Engaging STEM Projects for Children
Top affordable STEM activities for kids: presents a range of exciting, no-frills STEM projects that are ideal for young children, schools, or as home entertainment. These engaging activities will kickstart the journey into STEM education and keep your young ones busy all year.
Getting Started with STEM Activities
What's included in a no-cost STEM activity? It might be items from your kitchen cabinets or recycling bin, such as pantry staples and other household items. Save your valuable resources and let your kids dive into the wonderful world of science with just a few necessary supplies. Don't forget to use the exclusive *MUST-HAVE STEM SUPPLIES LIST (free bonus pack!) to ensure your STEM projects are always at the ready.
These hands-on projects cater to various settings, including classrooms, homeschools, or simply screen-free fun at home. Begin the STEM learning adventure with some of our favorite projects listed below.
Low-cost and Fun STEM Activities for Kids
Here are some fantastic, budget-friendly, and exciting STEM activities that will encourage experimentation and learning. Find even more STEM challenges here.
STEM topics to explore:
- Chemical reactions (e.g., Elephant Toothpaste, Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon)
- Polymers (e.g., Homemade Slime, Milk Plastic)
- Energy and Motion (e.g., Bottle Rocket, Marble Roller Coaster, Popsicle Stick Chain Reaction)
- Solar Power (e.g., Pizza Box Solar Oven)
- Magnetism (e.g., Magnetic Slime)
- Geometric Patterns and Math (e.g., Geometry with Fibonacci Sequence)
- Environmental Sustainability (e.g., Bioplastic Ornaments, Water Cycle in a Bag)
- States of Matter (e.g., Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag, Lava Lamp)
- Crystallization (e.g., Growing Crystals)
- Physics of Simple Machines (e.g., Catapult, Pulley, Winch, Archimedes Screw)
- Electricity (e.g., Conductive Playdough Circuits, aluminum foil circuit)
- Screen-Free Coding (e.g., Binary Code, Algorithm Games)
Free Printable STEM Activities Guide
Invisible Ink for Secret Messages
Get acquainted with the mysteries of chemistry through this enjoyable invisible ink activity. Witness how lemon juice can conceal a secret message, which will only be revealed when exposed to heat!
- STEM Focus: Chemistry, oxidation, chemical reactions
Elephant Toothpaste (Giant Foaming Reaction)
This ever-popular elephant toothpaste science experiment is sure to captivate! Watch as hydrogen peroxide and yeast create an impressive, foaming eruption that will amaze your kids.
- STEM Focus: Chemical reactions, exothermic reactions
Build a NASA Shuttle Inspired by Mae Jemison
Discover space science and engineering by designing your own space shuttle, inspired by Mae Jemison's pioneering work as the first African American woman astronaut.
- STEM Focus: Space science, engineering, design
Make Milk Plastic or Casein Plastic
Turn ordinary milk into plastic milk through a fascinating chemistry experiment. This project illustrates the process of polymerization and demonstrates how everyday materials can be transformed.
- STEM Focus: Polymers, material science, chemical reactions
Play Dough Circuits
Blend art with engineering by creating circuits with playdough! This activity educates kids about conductivity and circuits functioning.
- STEM Focus: Electricity, conductivity, circuits
Geometry and Art with Fibonacci Sequence
Create shapes according to the Fibonacci sequence to introduce kids to the beauty of math and geometry. This artistic project combines imagination with pattern power!
- STEM Focus: Geometry, math, STEAM, Fibonacci sequence
Bioplastic Ornaments
Understand bioplastics by fabricating your own bioplastic ornaments from eco-friendly materials. This project investigates sustainability and bioplastic fabrication.
- STEM Focus: Chemistry, materials science, sustainability
Apple Oxidation Experiment
Learn about oxidation by observing how apples brown upon exposure to air. This activity assists kids in understanding the roles of enzymes in chemical reactions.
- STEM Focus: Chemistry, enzymes, oxidation
Magnetic Slime with Iron Oxide Powder
Craft magnetic slime by incorporating iron oxide powder. This project engages kids in the world of chemistry and magnetism.
- STEM Focus: Magnetism, chemical reactions, polymers
Volcano Eruption Science Experiment
Witness a simulated volcanic eruption using this classic baking soda and vinegar volcano experiment. It is a terrific means to learn about chemical reactions and geological processes.
- STEM Focus: Chemistry, geology, chemical reactions.
Water Cycle in a Bag
Manifest a water cycle in a bag and observe as water evaporates, condenses, and precipitates in this engaging visual experiment!
