STEAM Activities

Fun STEM Building Toys for Kids

January 25, 2019 By Terri Thompson

One of the foundations of STEM education is engineering. I love this part because it is so creative.

If you want to encourage your kids to experiment with engineering, here are some fun STEM building toys you can have at home.

They’re great open-ended toys that will encourage creativity and STEM learning.

Encourage STEM learning at home with these fun open-ended STEM building toys for kids that will encourage creativity and engineering projects.

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These toys are so much fun and are great investments. Your kids will have hours of fun!

Awesome STEM Building Toys

Perhaps the first building toy that pops in your head is LEGO bricks. While there are tons of fun themed sets, a classic set like this will encourage kids to be creative and come up with their own ideas.

Combine your LEGO set with this fun Klutz LEGO Gadgets set so you can build fun and simple machines.

If your kids are still too little for the classic LEGOs, get a fun bin of DUPLO blocks. This fun set would be perfect for your toddlers and preschoolers.

I loved LEGOs as a kid, but I also loved my set of Tinkertoys. Here is a fun updated version of this classic building toy.

Build big structures with a set of cardboard blocks. They’re lightweight, safe, and easy to build with.

Or, use a fun Crazy Forts building set to build a structure you can play inside of.

Marble runs are a great STEM engineering project and you can make them over and over again with this fun marble run set.

You can build anything you can imagine with this fun interlocking discs building set.

Build with magnetic blocks with a Magna-Tile set. There are so many fun options, but this 100-piece set is a great starting point.

Or try a different sort of magnet building set with this magnetic rods and balls building set.

Build with gears with this fun Gears! Gears! Gears! Gizmos Learning Resources building set.

Design and build roller coasters with this awesome Roller Coaster Challenge toy from ThinkFun.

Which of these STEM building toys to you think would be fun to have at home?

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LEGO STEM Challenges for Kids

January 16, 2019 By Terri Thompson

No matter how old your kids are, they are probably playing with LEGOs. Mine still are at 9 and 11!

After the Christmas season, we found ourselves with more LEGOs than I thought was possible to have in one house at a time! Instead of just using these LEGOs for playtime, we found a way to incorporate learning with them!

These LEGO STEM challenges are perfect for stretching your brain and making learning fun.

Have fun building with these LEGO STEM Challenges for Kids. These fun engineering activities are fun anytime you're looking for a STEM activity.

Here are 20 LEGO STEM challenges for kids. These can be done in the classroom, as a homeschool activity or just a way to keep your kids learning outside of school.

FUN LEGO STEM Challenges

Use you imagination and your LEGOs to complete these fun printable LEGO STEM Challenge Cards from Live Over C’s.

Practice your math skills with this LEGO Challenge Math Activity from Buggy & Buddy.

Use your Duplos to help you solve these LEGO Duplo Challenge Cards from Thrifty Homeschoolers.

Your mini figs can help you solve this Red Cup STEM Challenge from Kids Activities Blog.

Can you solve these mystery challenges in Paper Bag STEM Challenge from

Try your hand at building bridges with this fun Bridge STEM Building Activity from Mama Smiles.

Explore weight and measurement with this fun Fidget Spinner Math Challenge from The Educators’ Spin On It.

Do a challenge every day with this fun LEGO Challenge Calendar from Little Bins for Little Hands.

Try some engineering with this fun LEGO Engineering Preschool Challenge from Preschool Powol Packets.

How many pennies can your boat carry? Find out with this fun LEGO Boat challenge from Lemon Lime Adventures.

More awesome LEGO STEAM challenges

Try a STEM challenge inspired by books with this fun Storytime LEGO Challenge from Left Brain Craft Brain.

Use LEGOs to practice your money skills with this Coin and LEGO Challenge from You’ve Got This Math.

Or use your LEGOs to practice coding with this LEGO Computer Coding STEM Activity from Little Bins for Little Hands.

Build the The Little Pigs’ houses with this fairy tale inspired LEGO Engineering House Challenge from JDaniel4’s Mom.

Build Santa’s sleigh with this Christmas challenge, LEGO Santa Sleigh, from Left Brain Craft Brain.

Create only with your flat LEGOs with this fun Flat LEGO Challenge from Picklebums.

