STEM Activities for Kids: 9 Options to Introduce to Kids
Would you be willing to help your youngster develop better reasoning and problem-solving abilities? If you're looking for a way to foster these abilities both in and out of the classroom, consider engaging in STEM-related activities and games.
No matter your child's age, grade level, or skill level, there are a plethora of entertaining options that parents and educators can utilize. Whatever your child's hobbies, there are solutions to suit them. Kids of all ages will have a blast using these STEM-themed games and activities. In this piece, we'll provide our top choices for STEM-themed games and activities that kids can do on their own.
What do STEM Activities Teach?
Engaging in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) activities can benefit your child in more ways than one. They give kids the tools they need to become more independent thinkers, team players, and resilient. Children can apply these skills to excel in any area of study.
Children can boost their self-esteem and develop their imaginations through STEM activities. Engineers, for instance, can create novel, aesthetically pleasing, and functionally distinct designs by applying their practical knowledge.
When your child faces and conquers obstacles during a STEM activity, that is when the experience is truly memorable. Students of varying ages can participate at their own pace with age-appropriate activities. A simple STEM activity may captivate the attention of elementary school students. Middle school STEM projects are most effective when they give students room to explore and find their own solutions to problems. Your child's enthusiasm for learning and exploration will flourish when you engage them in STEM activities.
11 STEM Activities for Kids of All Ages to Try
1. 3D Modeling and Printing
As students progress in their educational careers, it becomes important to equip them with essential skills in 3D printing and 3D modeling. There are many 3D modeling software available for making educational 3D models, but we recommend using SelfCAD. The video below shows how SelfCAD works.
SelfCAD helps students acquire career-ready skills. One key 3D modeling feature of the program is allowing students to create both simple and complex designs with ease. The software has an online version as well as a downloadable version for Windows and Mac, and this ensures that students can work anywhere and at any time. Collaboration is also easier in SelfCAD, and one can use the same account on different devices.
A standout aspect of SelfCAD is its educational resources, which are designed to cater to students and instructors' specific requirements. The platform offers a variety of interactive tutorials that make learning 3D modeling easier. Teachers can also record their own tutorials and share them with the students, and they can incorporate 3D modeling into their lessons with ease. There is also SelfCAD academy that offers step-by-step courses in 3D modeling.
Once students begin using SelfCAD in elementary school, they can continue using the same software as they progress to middle school and throughout their high school years as the software comes with advanced tools that are helpful in creating complex designs.
SelfCAD also comes with powerful 3D rendering software that you can use to render your designs and generate realistic images. For 3D printing, the software has an in-built online slicer that one can use to slice their designs and generate the Gcode to send to your 3D printer without switching between programs. The video below shows how to slice files in SelfCAD.
2. Marble Run
The objective of the cooperative game Marble Run is to build a marble run that is longer than any other player. Alternatively, you can buy 150-piece sets to play the game in person, or you can play it online. Players must use their imaginations to out-plan, out-engineer, and out-balance their opponents in order to complete the game and achieve the longest run possible. As each student finds their own special way to solve an issue, the number of possible play scenarios grows exponentially.
Depending on your target audience's age and academic level, you can choose from a number of variants of this game. Some sets, with their little and detailed components, can be more appropriate for students who are a bit older. Basic kits with larger pieces and clear instructions for building the marble run are ideal for younger students.
3. Oil Spill
As an alternative, why not try something that relates to actual problems? To complete this task, all you need is a big container, some water and oil, and some feathers. Then, have the kids use things like paper towels, sponges, or little spoons to soak up the feathers and oil.
Challenge the children to soak up the oil without letting the water run out. You can utilize this project to demonstrate the environmental impacts of oil spills by having students notice the effects of the oil on the feathers and the difficulty of removing it from the water. Oil is obviously messy, so use your judgment with smaller students; but, the activity's fundamental components—mixing oil and water—make it easy to adjust the learning level according to the child's age.
4. Post-it Notes Math
Math isn't just about cramming for tests. It is important for kids to learn the significance of these numbers. For younger kids, a STEM activity like a math game with Post-it notes might be a great way to solidify these concepts.
