Science for Kids: 28+ STEM Activities To Do at Home
Step-by-step instructions and materials lists for family-friendly science activities.
May 5, 2020
These easy-to-follow science activities for kids were put together for school-based Family Science Night events with support from UL, and they’re now available for parents to download directly and use at home!
The 28 activities cover several scientific disciplines, including the physical science, engineering, and life sciences. Each activity includes a list of materials, step-by-step instructions, photographs, and a section to learn more about the concepts in that activity, plus a Science Investigator’s Journal to record observations and results from the activity.
There are also two extended activities to do at home—codebreaking and geocaching—and a roundup of 10 STEM careers for kids to explore.
Click the links below to download, or scroll to the bottom to preview a full list of the activities.
Science for Kids: All Activities
Codebreaking and Encryption Extended Activity
Science for Kids: Activities by Scientific Discipline
|
NEWEST ADVENTURES |
|||||
|
Title |
Complexity |
Time To |
Supplies & Materials |
Special Notes |
Good for Younger Children? |
|
Make Your Own Anemometer (Energy) |
Low |
20 min |
paper cups, straws, unsharpened pencil with eraser, pushpin, hole punch, colored tape, blob of clay, stopwatch (or stopwatch app), fan |
||
|
Bake S’mores in a Solar Oven (Energy) |
Medium |
60 min |
shoebox or pizza box, scissors, tape, white glue, wooden skewer, plastic wrap, black and white construction paper, aluminum foil, thermometer, graham crackers, milk chocolate square, marshmallow |
Works best on a sunny, non-windy day |
|
|
Harness the Power of Water (Energy) |
Medium |
40 min |
2L soda bottle, empty thread spool, dental floss, wooden skewer, scissors, tape, ruler, water pitcher, stopwatch (or stopwatch app), table or stool, foil baking pan, small rocks |
|
|
|
PHYSICAL SCIENCES |
|||||
|
Title |
Complexity |
Time To |
Supplies & Materials |
Special Notes |
Good for Younger Children? |
|
Electrons and Electricity |
Medium |
15 min |
D batteries, 9-volt battery, masking tape, flashlight, variety of conductors (wire, shoelace, etc.), penny, rubber band |
||
|
Exploring Static Electricity |
High |
15 min |
latex balloons, wool scarf, dryer sheets, foil, clear soda bottle, paper clip, note card, tack or clay, tape, scissors, pen, stopwatch, assorted materials |
||
|
Codemaking and Encryption |
Low |
15 min |
ink pad, paper, pencil, baby wipes, |
||
|
Create a Geyser With Soda and Mints |
Medium |
10 min |
Mentos mint candies, three 8-oz. clear plastic bottles, magnifying glass, small rock, marble, 1/2L sugar-free soda per person, plastic wash bin, safety goggles |
Can be messy; use goggles for safety |
Yes |
|
Levers and Other Simple Machines |
High |
15 min |
13-gallon tote, heavy books, two 2”x4”x4ft boards, two PVC pipes 1”x2ft, assorted levers, masking tape, tape measure, stopwatch |
||
|
Float or Not? |
Low |
10-15 min |
clean fish tank, modeling clay, diet soda can, regular soda can, assorted objects, |
Yes |
|
|
How Germs Spread |
Low |
5 min |
glitter, hand lotion, paper towels, hand wipes, assorted objects, hand soap |
Need easy access to a sink |
Yes |
|
From Dirty Water to Drinking Water |
Medium |
10 min |
towels, clean fish tank or bucket, debris and dirt, ladle, six deli containers, assorted filters |
||
|
Sound and Hearing |
Medium |
15 min |
MP3 player, earbuds, headphones, |
||
|
CHEMICAL REACTIONS (PHYSICAL SCIENCES) |
|||||
|
Title |
Complexity |
Time To |
Supplies & Materials |
Special Notes |
