60+ Fun & Easy STEM Activities for Kids

Looking for fun, easy STEM activities for kids that actually work—at home, in the classroom, or outdoors?

STEM activities are hands-on projects that help children explore science, technology, engineering, and math in playful, meaningful ways. They’re not just for science clas你的s—they’re perfect for everyday learning through building, experimenting, problem-solving, and play.

Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or early education provider, you can use these activities to support creativity, critical thinking, and fine motor skills. You can try them during school hours, after class, on the weekend, or even at holiday events. Many require just basic supplies—like paper, tape, or simple bahan kerajinan—and can be done right at home or with your learning group.

This guide shares 60+ real, tested STEM activities for kids, organized by season, holiday, theme, and age group. Each one includes a clear goal, a list of materials, and simple steps to follow—so you can get started right away with confidence.

STEM vs. STEAM: What’s the Difference?

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math—but when you add the “A” for arts, it becomes STEAM. The “A” introduces creativity, design, and expression into traditional STEM learning. While this article focuses mainly on hands-on STEM activities, we’ve created a full comparison of STEM vs. STEAM to help you decide which approach fits your goals.

Read our full guide on STEM vs. STEAM here

Quick & Easy STEM Activities for Kids

These activities are perfect for busy days, short attention spans, or spontaneous STEM time. They’re hands-on, mess-friendly, and require only simple materials you probably already have at home or in the classroom. Best of all, they cover ages 2 and up—because it’s never too early to explore, test, and tinker!

Balloon Rocket Race

Age: 4–7
Bahan: balloon, string, straw, tape, two chairs

Stretch a string tightly between two chairs and thread a plastic straw through it. Blow up a balloon (don’t tie it), tape it to the straw, and let it go. The escaping air propels the balloon forward, creating an instant giggle-worthy STEM moment. Kids love the “zoom,” and you get an easy, visual way to show how air can create motion. For extra fun, race two balloons side-by-side or try different balloon shapes to see which goes further.

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Ice Cube Melt Race

Age: 3–6
Bahan: 3 ice cubes, metal tray, wooden board, plastic plate, stopwatch or timer

Place each ice cube on a different surface—like a metal tray, a wood block, and a plastic plate. Start the timer and observe which melts fastest. Encourage kids to guess first, then test. This quick experiment introduces early learners to the concept of heat transfer and gets them thinking about how different materials interact with temperature. Bonus: no cleanup beyond a few drops of water!

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Color Swirl in Milk

Age: 2–5
Bahan: shallow dish, whole milk, food coloring, dish soap, cotton swab

Pour milk into a shallow dish, add drops of food coloring, and touch the center with a soap-dipped cotton swab. The colors suddenly swirl and dance away from the soap! This is a perfect sensory STEM activity for toddlers and preschoolers, introducing them to cause and effect, surface tension, and color mixing—all in one magical minute. It’s safe, fast, and repeatable.

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Paper Bridge Challenge

Age: 5–8
Bahan: paper, 2 books, coins or small toys

Lay a piece of paper flat across two books to form a bridge. Ask: How many coins can it hold before collapsing? Now fold the paper accordion-style and try again. It’s amazing how such a small design change makes a big difference! This activity teaches kids about structure, weight distribution, and basic engineering—all in less than 10 minutes.

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Pom-Pom Ramp Races

Age: 3–6
Bahan: cardboard pieces or wooden planks, pom-poms or toy cars, blocks or books for height

Build simple ramps by leaning cardboard against books or blocks. Race pom-poms down each one, trying different angles. Which ramp is fastest? Which is slowest? This playful challenge helps kids explore gravity, speed, and incline—all while crawling around and giggling on the floor. Add a stopwatch to bring in early math and measurement concepts.

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Magnet Mystery Sort

Age: 4–7
Bahan: magnet wand, small items like paper clips, keys, buttons, coins, rubber bands, toy parts

Gather small items from around the room and let kids predict whether each one will stick to a magnet. Then test them! Separate items into “magnetic” and “not magnetic” piles. This quick activity sparks curiosity and helps build early classification and observational skills. It’s also a great introduction to how magnets interact with different materials—and a favorite for independent play stations.

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Float or Sink?

Age: 2–5
Bahan: large bowl or tub of water, variety of small safe objects (toy block, spoon, rock, leaf, plastic cap)

Fill a tub with water and invite your child to drop in one object at a time. Ask them to guess: Will it float or sink? Then test! Talk about size, weight, and shape. This is a fantastic water-based activity for toddlers and preschoolers that combines sensory play with basic science thinking. Super easy to set up, endlessly repeatable, and great for group activities too.

At‑Home STEM Activities for Kids

You don’t need a science lab to do meaningful STEM activities for kids. With just a few everyday materials, kids can build, test, and explore right at the kitchen table or in the living room. These at-home STEM activities are simple to set up, easy to clean up, and packed with learning—perfect for curious toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary kids alike.

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Rainbow Walking Water

Age: 3–6
Bahan: 6 clear cups, water, paper towels, food coloring (red, yellow, blue)

Fill 3 cups with water and add food coloring—red, yellow, and blue. Arrange the cups in a circle, alternating with 3 empty cups. Connect each cup with a folded paper towel strip. Over time, water “walks” through the paper and mixes in the empty cups, forming new colors. This colorful experiment introduces kids to absorption, color blending, and basic water movement—all with zero mess and lots of “wow!”

