Discover these fun STEM for kids activities that won’t cost you a dime!

Taking a STEM education out of the classroom is easier than you may think! Exploring the elements of STEM is primarily about asking questions – which is something kids are good at! Try one or all of these free activities to get your kids asking burning questions and brainstorming new ones while gaining a new perspective on the world around them through the lenses of STEM. 

Pick up old tech items. See if you can figure out (as a team) how they run. How do music tapes work? What kind of data is stored on vinyl?

Start a garden. Kids will love caring for their plants while asking questions along the way. Why do some plants only grow during certain times of the year? How long does it take for a plant to germinate? How does photosynthesis work? Starting a garden will also teach them consistency, a valuable component of all experiments.

Take a nature walk. Collect bugs and identify plants on a nature walk while grabbing some fresh air! Sometimes the most exciting discoveries are those found in or near your own yard.

Make slime. Regardless of how messy it is or how much it can get stuck in your carpet, let them make slime! Kids can learn about chemical reactions while feeling and seeing the results.

Build a bridge from popsicle sticks. Save up those popsicle sticks to hone in on your student’s inner engineering skills. Once the bridge is built, see how much weight it can withstand.

Learn to code! Coding is actually a lot of fun – even for kids. Coding teaches them a variety of skills, from math abilities to analytical thinking. Look for coding apps for kids that offer tutorials that teach them how to create while having fun. Coding for kids and even programming for kids can be fun no matter what your age if you are new to the programming world. Check out some of the apps for yourself!