Let’s kick of the season with a 14 Valentines Day STEM challenges countdown. Valentines Day STEM activities are simple twists on everyday STEM activities. Adding hearts, traditional holiday colors, or themed candies/supplies is great for young kids. Encourage a love of learning with holiday themed STEM activities.
14 DAYS OF VALENTINES DAY STEM ACTIVITIES COUNTDOWN
We do love holidays around here, and if you are into them too, these Valentines Day STEM activities will be a big hit. One day my son may not care about themed activities as much, so I am going to enjoy these days while I have them.
Below you will find a mix of classic experiments, activities, and challenges that have been recreated with a Valentine’s Day theme. We are also adding a few new things like playing around with our Squishy Circuits!
I have planned 14+ Valentines Day STEM activities to keep you and me busy this Winter. We will be learning and playing along side of you. I have gotten a jumpstart on a few of the activities. A few we did last year that are great fun.
I will list the general supplies needed for each activity to get you prepared. I love to start out our countdown STEM activities with a themed Tinker Tray.
In addition I have the following Valentine’s Day resources if you need more ideas for planning or want to trade out ideas! Click on red links.
Valentines Day Early Learning Activities
Valentines Day Science and STEM Activities
Candy Heart Kids Activities and Science Experiments
Building Hearts Engineering Projects
Our most popular Valentine’s Day Science Activity is Crystal Hearts
14 Days Of Valentines Day STEM Countdown
NEW! FREE 15 Printable Valentine’s Day Challenge Cards!
Have fun with these ideas. Move the calendar around to suit your needs. Pick just a few to enjoy! It’s up to you how many you try.
The materials are inexpensive overall. You may already have some in the cupboards. The craft store, dollar store, and grocery store also have what you need. Plus some purchased materials can be reused for different activities.
Click on the highlighted links in the day’s description to see the Valentines Day STEM activities in action.
WHAT IS STEM?
Let’s get started! STEM is science, technology, engineering, and math. STEM is fun. STEM is the future. Plus, you can start STEM young. My son is in kindergarten this year. Check out our newest resource for understanding STEM better.
NEW! Simple Valentines Science Ideas. Click photos.
Day 1: Valentine’s Day Tinker Tray
A tinker tray could also be called an inventors tray. It’s not making a craft but coming up with an invention using simple materials that are kid friendly and age appropriate.
Day 2: Valentine’s Day Slime {NEW!} or Valentine’s Slime {Last Year}
Slime is really cool. It’s science and sensory play. Slime can be made it into any theme for seasons and holidays. We have a whole year of themed slime activities. Our homemade recipe is easy too!
Day 3: LEGO Marble Heart Maze
A base plate, LEGO bricks, and a marble!
Day 4: Cardboard Hearts Engineering
All you need is some mid-weight cardboard from the recycling bin and a heart shape to trace!
Day 5: Heart Designs or Heart Shaped Geoboard
Styrofoam or wood. Small finishing nails, loom bands or small rubber bands.
Day 5: Valentine’s Themed Thaumatrope Ideas {Paper and Straws Spinning Toy}
So easy! Computer paper, drinking straws, markers, and tape! No mess!
Day 6: LEGO VALENTINES DAY IDEAS
LEGO bricks
Day 7: Heart Launcher {Catapult}
Or you can use red popsicle sticks, rubber bands, small lightweight items to launch such as marshmallows or pompoms. Check out how we make simple popsicle stick catapults too.
Day 8: Squishy Circuits Light Up hearts
The is the most expensive activity on the list as you would need to purchase the squishy circuits kit. You will find an Amazon Affiliate Link below to check it out. It will also require ingredients to make play doughs but you may already have them on hand.
UPDATE: Super fun. I made our reactive play dough pink and used cookie cutters to make thick hearts for the circuits. We ran through the different activities that the website lists on the kit. The pictures from my phone aren’t too great! My son and husband had a great time with the whole kit.
Jelly beans, gumdops, or marshmallows and tooth picks. What can you build? A bridge, a tower, geometric shapes, an abstract sculpture! Check out all the ways you can build structures here!
Day 10: Valentine’s Day Computer Coding
We have been playing around with the binary alphabet to check out coding without a computer. Grab some pipe cleaners and beads or even a LEGO baseplate and small LEGO bricks for this idea.
Day 11: Make a Love Bot
We are going to test out a brush bot robot using this kit and we have a tin can robot kit we received for Christmas. Dress them up with a Valentine’s Day theme! If you don’t want to build a motorized robot, check out our Build a Recycled Robot activity with free printable droid designs {will make a Valentine’s addition too!}. We also own Dash and Dot and can’t wait to program them for Valentine’s Day! Check below for Amazon links to learn more! You could also make a LEGO robot in themed colors!
Day 12: Color Changing Flower Science
White flowers, jars, food coloring, and water. A classic!
Day 13: Magnetic Heart Sculptures
Wire, pipe cleaners, beads, small washers,nuts, and bolts. Use piece of styrofoam for a base.
Day 14: Candy Science
Chocolate science is something we have already tested out looking at reversible change. We are also going to check out dissolving hearts!
BONUS! Cardboard Tube Heart Run
Save up those cardboard tubes of all shapes and sizes. Grab some fun themed tape, and build a marble run on the wall or a vertical surface. Here’s an example.
Disclaimer: Amazon affiliate links for your convenience
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