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DIY Windmill Spinner

Age: 4–8
Bahan: cardstock or thick paper, pencil with eraser, push pin or thumbtack, scissors, ruler

Cut a square from cardstock, snip diagonal lines from each corner toward the center, and fold alternate corners inward to form a pinwheel. Secure it to the pencil’s eraser with a tack. Blow on it or take it outside on a breezy day. This simple build teaches kids about wind energy, rotation, and engineering—all with materials found in most homes or classrooms.

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Grow a Bean in a Bag

Age: 3–7
Bahan: ziplock bag, paper towel, water, dry bean (like a lima bean), tape

Wet a paper towel and place it inside a ziplock bag with a bean on top. Tape the bag to a sunny window. Within days, kids can watch the bean swell, sprout roots, and shoot up a stem. It’s a wonderful way to explore plant life cycles and get kids excited about nature—even from indoors.

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Invisible Ink with Lemon Juice

Age: 5–9
Bahan: lemon juice, Q-tip, white paper, lamp or hair dryer

Dip a Q-tip into lemon juice and write a message on the paper. Let it dry, then reveal the secret by gently heating the paper with a lamp or blow dryer. The heat oxidizes the lemon juice, making the writing visible. Kids love the mystery, and it’s a clever way to introduce basic chemistry concepts.

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Sink or Float Sorting Station

Age: 2–5
Bahan: tub or bowl of water, everyday items (sponge, rock, plastic spoon, key, paper clip, rubber duck, etc.)

Gather random household objects and let your child guess whether each one will sink or float. Then test them one by one. This classic sensory science activity helps young children build observation skills and vocabulary while having fun with water play.

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Build a Marble Maze with LEGO

Age: 5–9
Bahan: LEGO bricks and baseplate, 1 marble or small bead

Create walls and paths on the baseplate to guide the marble from start to finish. Kids can design their own layouts, test them, then tweak and rebuild. It’s an ideal quiet-time STEM challenge that boosts spatial awareness, logical thinking, and creativity—right on the living room floor.

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Homemade Butter in a Jar

Age: 4–8
Bahan: small jar with lid, heavy cream, marble (optional), crackers for tasting

Pour cream into the jar, add a marble (for agitation), and shake it vigorously for 5–10 minutes. The cream thickens, separates, and becomes soft butter. Spread it on crackers and enjoy! Kids learn about physical change and emulsification—all while using their muscles and patience.

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Straw Structures Building Challenge

Age: 5–9
Bahan: plastic straws, tape or pipe cleaners, small action figure or toy animal

Challenge your child to build a structure strong enough to hold a small toy figure using only straws and tape. They can experiment with triangles, squares, or any shape they like. It’s a great at-home engineering challenge that develops design thinking, fine motor skills, and perseverance. Plus, no mess—just imagination and lots of creative problem-solving.

STEM Activities by Season

Each season brings new weather, nature, and experiences—and that means new ways to explore STEM! Whether you’re planting seeds in spring, exploring shadows in summer, collecting leaves in fall, or experimenting with ice in winter, these seasonal STEM activities for kids connect science and play to the world around them. Seasonal themes help children observe, ask questions, and learn in real time—right from their backyard, classroom, or campsite.

Spring STEM Activities for Kids

Spring is full of natural change, which makes it a perfect season for hands-on discovery. From blooming flowers to rainy weather, these STEM activities for kids bring the outdoors in—or take learning outside to explore life cycles, weather, and more. Each project is easy to set up, uses simple materials, and fits beautifully into a spring theme for preschool and early elementary learners.

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Rain Gauge Tracker

Age: 4–8
Bahan: clear plastic cup or jar, ruler, marker, tape, notebook or printable chart

Use a marker to label centimeter or inch marks on the cup. Set it outside in an open area, and check it after each rain. Kids record the water level over several days and compare results. This is a great way to explore weather patterns, measurement, and simple data collection with just one jar and a ruler.

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Seed Germination in a Bag

Age: 3–7
Bahan: ziplock bag, wet paper towel, beans or peas, tape

Place the damp paper towel inside the bag with the seed pressed against it. Tape the bag to a sunny window and watch as roots and stems appear over the next few days. A springtime favorite, this activity lets children observe plant growth up close without any mess.

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Flower Dissection & Diagram

Age: 5–9
Bahan: real flowers (lily or daisy work well), magnifier, tweezers, white paper, glue stick, markers

Carefully take apart a flower and place each piece on paper—petals, stamen, stem. Help children label each part and talk about its role in the plant’s life cycle. This hands-on biology exploration is perfect for connecting nature and science in a meaningful way.

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Water Transport with Celery

Age: 4–8
Bahan: celery stalks with leaves, clear cups, food coloring, water

Fill cups with water and add food coloring. Place celery in the cups and observe over several hours. The color slowly moves up the stalk and into the leaves, showing how plants absorb water. A classic spring science project that’s colorful, visual, and always gets kids talking.

