Top 10 STEM Projects to Try at Home with Your Kids
Looking for ways to keep your kids entertained while also helping them learn? STEM projects are the perfect solution! Combining science, technology, engineering, and math, these activities are not only fun but educational, too. And the best part? You can do them right from the comfort of your own home.
Here’s a roundup of the top 10 STEM projects to try with your kids. Whether you have a curious little engineer, a budding scientist, or a creative coder, these hands-on activities will keep them engaged, learning, and having fun!
1. Build a Balloon-Powered Car
Get your kids excited about physics with this fun engineering project. Using everyday household materials like straws, balloons, and cardboard, kids can create their own balloon-powered car and learn about propulsion and force in the process. Once the car is built, the real fun begins as kids test how far it can travel by adjusting the size of the balloon or design of the car.
What they’ll learn: Principles of motion, force, and engineering design.
2. Create a Solar-Powered Oven
Harness the power of the sun to cook a simple snack! A solar oven can be made using a cardboard box, foil, and some plastic wrap. Place food items like s’mores or nachos inside and watch as the sun’s rays cook them. This project introduces kids to concepts like renewable energy and heat transfer in a way they can taste.
What they’ll learn: Renewable energy, heat transfer, and solar power.
3. DIY Slime Science
Kids love slime, and it’s a great way to introduce them to basic chemistry. Mixing simple ingredients like glue, baking soda, and contact lens solution can create hours of fun. You can experiment with different types of slime—like glow-in-the-dark, magnetic, or fluffy slime—while explaining how the chemical reactions between ingredients create the slime’s unique texture.
What they’ll learn: Chemical reactions, states of matter, and polymers.
4. Egg Drop Challenge
Put your kids’ engineering skills to the test with this classic project! The goal is simple: create a protective structure that will prevent an egg from breaking when dropped from a height. Using materials like straws, paper, and rubber bands, kids can experiment with different designs to see which one keeps the egg safe.
What they’ll learn: Engineering design, problem-solving, and physics.
5. Make a Simple Circuit
Teach your kids about electricity by helping them create a simple circuit using a battery, wire, and a small LED light. This project can be done with materials found in most STEM kits, and it’s a great way for children to understand how electrical currents work and how circuits power our everyday devices.
What they’ll learn: Electricity, circuits, and basic electronics.
6. Lego Engineering Challenge
Turn playtime into learning time with a Lego engineering challenge! Challenge your kids to build a bridge, tower, or even a working Ferris wheel using Legos. For added fun, introduce competition by timing how fast they can build or seeing how much weight their structures can hold.
What they’ll learn: Engineering principles, creative problem-solving, and design.
7. Bottle Rocket Launch
Launch into fun with a bottle rocket! All you need is a plastic bottle, some baking soda, and vinegar. When the two ingredients mix, the chemical reaction creates pressure that launches the bottle into the air. It’s an exciting way to teach your kids about chemical reactions and physics in action.
What they’ll learn: Chemical reactions, pressure, and propulsion.
8. Grow Crystals at Home
Bring the wonder of science into your home by growing your own crystals! Using just water, salt, and some string, kids can watch as the crystals form over a few days. You can experiment with different types of solutions, like sugar or borax, to grow different kinds of crystals.
What they’ll learn: Chemistry, crystallization, and patience.
9. Floating Penny Experiment
This easy project introduces kids to surface tension. All you need is a cup of water and some pennies. Challenge your child to see how many pennies they can float on top of a cup of water without them sinking. This simple activity demonstrates the forces at work on the surface of water.
What they’ll learn: Surface tension, density, and buoyancy.
10. Code Your Own Video Game
If your child is more tech-inclined, introduce them to the world of coding with a free platform like Scratch. They can create their own simple video game, learning how coding works by giving commands and designing characters. It’s an excellent introduction to programming and computer science for kids of all ages.
What they’ll learn: Coding, logic, and computational thinking.
Get Hands-On STEM Projects Delivered to Your Door!
If you love these ideas but want a simpler way to provide hands-on STEM learning at home, consider STEMKids Subscription Boxes. Each month, you’ll receive a box packed with all the materials needed for exciting STEM projects designed to teach key concepts in science, technology, engineering, and math.
Our subscription boxes are perfect for busy parents who want to encourage learning through play without the hassle of gathering materials. Plus, they’re designed to make learning fun, engaging, and accessible for all ages.
Why STEM Learning at Home is So Important
Introducing STEM at home encourages a love for learning that goes beyond the classroom. These projects allow kids to explore and experiment, building confidence and critical thinking skills. They also give parents an opportunity to bond with their children over fun, educational activities.
STEM is more than just a set of subjects—it’s a way of thinking that helps kids become problem-solvers, creators, and innovators. By engaging your child in hands-on STEM activities, you’re setting them up for a future full of possibilities.
Ready to Start Your STEM Adventure?
Give your child the gift of discovery with STEMKids Subscription Boxes! Packed with exciting projects and experiments, they’re a great way to bring hands-on STEM learning into your home.