- STEM Focus: Water cycle, evaporation, condensation
Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon Experiment
This traditional balloon experiment uses baking soda and vinegar to inflate a balloon. An ideal way to learn about chemical reactions and gas production.
- STEM Focus: Chemical reactions, gas production
Bottle Rocket Launch
Construct a rocket using a plastic bottle, and send it soaring to the skies with a blend of water and air pressure! Try this simpler straw rocket for a quick burst of STEM fun!
- STEM Focus: Physics, air pressure, propulsion
Popsicle Stick Chain Reaction
Investigate the physics of stored energy and cause and effect by creating a chain reaction with overlapping popsicle sticks. As they are triggered, the stored energy in the sticks results in an exhilarating, action-packed sequence.
- STEM Focus: Physics, energy, cause and effect, engineering.
Homemade Slime
Create slime with glue to explore the realm of polymers. This classic activity makes for a great introduction to materials science.
- STEM Focus: Polymers, chemical reactions, viscosity.
Marble Roller Coaster Physics Project
Design a marble roller coaster using foam pipe insulation or cardboard tubes and follow a marble on its journey through the track! This activity educates kids about energy, motion, and engineering.
- STEM Focus: Physics, energy, motion, engineering.
Simple Machines: Catapult, Pulley, Winch, and Archimedes Screw
Acquaint young learners to the wonders of simple machines by constructing a catapult with popsicle sticks, setting up a simple pulley system, crafting a recycled winch, or even building an Archimedes screw.
- STEM Focus: Physics, engineering, mechanics, simple machines.
Ice Cream in a Bag
Cool off while learning about states of matter with this delightful experiment! Make your own ice cream using simple ingredients and discover how salt reduces the freezing point of water.
- STEM Focus: States of matter, freezing, chemical reactions.
Make Crystal Sun Catchers
Discover crystallization by growing your own crystals to hang in the window! This captivating STEM project illustrates how liquids and solids interact to create beautiful, geometric shapes. You can also attempt crafting sugar crystals for rock candy.
- STEM Focus: Chemistry, crystallization, solids and liquids.
Alka-Seltzer Lava Lamp
Achieve a DIY lava lamp effect with Alka-Seltzer, water, and oil! This entertaining project teaches kids about chemical reactions and fluid dynamics.
- STEM Focus: Chemical reactions, fluid dynamics, liquid density.
Pizza Box Solar Oven
Construct your very own solar-powered oven and learn about sustainable energy sources. This activity is excellent for learning how solar energy can be harnessed to heat objects.
- STEM Focus: Solar power, energy, sustainability.
Learn Basic Coding
Gain insights into the fundamentals of coding, including algorithms and binary code with screen-free activities and projects. Find 15 coding activities here.
Additional Resources for STEM Beginners
If you're a novice to STEM or searching for supplementary resources to boost your children's learning, these helpful tools and printables can help:
- Engineering Design Process Explained
- Scientist Vs. Engineer
- Engineering Words
- Questions for Reflection (get them talking about it!)
- BEST STEM Books for Kids
- 14 Engineering Books for Kids
- Jr. Engineer Challenge Calendar (Free)
- Must Have STEM Supplies List
- Scientific Models You Can Make
Printable STEM Activities Pack for Kids
Covers over 80 doable Engineering Projects in one easy-to-manage pack!
- These hands-on STEM activities primarily consist of items from your kitchen or recycling bin, allowing you to save on supplies.
- Start the STEM learning adventure with engaging projects suitable for classrooms, homeschools, or home entertainment.
- Explore various exciting and budget-friendly science activities that foster experimentation and learning.
- For Chemical Reactions, try Elephant Toothpaste or Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloon.
- Polymers activities include Homemade Slime and Milk Plastic.
- Energy and Motion projects involve Bottle Rocket, Marble Roller Coaster, and Popsicle Stick Chain Reaction.
- Solar Power projects to consider are Pizza Box Solar Oven and Magnetic Slime with Iron Oxide Powder.
- Geometric Patterns and Math focus areas include Geometry with Fibonacci Sequence and Bioplastic Ornaments.
- Experiment with Environmental Sustainability through Water Cycle in a Bag and Apple Oxidation Experiment.
- Understand the States of Matter with Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag and Lava Lamp.
- Crystallization projects include Growing Crystals and Alka-Seltzer Lava Lamp.
- For the Physics of Simple Machines, create a catapult, pulley, winch, or Archimedes Screw.
- Electricity-related activities include Conductive Playdough Circuits and Aluminum Foil Circuit, along with Screen-Free Coding projects like Binary Code and Algorithm Games, and printable resources for STEM beginners.