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Lukisan Simetri Kupu-kupu

Age: 2–5
Bahan: construction paper, paint, paintbrushes

Fold a piece of paper in half, open it, and have children paint on one side. Fold it again and press gently. Open to reveal a perfectly symmetrical butterfly shape. It’s a creative STEM art project that explores symmetry and pattern recognition—perfect for little learners during spring.

Summer STEM Activities for Kids

Summer is messy, sunny, and full of energy—just like the best science projects. These STEM activities for kids take advantage of warm weather, water play, and outdoor time. They’re simple, open-ended, and perfect for curious hands that like to build, splash, and explore.

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DIY Solar Oven S’mores

Age: 6–9
Bahan: pizza box, aluminum foil, black paper, plastic wrap, tape, marshmallows, graham crackers, chocolate

Take a sunny afternoon and turn it into a science snack session. Line the inside of a pizza box with foil and black paper. Set up your s’mores, cover with plastic wrap, and angle the lid to reflect the sun’s heat. After 15–30 minutes, gooey marshmallows and melted chocolate await. Kids learn about solar energy, heat absorption, and patience—all while making their own treat.

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Sponge Tower Water Race

Age: 3–6
Bahan: kitchen sponges, buckets or bowls, water

Cut sponges into squares and stack them into towers. Place one end in a water bucket and time how long it takes to fully absorb water and fall over. Kids love the drama of the “sponge crash,” and it sneakily teaches about absorption, gravity, and timing.

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Ice Cube Melt Maze

Age: 4–7
Bahan: ice cubes, tray with edges, foil, blocks or small toys to make maze walls

Create a simple maze on a tray using foil or small toys. Let the ice cube travel from one end to the other, pushed only by melting and tilting the tray. Kids can try adding salt or using droppers of warm water to guide their ice cube. A cool, hands-on experiment in problem-solving and states of matter.

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Nature Sound Mapping Walk

Age: 5–9
Bahan: clipboard, paper, pencil, backyard or park

Head outdoors and listen. Every time your child hears a bird, insect, wind, or splash, they draw a symbol or mark it on a “sound map.” This surprisingly calming STEM activity builds observation skills, environmental awareness, and spatial thinking—all through listening.

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Pool Noodle Engineering

Age: 4–8
Bahan: pool noodles, skewers or sticks, scissors, tape, marbles or small balls

Cut pool noodles into sections and let kids design ball runs, ramps, or bridges. You can use them on stairs, tables, or in the yard. They’ll test gravity, angles, and structural strength while having a blast. No pool needed—just creativity and noodle power!

Fall STEM Activities for Kids

Fall offers colorful leaves, pumpkins, and changing weather—perfect for seasonal discovery. These STEM activities for kids help children connect with nature while exploring science, engineering, and observation skills.

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Leaf Color Chromatography

Age: 5–9
Bahan: fresh leaves, rubbing alcohol, glass jar, coffee filter, hot water, spoon

Chop the leaves and place them into the jar with rubbing alcohol. Mash them a little with a spoon. Set the jar in warm water (in a bowl or zip bag) for 30 minutes. Then insert a coffee filter strip into the liquid. Over time, you’ll see different pigments rising on the filter, revealing the colors hiding inside green leaves. It’s a brilliant way to explain why leaves change color in fall.

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Apple Stack Engineering Challenge

Age: 3–6
Bahan: apples, knife (for adults), toothpicks, tray

Slice apples into flat discs and challenge kids to stack and connect them using toothpicks. They can build towers, bridges, or try balancing objects on top. It’s a simple introduction to balance, structure, and spatial reasoning—using one of fall’s most iconic fruits.

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Pumpkin Sink or Float

Age: 2–5
Bahan: small pumpkin, tub of water, towel

Ask children to guess: Will the pumpkin sink or float? Then test it in water. Repeat with different sizes or even a hollowed-out pumpkin. This sensory-friendly STEM activity encourages prediction, hands-on testing, and introduces buoyancy in a memorable way.

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Acorn Catapult Build

Age: 5–9
Bahan: popsicle sticks, rubber bands, plastic spoon, tape, acorns

Use sticks and rubber bands to build a simple catapult. Load an acorn into the spoon and launch it. Try adjusting the lever or angle to change how far it goes. It’s a fun way to explore force and motion while using natural materials found in your backyard or park.

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Measuring Leaves Activity

Age: 3–7
Bahan: leaves of various sizes, ruler, string, tape

Gather leaves of different sizes and shapes. Let kids measure their length, width, or even perimeter using a string and a ruler. Record the data or sort them by size. This introduces measurement, comparison, and basic math through nature exploration.

Winter STEM Activities for Kids

Winter’s cold temperatures, ice, and seasonal celebrations offer plenty of STEM inspiration. These STEM activities for kids blend seasonal themes with science, engineering, and sensory fun—ideal for indoor learning during chilly days.

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Snowstorm in a Jar

Age: 3–6
Bahan: clear jar, baby oil, white paint, Alka-Seltzer, water, glitter (optional)

Fill the jar mostly with baby oil. In a separate cup, mix white paint with water, then pour it slowly into the jar. Add glitter if you like. Finally, drop in half an Alka-Seltzer tablet and watch the swirling snowstorm appear. A winter-themed chemical reaction that’s calm and mesmerizing.

