My son gets pretty excited when I break out any kind of candy activity, and Valentine’s Day seems like one of the best holidays for combining candy with easy Valentine STEM activities. We went all out with our Valentine’s Day Candy Building for a real blast of a time!
Valentines STEM Activities: Structures
Building structures with soft candy and toothpicks is a fun and hands-on way to explore STEM concepts! This activity encourages creativity and problem-solving as kids learn about engineering and the strength of different shapes.
Kids can experiment with building sturdy structures like triangles, squares, and cubes by connecting the candy with toothpicks. They’ll discover how different shapes and designs affect stability and strength while exploring key principles of geometry, physics, and architecture in a playful, interactive way.
💡Explore more 3D shapes here.
Supplies:
- Candy Jelly Hearts or Marshmallows
- Toothpicks
NOTE: If food is not a possible supply option, make playdough. Click here to see our assortment of playdough recipes!
Building Valentines STEM Structures
Get ready for a sweet and creative Valentine’s Day candy-building activity that’s fun and educational! Grab soft candy and toothpicks, and let your imagination take flight as you build unique structures.
Start by deciding what you’d like to create—maybe a sculpture, animal, or shape. Try 2D and 3D designs, or go big with towers, domes, and even a candy rocket! Check out our sturdy heart-shaped rocket below for inspiration!
VALENTINE STEM CHALLENGE: BUILD A HEART “ROCKET”
First, we started with a base that was hexagon-shaped. Each row has two toothpicks in each heart. Next, we used pieces of toothpicks {easy to break} to stabilize the structure as you build upwards. Our design came to life as we went along.
Keep adding layers with the same pattern. Towards the top, we adjusted the number of toothpicks we used per heart as it got tight.
Remember, the bigger the base, the taller it will be, and the more hearts you will need to use! We used the whole large bag.
This makes a terrific open-ended invitation to build for kids of all ages! Plus, it’s a great way to spend an afternoon.
Printable Valentine STEM Project Pack
Countdown to Valentine’s Day with science and STEM! Pack includes complete instructions, templates, and images for 20+ activities. Bonus: printable science Valentine’s Day cards!
These are amazing ideas! And so simple I can do them for my grandkids in minutes. Thank you so much