Make a pulley out of your LEGOs with this LEGO STEM Pulley Activity from Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls.

Do a fun challenge inspired by The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind with this Wind-Powered STEM Challenge from STEAM Powered Family

Build a LEGO Rainbow with this fun challenge from Schooling a Monkey.

Finally, build a zip line with this LEGO Zip Line Activity from Little Bins for Little Hands.

Which of these fun LEGO STEM challenges are you going to do with your kids?

Our favorite STEM resource

I don’t know about you, but I don’t always have time to prep a fun science project. That’s why I love Green Kid Crafts Discovery boxes. The boxes are packed full of projects that are fun and inviting. You can choose to get a subscription or a one-off box based off of a specific theme. Any one you choose would be a lot of fun!

Here are some of our favorites (you can purchase and find out more at each link):

Get a monthly subscription.

Kitchen Science Box

Physics Box

Find all their fun STEM and science boxes here.

STEAM Family Fun

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Paper Plate Layers of the Earth Project

January 9, 2019 By Terri Thompson

I would go back to elementary school right now if I could have Ms. Frizzle as a teacher. Would you?

Imagine all the adventures!

Luckily, it’s just as much fun to pick up on the Magic School Bus books and head off on a field trip. I just love these books. They’re packed full of fun, facts, and learning. And, they inspire so many fun activities.

This time we’re learning a bit about earth science with this Paper Plate Layers of the Earth Project.

Have fun learning about earth science with this simple Paper Plate Layers of the Earth Project inspired by The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth.

This fun (and very simple) earth science activity was inspired by The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. (As a matter of fact, this book has inspired several other project too. I can’t wait!)

In this book, the kids and Ms. Frizzle travel deep inside the earth. They (and your own kids) learn all about rocks, the make-up of our planet, caves, and all sorts of fun earth science information.

Supplies needed for this layers of the Earth activity

The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth by Joanne Cole and Bruce Degen
1 paper plate per project
Pencil
Dark brown, orange, yellow, and lighter brown craft paint
Black marker

How to Make Your Paper Plate Layers of the Earth Project

Flip your paper plate over. We’ll be creating on the bottom of our paper plate.

For most of our layers, we’ll be using the markings on our paper plate as a guide. But, to start with, use your pencil to draw the inner core in the middle of the paper plate. Paint the small middle circle dark brown.

Next, paint the outer core. use the orange paint to paint up to the circular line on your plate.

Paint the textured section yellow for your mantle and finally paint a thin strip of light brown around the outer edge of your plate for your crust.

Feel free to change up these colors. You can use whatever colors you want!

Once all your paint has dried, use your black marker to label the layers of the earth.

Your center circle is the inner core, next layer is the outer core, then the mantle, and finally the crust.

If you make this project in conjunction with reading The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth, you can learn about each of the layers and what they are made up of. This layers of the earth activity is a great complement to the book.

My Must-Have Resources for Science Fun

Here are some of our favorites (you can purchase and find out more at each link):

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Kitchen Science Box

Physics Box

Find all their fun STEM and science boxes here.

STEAM Family Activities

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Melting Snow Science Experiment

December 29, 2018 By Terri Thompson

We’ve had plenty of snow this year, but the sub-zero temps have been keeping us inside most days.

Luckily, with the exception of a quick trip outside to gather snow, this simple melting snow science experiment is done indoors.

We used the snow to practice both prediction and observation.

Practice making predictions and observations with this simple melting snow science experiment. It's perfect to do on a cold, snowy day!

Supplies needed for your snow science experiment:

Snow (if you don’t have snow, you can use crushed ice)
4 clear jars or drinking glasses
Ruler
Notebook

Let’s start our snow science project!

Step 1:

Measure an equal amount of snow into 4 jars. We added about 2 inches of snow to each. Use the ruler to measure.

Place each jar in 4 different locations. We chose a window (on a grey, cloudy day), a dark room, the refrigerator, and outside (temp was -4 F).

Set a timer for 5 minutes.

Step 2:

Record your predictions.

We asked the question, which jar of snow will melt first?

We then ranked them from the fastest melting to the slowest.

Each girl had a chance to make individual guesses.

Step 3:

Make your first observations.