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Ice Tower Building

Age: 4–8
Bahan: ice cubes, salt, tray, tongs

Give kids a pile of ice cubes and let them try to stack them into a tower. It’s slippery and hard at first—until they discover that a pinch of salt melts the ice slightly and refreezes it into a solid bond. This experiment explores freezing, melting, and physical change while encouraging persistence and problem-solving.

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Snowflake Symmetry Art

Age: 3–6
Bahan: paper, scissors, markers or crayons

Fold paper and cut shapes to make paper snowflakes. Then unfold and decorate each side to highlight symmetry. Kids explore patterns, bilateral symmetry, and fine motor skills in a calm, wintery activity that doubles as decoration.

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Frozen Bubbles Experiment

Age: 5–9
Bahan: bubble solution, straw or wand, freezer or cold outdoor temps

Blow bubbles outside or into a freezer-safe container. In cold weather, bubbles can freeze and create beautiful icy patterns. This activity explores freezing points, air temperature, and surface tension—and it looks magical when captured in photos.

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Gingerbread House Structural Test

Age: 5–9
Bahan: graham crackers, icing, candy, plates, toothpicks (optional)

Let kids build gingerbread-style houses with crackers and icing. Then test them: can they withstand a “snowstorm” (fan or blower)? Or support a “roof”? Turn a holiday tradition into an engineering design challenge by asking kids to plan, test, and rebuild.

Holiday-Themed STEM Activities for Kids

Holidays and special events are the perfect excuse to add some extra sparkle—and learning—to your child’s routine. These STEM activities for kids are built around seasonal celebrations like Halloween, Christmas, Earth Day, and more. With themed materials and playful challenges, they turn classroom parties or family days into creative learning opportunities. Whether you’re carving pumpkins or dyeing Easter eggs, there’s always a chance to mix science, math, and hands-on fun.

Halloween STEM Activities for Kids

Halloween is full of spooky fun—and science! From bubbling potions to flying bats, this is the perfect holiday to mix imagination with learning. These Halloween STEM activities for kids add a little “mad scientist” energy to your October while teaching real-world concepts like motion, chemistry, and problem-solving.

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Pumpkin Volcano Eruption

Age: 3–7
Bahan: small pumpkin, baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, food coloring, tray or plate

Carve out a mini pumpkin and scoop out the inside. Fill it halfway with baking soda, add a squirt of dish soap, and a few drops of food coloring. Pour in vinegar and watch the bubbling eruption! This Halloween twist on the classic baking soda volcano lets kids explore chemical reactions in a festive way.

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Flying Bat Zip Line

Age: 4–9
Bahan: plastic bat toy or paper bat cutout, string, straw, tape, paperclip

Attach a string across a room like a zip line. Tape a straw to the back of the bat and thread it onto the string. Clip a paperclip to give it weight, then tilt the string and let it fly! Kids learn about gravity, incline, and friction while sending their bat soaring through the “haunted air.”

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Candy Corn Tower Challenge

Age: 5–8
Bahan: candy corn, toothpicks, plate or tray

Using candy corn as connectors and toothpicks as beams, kids try to build the tallest freestanding tower. The sweet shapes add a tricky twist, requiring patience, fine motor skills, and a strong base. A great way to explore structural engineering with seasonal flair.

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Ghost Balloon Static Test

Age: 3–6
Bahan: white balloon, tissue paper, marker, wool cloth or hair

Draw a ghost face on a white balloon and cut small tissue paper ghosts to lay on a flat surface. Rub the balloon on your hair or a wool cloth and hold it near the ghosts—watch them “rise”! This fun activity introduces static electricity and how charged particles can move lightweight objects.

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Glow-in-the-Dark Slime

Age: 4–9
Bahan: clear glue, liquid starch or saline solution, glow-in-the-dark paint or powder, mixing bowl, spoon

Mix glue and glow pigment in a bowl, slowly add activator (starch or saline) until the slime forms. Turn off the lights and let it glow! This tactile Halloween favorite is perfect for talking about polymers and chemical bonding—with a ghoulish twist.

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Spider Web Bridge Test

Age: 5–9
Bahan: masking tape, small plastic spiders or toy bugs, paper strips, ruler

Create a “spider web” between two chairs using masking tape. Kids design bridges or ladders out of paper strips and test how many spiders each one can hold before collapsing. A spooky-themed engineering challenge that focuses on weight distribution and creativity.

Thanksgiving STEM Activities for Kids

Thanksgiving is more than food and family—it’s also a time to explore gratitude, nature, and hands-on creativity. These Thanksgiving STEM activities for kids bring science and engineering to the table (sometimes literally), using festive themes like turkeys, cranberries, and harvest time to spark curiosity.

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Build a Turkey Hideout

Age: 5–9
Bahan: craft sticks, clothespins, cardboard scraps, tape, feathers, toy turkey or paper cutout

Challenge kids to design a small “hideout” to help a turkey escape being found before Thanksgiving dinner. Using loose parts and recycled materials, they build structures that must hide the turkey completely while staying upright. It’s a great introduction to creative design thinking and problem-solving.

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Cranberry Float or Sink Test

Age: 3–6
Bahan: fresh cranberries, dried cranberries, a large bowl of water, a spoon

Let kids test which cranberries float and which sink—and why! Fresh cranberries often float due to internal air pockets, while dried ones sink. Let them record results, stir, and scoop. This simple experiment helps children explore density and buoyancy with a seasonal ingredient.