A marker, some sticky notes, big white paper, and tape are all necessities. Create several clusters of dots on the white paper. Post the document where the class can see it. Then, using the sticky notes, jot down the numbers that link the various sets of dots. Put the number 2 on a sticky note if, for instance, you see two dots on the white paper.
Ask the children to locate the sticky notes and match them with the dots on the white paper by placing them all throughout the room. The physical and mental components of this task are both stimulated as children dash about the room in search of the notes and then compare them to the white paper.
5. LEGO BOOST Creative Toolbox Building Set
Students may have fun while learning a range of STEM concepts with the LEGO Boost Creative Toolbox Building Set. Students in grades 7–12 will love this 800+ piece collection. Once constructed, it provides an interactive learning experience when used in conjunction with the LEGO BOOST app for iOS devices from Apple and Google. This phase brings an additional level of learning, but it's not required if you're attempting to limit screen time or don't have the tools available in your classroom.
Plus, they won't be constructing this set once. You can spend hours learning from the supplied instructions for five different configurations. The following are some of the objects that students can construct: a guitar, a cat, two robots, and a factory. The assembled toys all have some sort of interactive feature.
Incorporating teamwork into the construction process can be an effective strategy to foster teamwork among your pupils. Cooperative play allows for smaller groups to construct a specific toy or engage with its finished product in a shared setting.
6. Magnetic Slime
When searching for a fun tactile exercise, many parents and educators turn to homemade "slime" games. By using magnets and iron oxide powder, this variation brings a touch of science to the mix. If you're having trouble getting the slime to the correct consistency, try adding extra glue or liquid starch. Prepare the starch, and then begin working with the slime using a powerful neodymium magnet or several of them.
Make sure you study up on magnets before you begin this exercise, because kids will ask a lot of questions about them and this will serve as a great conversation starter!
7. Jellybean Building
Your young learner can begin an exploration of shapes with just a handful of toothpicks, a pile of jellybeans (or big marshmallows), and an idea. Encourage your kid to observe the shapes that are most visually appealing, those that stack nicely, and those that hold together by having them link toothpicks with jellybeans.
This exercise can help students better grasp the principles, methods, and tools of structural engineering. By giving students a house or other specified building to build, you can see how they think about their possibilities as they construct.
8. Play with Baking Soda Science
For young scientists, the world is their oyster when they mix baking soda and vinegar. Mix the baking soda with the foil to cover the tray's base. Pour vinegar into an ice cube tray; put a drop of food coloring in each cube for added color. As you see the chemical reaction involving baking soda, use a pipette or dropper (both of which are excellent tools for developing fine motor skills!).
After they've gotten the hang of this easy version, you can take it to the next level by having them create a glitter volcano using baking soda!
9. ClicBot Coding Robot Standard Kit
If your youngster is eight years old or older, they might like the ClicBot Coding Robot Standard Kit. With the help of these bots, students may learn to code while having a blast. Coding is the foundational skill for anybody interested in computer science, and ClicBot makes it simple and accessible for kids as young as six to learn the basics.
Computers are becoming pervasive in our daily lives, even though this is a niche subject. There is, therefore, no limit to the potential directions this area could take. If your youngster has a passion for computer science, it opens up a world of possibilities. It can be beneficial for children to explore and experiment with different STEM subjects to discover their passions. Anything might happen...ClicBot could be the key to their future success in the workforce!
Fun STEM Games and Activities to Inspire Passion
You may motivate your child to study and engage in new interests by including STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) activities into their school or home routine. Toys, do-it-yourself projects, board games, card games, or even internet games can easily include even a single STEM activity into a child's daily routine. Doing what you are capable of is an excellent first step.
In order to assist students grasp the significance of STEM subjects, STEM education frequently highlights real-world applications. They may take a more active interest in their studies and acquire lifelong skills as a result of this. In addition to encouraging children to work together, STEM activities often incorporate hands-on learning. They will benefit academically, personally, and professionally by developing the social-emotional skills of collaboration.
Enjoy powerful 3D modeling, rendering, and 3D printing tools without the steep learning curve.
Need to learn 3D modeling? Get started with interactive tutorials.