism to split a beam of light into its spectral components. Show kids a rainbow phenomenon.
- [EDUCATIONAL TOYS]- Kaleidoscope maker kit can develop children's creativity and imagination. Let them see the colorful world while having fun playing. Ideal birthday present for boys girls age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15.
10. Lemon Battery Experiment
Transform lemons into batteries to power LED lights. Learn about electricity and the chemical reactions that generate energy.
- Fruit Battery Kit: Comes with 5 x copper sheet, 5 x zinc sheet,1 x electronic clock, 2 x RGB LED,1 x RED LED, 5 x wires, 2 x wires with clip,1 x buzzer sounder, 1 x propeller fan, 1 x dc motor, 1 x instruction, good kit for your kids DIY STEM science project
- Fruit Science Kits for Children: The product fan with a faster motor represents a stronger voltage, which can cultivate children's observation ability. The different bright lights and the sound level of the buzzer are also suitable for classroom scientific power generation experiments
- Fruit Battery Application: Through interesting fruit battery scientific experiments, parents can accompany your children to play and cultivate their science learning interest. Improve children's ability to do things on their own, develop children's imagination and creativity
11. Robotics Obstacle Course
Build a simple robot or use a programmable robot kit to navigate through an obstacle course. Introduce kids to the exciting world of robotics.
- 【Exciting STEM Robotics Projects for kids 8-12】 Make 40+ Home Automation projects using 100+ electronic components in kit: Door Bell, Fan Controller, Hand Water Dispenser, Line Following Car, Drawing Robot, Flame Extinguisher Robot & more. Over 50+ hours of fun learning!
- 【Plug & Play DIY Robot Building Kit for kids 】 The kit includes 100+ parts, such as Sensors, Processor Brain, Motors, wheels, Cables, Connecting Wires, LED's, Pump, and more. No soldering, tools, or coding knowledge required—just plug & play! With detailed instructions and concept manuals, kids can assemble various robots effortlessly and understand the functions of each component.
- 【Add AI Artificial Intelligence to toys】 Build gadgets with fire, touch, motion, magnetic object detection, and light changes. This kit includes multiple reusable sensors like IR, Flame, Touch, LDR, and more. Unleash creativity and create custom projects for homeschooling or fun learning!
12. Floating Egg Experiment
Explore buoyancy and density by making an egg float in water with the help of salt. Witness scientific principles come to life!
13. Balloon-Powered Cars
Design and race balloon-powered cars using recyclable materials. Understand Newton's Third Law of Motion in a thrilling race!
- STEM Starters - provide students with essential tools to complete hands-on projects. When combined with everyday items, these materials can be used to design and execute a project using creative exploration and the engineering design process. By approaching a problem or a challenge with this thought process, children are able to make educated guesses, problem-solve, and learn without the fear of making a mistake.
- CHALLENGE - This activity kit challenges students to create a balloon powered vehicle.
- ESSENTIAL PIECES - (12) foam discs, (12) plastic sticks, (12) straws, (6) balloons, (6) nozzles, and 8-page parent/teacher guide—are provided; it's up to the young scientists to determine what type of structure to build and how they can bring it to life.
14. DIY Water Filter
Teach kids about water purification by creating DIY water filters. Learn the significance of clean water and its impact on the environment.
15. Outdoor Stargazing
Observe the night sky, spot constellations, and learn about celestial wonders. A telescope or stargazing app can enhance the experience.
- 【70mm Large Aperture】: Equipped with 70mm aperture and 360mm focal length, adult beginners telescope increase light transmission and provide clearer images. Fully multi-coated optical glass with high transmission coatings creates crisp images with increased brightness and clarity.
- 【High Magnification】: With latest generation of two (K6mm,K25mm) 1.25" interchangeable Kellners eyepiece, the telescope is better than Huygens eyepieces. 3X Barlow lens trebles the magnifying power of each eyepiece, so you can get magnification of 15X to 180X.
- 【Adjustable Tripod & Phone Adapter】: The refractor telescope is available with an adjustable aluminium tripod, which can adjust the height from 16.1" to 51.6". Astronomical telescopes with phone adapter enable you take videos and images.
Final Thoughts
This summer, let STEM activities ignite your child's curiosity and enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering, and math. From hands-on experiments to creative coding challenges, these 15 activities will make learning an adventure of discovery. Encourage kids to explore, experiment, and embrace the wonders of STEM, creating unforgettable memories that will shape their passion for knowledge and innovation. Happy STEMming!
We hope you found these STEM activities inspiring and engaging! As you embark on these educational adventures with your kids, remember to nurture their natural curiosity and encourage them to ask questions. With STEM, learning becomes an exciting journey that transforms ordinary summer days into extraordinary experiences. Enjoy the summer of discovery and growth!
Frequently Asked Questions
STEM play for kids involves hands-on activities that integrate science, technology, engineering, and math concepts, fostering creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving skills through enjoyable and interactive experiences.
STEM activities for kids include building robots, coding games, conducting science experiments, constructing bridges, designing paper airplanes, exploring nature, and solving math puzzles.
STEM themes for kids' camps include robotics, space exploration, coding, nature science, engineering challenges, renewable energy, forensics, and environmental conservation.
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