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Marshmallow Corn Catapults

Age: 4–8
Bahan: plastic spoons, popsicle sticks, rubber bands, mini marshmallows, candy corn

Kids build mini catapults using spoons and sticks, then launch “corn kernels” (aka marshmallows or candy corn) into a paper cup target. Adjust angle, tension, and weight to test what launches farthest. A festive intro to potential and kinetic energy that feels more like a game than a lesson.

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Pumpkin Pie Ingredient Science

Age: 6–9
Bahan: canned pumpkin, spices (cinnamon, nutmeg), milk, sugar, mixing bowls, measuring spoons

Turn pumpkin pie making into a STEM session: let kids measure ingredients, guess proportions, and experiment with spice ratios. Optional: bake a mini pie or do a no-bake version in ramekins. This activity includes chemistry, measurement, and sensory exploration all in one.

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Thankful Feather Coding Game

Age: 4–7
Bahan: colored paper feathers, symbols or arrows, tape, toy figure, floor space

Make paper feathers with simple directional codes (← ↑ ↓ →). Create a path on the floor and let kids “program” a character to move through the feathers to reach a “gratitude basket.” They practice sequencing, direction-following, and the early logic skills of coding—Thanksgiving style.

Christmas STEM Activities for Kids

The holiday season is filled with lights, colors, and cozy traditions—perfect for hands-on science and playful learning. These Christmas STEM activities for kids turn the excitement of the holidays into fun opportunities to build, test, and create. Whether indoors or outside, these challenges make December both magical and meaningful.

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Gumdrop Engineering Challenge

Age: 4–8
Bahan: gumdrops, toothpicks, tray or plate

Give kids a pile of gumdrops and toothpicks and ask them to build the tallest tree, strongest bridge, or even a star! This activity encourages structural thinking, symmetry, and creativity—plus, it’s festive and sticky fun.

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Melting Snowman Science

Age: 3–6
Bahan: baking soda, water, dish soap, vinegar, glitter (optional), small buttons or eyes

Mix baking soda, water, and a bit of soap to form “snowman dough.” Shape small snowmen and decorate them. When kids are ready, pour vinegar over the snowmen and watch them fizz and melt. This simple acid-base reaction is always a crowd-pleaser and fits the winter theme perfectly.

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Christmas Light Circuit Craft

Age: 6–9
Bahan: LED lights, coin batteries, copper tape, paper, tape, scissors

Create a simple light-up Christmas card or ornament by connecting a battery to an LED with copper tape. Kids can decorate around it with drawings or glitter. It’s an intro to basic circuitry, holiday-style!

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Santa’s Chimney Drop Test

Age: 4–7
Bahan: cotton balls, paper tubes, measuring tape, stopwatch

Build a pretend “chimney” from a cardboard tube. Let kids drop “Santa” (cotton balls) from different heights and measure how long it takes to reach the bottom. Try wrapping some in foil or cloth to see how material changes affect speed. A playful way to explore gravity, air resistance, and testing variables.

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Elf Zip Line Challenge

Age: 5–9
Bahan: toy elf or paper elf, string, paperclip, straw, tape

Just like the Halloween bat zip line—but this time with an elf! Kids create a festive zip line across the room and adjust height, angle, and materials to get their elf moving as smoothly (or fast!) as possible. A seasonal twist on an engineering classic.

Easter STEM Activities for Kids

Easter brings bright colors, eggs, and endless spring inspiration—making it a perfect time for hands-on STEM learning. These Easter STEM activities for kids use familiar holiday items like plastic eggs, jelly beans, and baskets to spark curiosity and creativity. Simple to set up and packed with playful learning!

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Plastic Egg Drop Challenge

Age: 5–9
Bahan: plastic eggs, cotton balls, tissue, rubber bands, paper scraps, tape

Challenge kids to protect a plastic egg from a high drop using only the provided materials. They build a small “egg protection system,” drop it from shoulder height (or higher), and check if it stayed intact. A festive twist on classic egg drop engineering, teaching impact absorption and design planning.

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Jelly Bean Tower Build

Age: 4–8
Bahan: jelly beans, toothpicks, plate or tray

Let kids construct towers, domes, or shapes using jelly beans as connectors and toothpicks as beams. The squishiness adds extra challenge, and the results are colorful and fun. This activity supports fine motor development, spatial awareness, and problem-solving.

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Bouncing Egg Chemistry

Age: 6–9
Bahan: raw egg, vinegar, clear jar or cup

Place a raw egg in a cup of vinegar for 24–48 hours. The vinegar dissolves the shell, leaving behind a soft, rubbery membrane. Kids can gently bounce the egg and observe how the chemical reaction (acetic acid + calcium carbonate) works. It’s messy, amazing, and unforgettable!

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Easter Basket Pulley System

Age: 5–9
Bahan: small basket, string, spool or hanger, toys or candy for weight

Use a string and a simple pulley (like a curtain rod, hanger, or banister) to lift an Easter basket from the floor. Kids fill the basket with different weights and observe how pulley mechanics make lifting easier. Great intro to force, motion, and mechanical advantage—plus, it feels like holiday magic.

