5 Super STEM Activities For Kids

EI Editor Posted On Sep 7, 2021

STEM learning is here to stay! And with good reason. The emphasis schools are putting on science, technology, engineering, and math is designed to prepare our kids for the fastest growing fields—and, bonus, engaging in STEM activities teaches the critical thinking, problem solving, and creativity kids will need to thrive at school, at work, and in life. Plus, STEM is fun! To show you, your kids, and your students just how much fun STEM learning can be, the Experts in Play at Educational Insights are sharing five of their favorite STEM activities, perfect for elementary school students, including science experiments for kids, coding for kids, and more. Try these at home or in the classroom today!

1. Baking Soda Blow Up!

Engage elementary school-aged students with this science-meets-magic experiment! Use a funnel to shake two tablespoons of baking soda into an uninflated balloon. Then fill a plastic bottle (like a rinsed-out soda bottle) with half a cup of white vinegar. Remove the funnel from the balloon and carefully place the open end over the mouth of the bottle, without releasing any of the baking soda. Then lift the balloon so the baking soda pours into the bottle and watch as the balloon fills with the gas produced by the baking soda/vinegar reaction. Pure STEM magic!

2. Code Creative Works of Art!

Coding is a part of most kids’ lives. The devices they use every day, from video games and apps to smart phones and computers, rely on coding to run. And coding is only growing! Curious kiddos can learn to code with coding toys like Artie Max, the coding robot for kids. Kids follow simple instructions to learn drag-and-drop programming, then build on what they’ve learned to work with more complex coding languages including Blockly, Snap!, JavaScript, Python, and C++. Using its own, built-in WiFi, Artie Max draws what kids have coded in full color, on real paper!

3. Hard Boiled Science!

Amaze your kids and get them thinking with this super cool egg-in-a-bottle experiment. You’ll need a peeled hard- boiled egg, a glass jar with a crumpled piece of paper inside, and a match. In a safe place, drop the lit match into the bottle to light the paper on fire. Place the egg vertically on the mouth of the bottle and watch as the egg is slowly sucked all the way in! Explain to your soon-to-be-STEM-scientists that the air in the bottle is heated by the fire and wants to escape out of the top of the bottle. When you place the egg on top of the bottle, the fire goes out and the air inside begins to cool. The air outside the bottle is at a higher pressure than the air inside the bottle, so it literally pushes the egg inside.

4. Soar to Space!

Introduce kids to the basics of circuit building and early engineering with out-of-this-world Circuit Explorer playsets! Perfect for the playroom, rainy days, science centers, and small group work, kids follow a system of symbols to assemble various pieces, connecting the circuits that add light, power, and sound as they go. Assemble all the pieces to create a stellar, space-themed world perfect for pretend play!

5. Defy Gravity!

Make more science magic with this gravity-defying STEM science activity. First, fill a clear, plastic glass halfway with water. Place an index card over the glass, then, holding the card firmly with one hand, flip the glass over with the other, and let go of the card. The card remains in place! The air pressure outside the glass is greater than it is inside, keeping the card from falling off and keeping the water from falling out!

Science, technology, engineering, and math are all around us and exploring them can be big fun for elementary school-aged kids. Give these STEM activities a go today and visit EducationalInsights.com for more ideas.

Related Posts You Might Enjoy

EI Editor | Posted on Nov 10, 2021

Holiday Gifts for 7- and 8-Year-Olds That Build Self-Confidence

Your elementary-aged kiddo is growing by leaps and bounds! These years are some of the most exciting in your child’s development, as they’re making noticeable advances in language development, social emotional development, and the mastery of academic concepts.

One of the biggest factors impacting your child’s happiness, health, and success is self-confidence. Confident kids are better equipped to deal with frustration, failure, and peer pressure, and to overcome challenges that come their way. You can help boost your kiddo’s self-confidence by choosing holiday gifts that nurture your child’s sense of self-worth. As the holidays approach, the Experts in Play are sharing some of their favorite, confidence-building holiday toys for 7- and 8-year-olds, including:

Artie Max – Build your child’s confidence, encourage creativity, and introduce the wonderful world of coding with this year’s must-have holiday gift! Artie Max, teaches kids to code amazing works of art in five different coding languages, beginning simply and building on what kids learn to tackle more advanced languages. Perfect for who love robots, computers, video games, art, and creating, Artie Max features crystal-clear, step-by-step instructions to engage kids in the wonderful world of coding while building STEM confidence.

Dice of Fury – Build math skills—and math confidence—with this furiously fast, whole-family dice game! Flip a challenge card and all players start rolling (and re-rolling), placing their die in their die holder one by one until they match the card. Players add, subtract, think even and odd, and complete mental math challenges as they play, building math confidence and creating a solid math skills foundation.

Circuit Explorer Deluxe Base Space Station – Help build your space-loving child’s focus and attention with a circuit building construction set they can assemble themselves! Kids follow a series of symbols to assemble the pieces and connect various circuits, activating lights, movement, and sound. When complete, the pieces are perfect for space-themed, imagination-building pretend play.

Kanoodle – Encourage problem solving and critical thinking skills, increase your child’s attention span, and provide opportunities for success with this best-selling, brain-twisting puzzle game. Place the pieces shown in the challenge book, then use your noggin to fit the rest. There are hundreds of possible combinations, but only one completes the puzzle correctly. With 200 challenges to complete, Kanoodle will keep your 7- or 8-year-old engaged all season long.

BrainBolt® Game – It takes focus and attentiveness to remember the order of the flashing light sequence and follow along without breaking the pattern in this mind-melding light-up memory game perfect for holidays at home or holiday travel! With both solo and two-player modes, kids can challenge friends and family to see who can remember the longest sequence.

Nancy B's Science Club Microscope and Activity Journal – Take hands-on exploration to the next level this holiday season! This kid-friendly microscope and activity journal set provides experience with a real, scientific tool and builds scientific confidence that transfers to the classroom. With a 400x zoom microscope, 26-piece scientific tool set, and 22-page activity journal, kids will be building STEM skills that last for years to come.

Nancy B’s Science Club® MoonScope™ & Sky Gazer's Activity Journal – Broaden your budding astronomer’s scope and build their scientific confidence with this 90x magnification stargazing MoonScope and 22 page activity journal packed with engaging activities. Specifically designed to get kids outside to explore the world and stay curious, this MoonScope will make an out-of-this world holiday gift for the special space-lover in your life.

Confidence is one of the biggest gifts a care giver can give a child. This holiday season, choose gifts that do double duty, delighting your big kids AND building the self-esteem and confidence they need to grow and thrive.