Good for Younger Children? |
|
Low |
15 min |
borax, cornstarch, warm water, glue, food coloring, bowl of ice water, zip-top bags, paper cups, measuring spoons, stir sticks, marker, yardsticks, masking tape |
Yes |
||
|
Medium |
10 min |
hydrogen peroxide, liquid dish soap, yeast, warm water, food coloring, empty plastic bottle, small cup, measuring spoon, funnel |
Can be messy; use goggles for safety |
Yes |
|
|
ENERGY (PHYSICAL SCIENCES) |
|||||
|
Title |
Complexity |
Time To |
Supplies & Materials |
Special Notes |
Good for Younger Children? |
|
Lithium Battery Safety |
Low |
20 min |
hot dog, lithium button cell battery, |
||
|
Energy Sticks: Making Potential and Kinetic Energy |
Low |
10 min |
jumbo craft sticks, book, yardstick |
Good as a group-participation activity |
|
|
Wind Energy |
Low |
15 min |
paper, pins, beads, pencils w/erasers, scissors, hair dryer, tape measure, balloons, straws, monofilament, masking tape, extension cord |
Be cautious about latex allergies |
Yes |
|
Solar Energy |
Low |
15 min |
4”x4” cards (one black, one white), ice cubes, toothpicks, ruler, flashlight, prism, solar garden lights, large box with lid, paper, paper case box |
Yes |
|
|
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCES |
|||||
|
Title |
Complexity |
Time To |
Supplies & Materials |
Special Notes |
Good for Younger Children? |
|
Impact Craters and the Moon |
Low |
10 min |
foil baking pan, flour, cocoa, marbles, wooden dowels, modeling clay, ruler |
Replenish cocoa powder between students |
Yes |
|
Recycle Old Paper Into New Paper |
Low |
20 min |
scrap paper, water, blender, three buckets plus three vats/tubs, old towels, sponges, old bed sheeting or T-shirts, wooden frame, mesh screening, staple gun |
||
|
Why Heat Rises |
High |
15 min |
trash can liner, hair dryer, cellophane tape, thread, scissors |
||
|
LIFE SCIENCES |
|||||
|
Title |
Complexity |
Time To |
Supplies & Materials |
Special Notes |
Good for Younger Children? |
|
Medium |
20 min |
2L soda bottle, 1/2L water bottle, soil, sand, ruler, scissors, dark paper, tape, trowel, water |
Can get messy from sand and soil; observation is completed at home for up to two weeks |
||
|
Build a Bee and Pollinate |
Medium |
15 min |
egg cartons, wax paper, pipe cleaners, sharpened pencil, tape, black permanent marker, wire snippers, scissors, flowers (optional: powdered drink mix, paper cups, colored markers, glue) |
Each egg carton makes two bees |
Yes |
|
ENGINEERING |
|||||
|
Title |
Complexity |
Time To |
Supplies & Materials |
Special Notes |
Good for Younger Children? |
|
Withstanding an Earthquake |
Medium |
30 min |
3-ring binder, ping pong or golf balls, rubber bands, ruler, masking tape, marker, scissors, tape measure, toothpicks, mini marshmallows |
Shaker table can be set up in advance for younger children; works best with fresh marshmallows. |
Yes |
|
Engineer a Marble Run |
Medium |
15 min |
marbles, foam tubing, masking tape, cups, yardstick, thin cardboard box, tape measure, stopwatch |
Yes |
|
|
Engineer Your Own Hovercraft |
Low |
10 min |
balloons, CDs, bottle caps, hot glue, small disposable plates |
Need very smooth tabletop or floor for best results |
Yes |
|
Building Bridges |
Low |
10 min |
index cards, six blocks about 2” tall, about 50 pennies |
Yes |
|
|
Build a Catapult and Test It |
Low |
10 min |
ruler, plastic spool, rubber bands, bottle caps, masking tape, 14 jumbo craft sticks,small foam or plastic balls, measuring tape |
||
Sign up to receive our
monthly selection of
featured articles, activities,
and practical parenting tips!
Get your child's exact back‑to‑school supply list, right from their teacher.