Earth Day STEM Activities for Kids

Earth Day is the perfect time to help kids understand how they can care for the planet. These STEM activities for kids explore recycling, water filtration, and environmental awareness in fun, hands-on ways that leave a lasting impression.

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Water Filtration Experiment

Age: 6–9
Bahan: plastic bottles (cut in half), coffee filters, cotton balls, sand, gravel, dirty water

Kids build a working water filter using layers of cotton, sand, and gravel. They pour dirty water through and observe the filtration process. This simple but powerful experiment teaches about water conservation, pollution, and the science of purification.

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Recycled Paper Making

Age: 5–8
Bahan: old newspapers, blender, water, screen or mesh, towel

Shred paper and soak it in water, then blend it into pulp. Pour the pulp onto a screen and press it flat with a towel. Let it dry, and you have recycled paper! Kids learn how paper can be reused instead of thrown away—while exploring textures, absorption, and sustainability.

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Trash Sorting STEM Game

Age: 3–7
Bahan: printable icons or real cleaned waste, four labeled bins: Trash, Recycle, Compost, Reuse

Let kids sort common items (or pictures) into the correct bins. Ask them to explain their choices. This interactive activity builds classification skills and sparks conversations about waste management in a very approachable way.

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Greenhouse in a Cup

Age: 4–7
Bahan: clear plastic cups with lids or plastic wrap, soil, seeds, water

Kids plant seeds in cups and cover them to create mini greenhouses. Place them in a sunny spot and track growth. This activity connects Earth Day with plant science, life cycles, and how a greenhouse protects and accelerates natural processes.

Outdoor STEM Activities for Kids

Getting outside is one of the best ways for children to learn about science and the world around them. These STEM activities for kids encourage exploration, observation, and creativity—all while enjoying fresh air and natural spaces. Whether you’re in the backyard, park, or schoolyard, these hands-on projects turn the outdoors into a living classroom.

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Nature Shadow Tracing

Age: 3–6
Bahan: toys, chalk or paper, pencil, sunny outdoor space

Place toys or objects on a hard surface under the sun and trace their shadows with chalk or pencil. Come back at different times of the day to trace again and see how shadows move. This simple activity helps children understand how the Earth’s rotation affects light and shadow—using only sunshine and curiosity.

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Wind-Powered Pinwheel Test

Age: 5–9
Bahan: pinwheel (store-bought or DIY), notebook, stopwatch, different wind sources (fan, blowing, natural wind)

Take your pinwheel outside and test how different wind sources affect its spinning. Try holding it higher, lower, or at different angles. Let kids record their observations. This introduces wind energy and basic aerodynamics in a fun, highly visual way.

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Bug Counting & Habitat Mapping

Age: 4–8
Bahan: clipboard, paper, markers, magnifying glass

In a garden or yard, ask kids to find and count bugs—ants, beetles, butterflies. Have them draw where each bug was found (on a rock, under a log, in a flower). This combines ecology, data collection, and spatial awareness while developing empathy for small creatures.

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DIY Windmill Build

Age: 6–9
Bahan: paper, straws, pins, cardboard, scissors, tape

Let kids build their own windmill or wind turbine using household materials. Take it outside and test how it spins in real wind or under different conditions. A wonderful mix of engineering and renewable energy concepts—plus, it’s creative and customizable.

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Nature Boat Float Challenge

Age: 5–9
Bahan: sticks, leaves, bark, string, shallow water (stream, tub, pond)

Challenge kids to build a small boat from only natural materials and test how well it floats. They can redesign based on performance. This activity supports engineering, buoyancy concepts, and connection with natural materials—all through outdoor play.

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Outdoor Sound Hunt

Age: 3–7
Bahan: quiet space, clipboard, paper, crayons

Sit quietly outside and listen. Have kids draw or mark each sound they hear—birdsong, rustling leaves, footsteps, distant cars. It sharpens auditory observation and encourages calm, focused attention while reinforcing how science involves all our senses.

STEM Activities by Theme

Some kids love building, others are fascinated by space or animals—and that’s exactly why themed learning works so well. These STEM activities for kids are organized by theme, helping you tap into what excites your child most. From LEGO structures to food-based experiments and flying catapults, every project brings STEM concepts to life through real-world connections and hands-on fun.

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LEGO STEM Activities for Kids

LEGO is more than just a toy—it’s one of the best tools for introducing engineering, math, and creative problem-solving. These LEGO STEM activities for kids are designed to stretch their thinking while they build, test, and experiment using the colorful bricks they already love.

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LEGO Bridge Strength Test

Age: 5–9
Bahan: LEGO bricks, books (for support), small weights (coins, washers, toy cars)

Challenge kids to build a LEGO bridge between two books and see how much weight it can hold before collapsing. Encourage them to test different shapes (arches, beams) and rebuild stronger each time. This classic activity teaches about structure, balance, and load distribution.

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Balloon-Powered LEGO Car

Age: 6–9
Bahan: LEGO wheels and base, balloon, straw, tape

Kids design a LEGO car that moves using the power of air! Tape a balloon onto a straw, secure the straw to the LEGO car, blow up the balloon, and let it go. A perfect intro to force, motion, and simple propulsion—all with familiar pieces.

