Summer Activities Highlighting Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics for Children's Enjoyment
Summer is the perfect time for kids to explore and learn through fun and engaging activities. With a variety of DIY science projects available, children can delve into the world of science in a hands-on and enjoyable way.
From creating colour-changing fizzy potions to building rafts and treasures maps, there's a project for every interest. Here's a roundup of some exciting science activities suitable for the summer holidays, curated from various STEM challenge cards and collections.
Light Refraction Pencil Trick Break or bend a pencil visually using refraction to teach kids about how light behaves and optical illusions. This simple yet fascinating trick will captivate their curiosity and provide a deeper understanding of light.
Leakproof Bag Experiment Explore polymer chains and bonding in a hands-on way by using pencils to poke holes in a plastic bag filled with water. This experiment offers a unique opportunity for kids to understand the properties of materials and the science behind bonding.
Pencil Catapult Build a simple catapult from pencils to test math and physics concepts like angles, inertia, and distance. This activity is not only fun but also encourages problem-solving and creativity.
School Supply STEM Challenges Engage kids in collaborative, timed design challenges using common school supplies like paper clips, straws, and tape. These challenges cultivate problem-solving skills and foster creativity.
Marshmallow and Toothpick Tower Construct towers using marshmallows and toothpicks to explore 2D and 3D shapes, engineering stability, and architectural concepts. This activity is a great way to introduce kids to structural engineering fundamentals.
Straw Building Challenge Use drinking straws and tape to build the tallest or strongest freestanding structure. This challenge teaches structural engineering fundamentals like triangles for stability and load distribution.
Egg Drop Challenge Design a protective container for a raw egg to survive a drop. This activity illustrates impact absorption, force, and iterative engineering design, providing a practical application of scientific concepts.
DIY Constellation Viewer Create a constellation projector by poking holes in paper cups or cardstock and shining a flashlight through. This activity allows kids to explore astronomy and night sky patterns in an interactive and captivating way.
Edible Solar System Use fruits, candies, or other edible items to make models of the solar system to learn planetary sizes and order. This activity is both fun and educational, offering a tasty way to learn about our solar system.
Moon Phase Tracking Observe and document the moon’s phases over days or weeks to learn about lunar cycles naturally. This activity encourages patience and observation skills while teaching kids about the moon's phases.
Build a Rocket Model Create simple homemade rockets to explore propulsion, gravity, and space travel concepts. This activity is a thrilling way to ignite kids' interest in space exploration and physics.
These projects are designed to be fun, educational, low-prep, and adaptable for different settings—summer break explorations, classroom lessons, or family activities at home. Many resources provide printable challenge cards or packs with detailed instructions and worksheets to guide these activities, making them easy for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers to use.
In addition to these projects, kids can enjoy making sugar cube towers, treasure maps, fizzy potions, and more. There's a world of science to explore, and these activities offer a perfect starting point for young minds.
Remember, sharing summer science adventures is encouraged, so don't forget to share your creations with friends and family! (Last Updated on June 12, 2025 by Emma Vanstone)
[1] STEM Challenge Pack 1 [2] STEM Challenge Pack 2 [3] STEM Challenge Pack 3 [4] STEM Challenge Pack 4 [5] STEM Challenge Pack 5
- Kids can learn about light refraction through a simple yet captivating activity called the Light Refraction Pencil Trick, which demonstrates how light behaves and creates optical illusions using a pencil.
- The Leakproof Bag Experiment allows children to understand the properties of materials and the science behind bonding by poking holes in a plastic bag filled with water using pencils.
- Pencil Catapult is an engaging activity that promotes math and physics concepts such as angles, inertia, and distance, making learning fun and stimulating problem-solving and creativity.
- By participating in School Supply STEM Challenges, kids can work together to solve collaborative, timed design problems that encourage problem-solving and creativity.
- The Marshmallow and Toothpick Tower activity provides an introduction to structural engineering fundamentals, fostering the exploration of 2D and 3D shapes, engineering stability, and architectural concepts.