When the timer went off, the girls ran around and checked all of the jars. I was their recorder and the person elected to check the frigid outside jar.

After five minutes, we discovered that the jar in the window and the one in the dark room had already started melting. The refrigerator jar had no melting, nor did the one outside (obviously).

After making your first observations, set the timer for an additional 5 or 10 minutes. We chose five.

Step 4:

Make your second observation.

After an additional five minutes had passed, we discovered that our window jar was melting the fastest, and the dark room was second. The refrigerator jar and outside jar still showed no melting.

Step 5:

Make your final observations.

After our second observation we left to run a few errands. When we came back, we discovered that despite our initial observations, the jar in the dark room melted faster than the one in the window.

The refrigerator jar had started melting and the one outside was still as frozen as it started out.

What did we learn with our snow science experiment?

This led to a quick examination. Why did the jar in the window stop melting so quickly? The girls discovered a very cold window and a cloudy day.

My 1st grader also observed that the heater had come on and suspected that it helped speed up the melting in the dark room. I love it when their scientific minds start working!

This snow science experiment is perfect for both preschoolers and elementary students. It’s a simple way to introduce making predictions. Your older kids can practice their writing by recording all the observations in the notebook. Plus, it’s simple and safe so that your older kids can do the entire experiment on their own.

Note: This post was originally published on January 6, 2014. Updated and republished on December 29, 2018.

My Must-Have Resources for Science Fun

Here are some of our favorites (you can purchase and find out more at each link):

Get a monthly subscription.

Kitchen Science Box

Physics Box

Find all their fun STEM and science boxes here.

STEAM Family Activities

Fill out the form below to start receiving STEAM Family Fun in your inbox.

Winter STEM Projects for Kids

December 28, 2018 By Terri Thompson

Snow, icicles, frost, and more! There are so many fun things to explore in the winter.

These fun Winter STEM Projects for Kids will help you and your children explore all these fun aspects (and more).

So, let’s gather some supplies and get ready to learn.

Learn and have fun with all of these winter STEM projects for kids. Explore snow, ice, cold temperatures and more winter fun.

You’ll find projects to help you explore snow and ice. Or, explore a favorite winter drink. You’ll create, you’ll explore, and you’ll learn a lot.

Let’s go have some fun!

Science Winter STEM Projects

Learn about friction with our fun Hockey Science Experiment.

Practice prediction and observation while you experiment with our Melting Snow Science Experiment.

Explore a favorite winter drink with our fun Hot Chocolate Science Experiment.

Make frost and explore winter weather with this Frost Snowman Experiment from Science Sparks.

Art Winter STEM Projects

Explore melting snow to make art with this snow process art project from Mom Explores the Smokies.

Grow salt crystals to decorate your paper snowflakes with this fun Growing Salt Crystals project from Little Bins for Little Hands.

Use science to make beautiful frosty windows with this Epsom Salt Painting idea from Babies to Bookworms.

Create beautiful colorful icicles with this Colorful Icicle Science Project from Housing a Forest.

Winter Engineering STEM Activities

Build a snowman with this fun STEM Snowman Craft from How Wee Learn.

Explore symmetry while you build beautiful snowflakes with this fun Pipe Cleaner Snowflake craft from The Joy of Sharing.

Put together a Winter Tinkering Kit from Little Bins for Little Hands and let your kids build and explore.

Engineer an ice lantern with this fun project from STEAM Powered Family.

My Must-Have STEM Resources

I don’t know about you, but I don’t always have time to prep fun STEM projects. That’s why I love Green Kid Crafts Discovery boxes. The boxes are packed full of projects that are fun and inviting. You can choose to get a subscription or a one-off box based off of a specific theme. Any one you choose would be a lot of fun!

Here are some of our favorites (you can purchase and find out more at each link):

Get a monthly subscription.

Intro to Electricity Box

Physics Box

Find all their fun STEM and science boxes here.

STEAM Family Activities

Fill out the form below to start receiving STEAM Family Fun in your inbox.

STEAM Activities

Fun STEM Building Toys for Kids

Awesome STEM Building Toys

You may also like one of these fun STEM activities:

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LEGO STEM Challenges for Kids

FUN LEGO STEM Challenges

More awesome LEGO STEAM challenges