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LEGO Marble Maze

Age: 4–7
Bahan: LEGO baseplate, bricks, marble

Let kids build their own marble maze using LEGO bricks. Start simple and make it harder by adding turns, ramps, or dead ends. This activity builds spatial reasoning, sequencing, and patience—while sneaking in logic and design thinking.

STEM Food Activities for Kids

Food is one of the most accessible—and fun—ways to teach science, math, and engineering. These STEM food activities for kids turn your kitchen into a lab, encouraging creativity while exploring textures, temperature, chemistry, and even design.

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Edible DNA Model

Age: 6–9
Bahan: licorice sticks (for the backbone), mini marshmallows (for base pairs), toothpicks

Kids construct a double helix DNA model using candy! Licorice sticks act as the sides of the ladder, and toothpicks connect marshmallows representing the base pairs (A–T, C–G). It’s a deliciously hands-on way to introduce basic genetics, molecular structure, and pattern matching.

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Baking Soda Pancake Puff

Age: 4–7
Bahan: pancake mix, baking soda, vinegar, griddle or pan

Before cooking pancakes, let kids experiment with small amounts of baking soda and vinegar in the batter. Watch how the chemical reaction causes bubbling and puffing. It’s a tasty intro to acids, bases, and gas release—all while making breakfast!

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Chocolate Melting Race

Age: 3–6
Bahan: chocolate chips or small bars, plates, sunlight, a warm water bowl, and hand warmth

Place chocolate pieces under different heat sources: sunlight, warm water, or in your hands. Ask kids which melts faster and why. A simple way to learn about heat transfer, states of matter, and temperature—without any complicated setup.

Space STEM Activities for Kids

The universe is full of mysteries waiting to be explored—and kids love to imagine what’s out there. These space-themed STEM activities for kids bring galaxies, gravity, and alien adventures into the classroom or backyard. Perfect for curious minds ready to blast off into learning.

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Moon Dust Sensory Science

Age: 3–6
Bahan: flour, baby oil, glitter (optional), tray, scoops, toy astronauts

Mix flour with a bit of baby oil to create a soft, moldable texture—your own “moon dust”! Add glitter for sparkle. Let kids scoop, press, and bury space toys. Great for sensory play and discussing the moon’s surface texture, craters, and astronaut tools.

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Orbit Spinner with Marbles

Age: 5–8
Bahan: paper plate, markers, tape, marbles, scissors

Cut a circular track into a paper plate and decorate it like the sun and planets. Tape the edge so it tilts slightly and roll marbles inside. Watch as they spin in “orbit.” This hands-on model helps explain centripetal force and how planets stay in motion around the sun.

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Design an Alien Habitat

Age: 6–9
Bahan: cardboard box, construction paper, pipe cleaners, foil, glue, markers

Ask kids: What would a creature from another planet need to survive? Using craft supplies, they build a miniature alien world—considering gravity, temperature, atmosphere, and shelter. This imaginative STEM challenge blends biology, space science, and engineering design.

Bird & Plant STEM Activities for Kids

Nature offers endless learning opportunities, especially when it comes to birds and plants. These STEM activities for kids focus on how things grow, fly, and interact with the environment—encouraging kids to think like little biologists, engineers, and observers of the world around them.

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Bird Beak Adaptation Challenge

Age: 5–9
Bahan: tweezers, spoons, clothespins, chopsticks, small food items (beans, pasta, seeds), bowls

Kids try different “beak tools” to pick up various foods—mimicking how bird beaks are adapted to their diets. Which tool works best for seeds? For worms? This activity teaches natural selection, adaptation, and the relationship between form and function.

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Leaf Vein Painting & Observation

Age: 4–7
Bahan: fresh leaves, white paper, crayons or paint, magnifying glass

Kids collect leaves and gently press or paint them to create prints showing vein structures. Then, use a magnifier to observe real vein patterns and compare them. A gentle, creative way to explore plant biology, vascular systems, and symmetry in nature.

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Seed Dispersal Simulation

Age: 5–8
Bahan: paper, glue, string, cotton balls, straws, a fan or a wind source

Create paper models of different seed types: floating (dandelion), sticking (burdock), flying (maple). Drop or blow them using a fan and observe how they travel. This introduces plant reproduction and how seeds are adapted to spread in different environments.

Catapult & Windmill STEM Activities for Kids

From launching objects to harnessing the wind, these STEM activities for kids explore motion, energy, and simple machines. Perfect for active learners who love to build and test what they’ve made, these projects teach core physics principles in exciting, hands-on ways.

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Mini Spoon Catapult Launch

Age: 5–8
Bahan: plastic spoon, rubber bands, popsicle sticks, pom-poms, tape

Kids build a handheld catapult using simple materials. Secure the spoon with rubber bands between stacked sticks, then launch pom-poms and measure the distance. They can adjust the design to change force and angle—great for learning about tension, energy transfer, and trajectory.

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Pinwheel Wind Direction Tracker

Age: 4–7
Bahan: paper, pencil, pin, straw, tape, weather vane or compass (optional)

Kids build a pinwheel and take it outside to see which direction the wind is blowing. They can track changes over the day and mark wind direction on paper. This introduces natural weather patterns, data collection, and simple aerodynamic design.

