Fun STEM Activities for vacation play! Vacation is a fun time to be home with family! Keep them busy exploring and learning without screens. Learn more about what STEM is all about as you try out these cool STEM projects with your kids. We enjoy offering fun, frugal, and practical or realistic ideas that families can really try!

SCREEN-FREE STEM ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS

Science, technology, engineering, and math activities are super important for kids. These four areas make up the acronym STEM! Yes, STEM is all around us. It’s everywhere, and it’s intertwined in our daily lives. Raising kids to feel comfortable with STEM is such a bonus. Read more about STEM here.

Let’s help our young scientists, little inventors, and junior engineers embrace STEM and become expert problem solvers, doers, and inventors the world needs. STEM projects provide so many excellent life lessons for kids of all ages.

STEM ACTIVITIES TO ENTERTAIN AND EDUCATE

Here are some of our fun STEM activities as well as some more super cool STEM ideas I hope to try with my son this year! These STEM activities will keep the kids busy on vacations, weekends, and those days when you just need to do a little something different! If the kids are bored, STEM will inspire them!

Looking for easy to print activities, and inexpensive problem-based challenges?

We have you covered…

Click below to get your quick and easy STEM challenges.

HOMEMADE SCIENCE KIT

Make a shopping list, head to the grocery store and come home with all the ingredients needed to try some great science experiments. I bet you already have much of what you need already.

SET UP A HOME STEM LAB

Carve out a small space in your home that is dedicated to allowing your kids to explore and invent! Set up simple supplies and encourage creativity and problem solving. We outline everything you need to know about setting up a home science or STEM lab.

HOW TO SET UP STEM FOR CHEAP

Some STEM activities are expensive and some are not. Our ways to set up cheap STEM projects, activities, and challenges are perfect for the younger crowd.

CLICK ON ALL BLUE LINKS FOR STEM ACTIVITIES BELOW TO READ MORE.

Pair A Book with a STEM Project

We chose the The Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale and you will find some great printables too! Or check out our new Zoey and Sassafras activity series!

Build a Pool Noodle or Cardboard Tube Marble Run

If you have a wall and some painter’s tape, you have to check out this frugal engineering activity for kids.

Build a Simple Machine

Use the recycling bin to build a simple machine. Learn a little bit about the different types of simple machines and what they are used for. Build the one you like the most or build them all!

Build Recycled Robots

Use what you have to make your own fun robot building STEM activities! We also have a simple printable you can use to print out robot buttons and do-dads.

Printable Algorithm Screen free Coding Game

Paper Bag STEM Challenge Week

Take Your Science Outdoors With Practical Nature Science Ideas

Gumdrop building or candy stem

Leftover candy makes for great science and a good way to use some of it up! You can also use marshmallows or apple chunks!

Sandbox Volcano

This is definitely our coolest volcano ever! Make it in the sandbox or if you have snow, make it out of a mountain of snow! Either way it’s tons of fun and a delight for kids and adults.

Toy Zip Line or LEGO Zip Line

A couple inexpensive materials and you have a neat outdoor play idea

EASY Homemade Slime

MUST TRY! We make slime all the time for quick play. This stuff is so cool and easy to make.

Ivory Soap Explosion and Ivory Soap Slime

One bar of soap and a very cool science experiment!

Geo board

A board, some nails and plenty of rubber bands. A few dollars for a cool STEM toy.

Popsicle Stick Catapults

These are so easy to make and perfect for a bag of marshmallows!

Easy Homemade Bubbles

3 ingredients and the coolest bubbles ever!

Rain Gutter Races

Test gravity, explore different weights and shapes with rain gutter races. Gather your cars, balls, plastic eggs and play with ramps, angles and friction! Pick up a rain gutter at the hardware store and cut it in half, so easy and low cost! Study Newton’s Laws of Motion too.

LEGO and building Challenges

Print out our 31 Day LEGO Challenge calendar for cool new ideas or check out our LEGO book!

Measure the rooms in the house!

Sometimes you need something simple and easy but involves a little movement, problem solving, but no real set up of materials. Show your children how to measure large areas by using a variety of measurement tools. Remember, it has to be the same tool used for the whole room.

The kids can use themselves to measure the room, or a shoe, or even a block! show them how to place it end to end, mark the spot and repeat all the way to the other side. How many body, shoe or block lengths does it take!

Make the Perfect Egg Drop | Lemon Lime Adventures

Grab a carton of eggs and read all about it!

Cheerio Bird Feeders | Happy Hooligans

Sweet and easy idea for feeding our feathery friends. Turn it into a nature study by observing the birds that stop by.

Popsicle stick bombs {and other cool popsicle stick play ideas} | Frugal Fun For Boys

Simple and easy. My son was entertained all morning with these.

Balloon rockets |The Joys of Boys

We love balloons!

Science for Kids Hanger Balance | Kids Activities Blog

Another great engineering and math activity!

Upcycled Inventor’s Box and Inventor’s Box | Modern Parents Messy Kids

2 options! One for younger child and one for a bit older child! I think my son would enjoy both though! Easy to pull together.