Summer is upon us and we are going to want to make sure to get the kids outside as much as possible! STEM and STEAM isn’t just about computer screens and electronics or experiments that need to be done at a table indoors, it can also be about using what is outdoors to create awesome outdoor STEM learning opportunities. I am going to show you simple ways to take STEM outdoors.

SIMPLE WAYS TO TAKE STEM OUTDOORS THIS SUMMER!

The less complicated the outdoor STEM or STEAM ideas, the better chance you will have to get everyone on board. Plus, you can still take those smartphones and tablets out with you for a little STEAM fun.

What is STEM or STEAM by the way? STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math. Now to make STEAM, you add in art too. A good STEM or STEAM activity will include two or more elements such as science and art or math and engineering. If you think about it, many activities already do include multiple disciplines! Read more here.

STEM IS EVERYWHERE

STEM is all around us and not just indoors either. Take a look outside to see the beauty of nature and all the opportunities it presents. Your backyard can become a wealth of learning opportunities that go beyond planting seeds.

Last year we set up an outdoor science/STEM table with simple materials. We even made the table from re-purposed wood with was a great STEM project all on it’s own. I filled it with materials that could withstand the weather and created a place for him to tinker, experiment, and explore anything that interested him.

The fabulous part about STEM or STEAM is being able to let your kids freely explore what interests them. Let them come up with their own ideas and work through them to find solutions. Nothing has to be structured or organized around a specific topic either. Kids are likely to use their imaginations and curiosity to keep plenty busy.

I have always thought that the outdoors is an amazing tool for curious kids and can spark so much creativity if they are left to roam, think, observe, and explore. Here you will find a few simple ways that you can take STEAM outdoors with very little planning.

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SUPPLIES FOR OUTDOOR STEAM

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What does my son love to have outdoors to explore and how are they considered outdoor STEAM supplies? You truly don’t have to spend a ton of money {or even any money if you don’t want to}, but I threw together a list of supplies that you can pick and choose from if you wish.

MAKE UP A BASKET WITH SUPPLIES!

A must is a blank journal, composition book, or sketch pad for drawing, recording, and making observations. You can also keep a stack of loose paper or scrap paper handy.

In addition to the journal or pad, you will want to make sure you have pencils, coloring tools, and even scissors, tape, and glue.

How about a kid’s nature book or two. My son loves looking for rocks, checking out birds, and learning about weather.

Always, always have handy a magnifying glass. It just comes in so handy for young kids to check out cool things up close. You can easily add a bug box or binoculars if you want.

Rope and a bucket, those are two handy things that kids can do so much with like building a tree pulley system {optionally you can add a clothesline pulley too for just a few dollars}. See how we devised an outdoor pulley here to learn about simple machines.

Empty egg crates are fun for collecting samples.

I also have aluminum foil handy! It’s great for building boats.

NO PREP ACTIVITIES TO TAKE STEAM OUTDOORS

Last year we put together a really cool resource called the 31 Days of Outdoor STEM and this year we put together practical and realistic outdoor nature science ideas. Both are awesome resources and provide varying levels of difficulty to set up.

1. OUTDOOR TECH

I did say earlier that you can still take the iPads and iPhones and other smart devices outside. Why not? It’s a very different world, so let’s show kids how we can include them responsibly in an outdoor environment. Check out this article I put together about TAKING TECHNOLOGY OUTDOORS. We love geocaching and using GPS apps.

2. OUTDOOR ENGINEERING

Building stick forts, creating dams, building nests, making boats that float, and designing bridges {to name just a few} all while using natural elements really gets kids thinking about how to use different items.

Rather than have a ton of building supplies at their disposal, kids will need to think creatively to make their inventions work! How about pairing a favorite book with a STEAM challenge like this one here.

3. OUTDOOR ART FOR STEAM

Of course a sketch pad and colored pencils can go a long way outdoors! There is really so much beauty to observe and draw, but we can go beyond that with simple activities like building nature sculptures, creating nature mandalas or art, making sun prints {we used LEGO but you can easily substitute with natural materials too}, and even creating art with rain!

TREE RUBBINGS! This is such a classic, but let me tell you about how it happened in our house today. There is really nothing better than child led discovery. Of course my son has been introduced to tree rubbings in the past, but this morning before school, he chose the idea on his own.

This led to comparing trees, figuring out how many different kids of trees we had in our yard, learning the tree’s names, and checking out which trees made for the best rubbings. Now isn’t that an awesome adventure to take STEAM outdoors!

4. OUTDOOR SCIENCE

The possibilities are endless, but what I want to share is ideas that don’t require you to bring materials from inside, outside. Besides, learning about how plants grow and starting your own seeds, kids can dig up bugs, study the weather, and learn about the birds and animals where you live! Check out these cool ideas to inspire the kids.

Take Soil Samples {compare and contrast different places/areas}

Set up a One Square Foot Project

Build A Simple Solar Oven {tin foil comes in handy}

Build a Sundial

Set Up a Rain Collection System

Collect a Pond or Ocean Water Sample to Examine

5. OUTDOOR MATH IDEAS FOR STEM

The last of our simple ways to take STEAM outdoors is through math! Again the possibilities are endless, but a good STEM activity will include a little science or engineering with the math {art and tech too}!

Research the wing spans of birds or the length of sharks and whales and go outdoors to measure. How many different ways can you measure them?

Record the rain fall over time. Make a homemade rain gauge!

Measure the growth of plants. Pick a plant to follow.

Collect loose pieces for counting {rocks, twigs, acorns, etc}.

Measure the circumference of trees {find the biggest or smallest}.

Look for shapes in nature.

Look for symmetry in nature.