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Vertical Windmill Lift Test

Age: 6–9
Bahan: cardboard, skewer, paper blades, string, small weights (paper clips or beads)

Construct a vertical windmill where turning blades wind up a string and lift a small weight. Kids observe how blade shape, size, and angle affect movement. This real-world engineering challenge mimics early wind-powered lifting machines and introduces concepts of energy conversion.

STEM Activities by Age Group

Not every STEM activity fits every age. Younger kids need sensory, simple tasks, while older kids crave challenges and results. This section organizes STEM activities for kids by age, helping you find the best fit for their developmental level and curiosity.

Kelompok Usia	Activity Name	Bahan	Keterangan	Key Skills Learned
Toddlers (2–3 yrs)	Color Mixing in Zip Bags	Ziplock bags, red/yellow/blue paint, tape	Toddlers squish paint inside sealed bags to mix colors safely. Great for mess-free exploration and learning color combinations.	Color theory, sensory integration, cause & effect
	Sink or Float Sensory Bin	Water bin, sponge, plastic spoon, rock, toy duck	Kids drop items into water and predict whether they will sink or float. Encourages observation and testing.	Scientific reasoning, prediction, object properties
	Pom-Pom Tube Drop	Cardboard tubes, tape, pom-poms, basket	Toddlers drop pom-poms through mounted tubes. A great fine motor activity with early gravity concepts.	Hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness, gravity
	Bubble Tower Science	Water, dish soap, clear plastic cup, straw	Kids blow bubbles into a soapy water cup (with supervision). Watch the tower grow and pop.	Cause and effect, observation, air pressure
Preschoolers (3–5 yrs)	Magnet Treasure Hunt	Small magnetic objects, sand/rice bin, magnet wand	Hide items in sensory bins and let kids “fish” them out using magnets. Discuss why some items stick and others don’t.	Magnetism, sorting, early physics
	Grow a Bean in a Cup	Clear cup, cotton balls, dry bean, water	Place beans in damp cotton and observe sprouting through the clear sides over days.	Plant life cycle, patience, daily observation
	Paper Cup Ramp Races	Paper cups (cut), cardboard ramp, stopwatch	Roll cup wheels down ramps of various heights and measure speed.	Motion, force, measurement
	Pattern Block Challenge	Pattern blocks, printed templates or cards	Recreate images using shape blocks—animals, patterns, etc. Boosts math and fine motor skills.	Geometry, spatial thinking, problem-solving
Elementary (6–9 yrs)	LEGO Balloon Car	LEGO bricks, balloon, straw, tape	Kids design a balloon-powered LEGO car and test how far it can go.	Engineering, air pressure, propulsion
	DIY Paper Circuit Card	Paper, LED light, copper tape, coin battery, tape	Create a greeting card that lights up with a circuit using copper tape.	Electricity, circuits, sequencing
	Simple Coding with Arrows	Paper arrows, toy figure, floor space	Lay out a path using arrow cards and “program” a toy to follow it.	Logical sequencing, early coding skills
	Build a Mini Bridge	Craft sticks, glue, ruler, toy cars	Kids design and build a bridge strong enough to hold toy cars. Then test and improve it.	Scientific reasoning, prediction, and object properties

Kesimpulan

STEM learning doesn’t need to happen in a lab—or even a classroom. With the right activities, materials, and a little creativity, STEM can be part of everyday life at home, outdoors, or on special holidays. Whether you’re building with LEGOs, growing a bean sprout, or testing how windmills spin, these hands-on experiences help kids ask questions, solve problems, and think like scientists—all while having fun.

Remember, the best STEM activities for kids aren’t just educational—they’re engaging, flexible, and age-appropriate. Start with a few from this guide and see what sparks your child’s interest. Who knows? You might inspire the next young engineer, botanist, or astronaut—right from your kitchen table or backyard.

Tanya Jawab Umum

1. What are some easy STEM activities for beginners (even 3–4 year olds)?
Start with simple, hands-on activities like color mixing in ziplock bags, building with blocks, or testing which items sink or float. These introduce core STEM concepts such as cause and effect, observation, and categorization—perfect for curious little learners just getting started.

2. Can I do STEM at home without buying special materials?
Absolutely. Many STEM activities for kids use everyday household items like paper, tape, spoons, water, and recyclables. It’s more about encouraging creative thinking and exploration than fancy supplies. Even cooking or playing with shadows counts as STEM!

3. How do I find age-appropriate STEM activities for my child?
Look for projects that match your child’s developmental stage. For toddlers, go with sensory or sorting activities. Preschoolers thrive with simple cause-and-effect or building tasks. Elementary-aged kids can handle more complex challenges like circuits, measurements, or design-build tests.

4. Are food, LEGO, and nature activities considered real STEM?
Yes! STEM isn’t limited to science labs. Cooking teaches chemistry and measurement. LEGO supports engineering and design. Nature-based projects like bug hunts or leaf prints explore biology and environmental science. STEM is all about hands-on discovery in any setting.

5. What’s a fun STEM challenge I can do every day with my child?
Try a “5-Minute STEM Challenge” like: “Build the tallest tower using only paper,” or “Design a boat that floats using foil.” Daily challenges spark creativity and problem-solving skills—and they’re a great bonding moment too.