5 Things To Make And Do With STEM-Obsessed Kids

Get your kids psyched about STEM with interactive activities they can do at home. They'll be amazed to use science, technology, engineering, art, and math in a setting that feels nothing like school. 

Most of these experiments and activities can be modified depending on the ages of your children, meaning you can go into more or less detail when you explain what you're doing and why. Whether your kids like building things, using technology or prefer the colorful arts and crafts side to STEM, there's something for everyone.

1. Create A Tornado In A Jar

 

You'll need: jar with a lid, sand, water and washing up liquid

Fill your jar 3/4 full and add one drop of washing up liquid. Add a sprinkle of sand to your jar - this will imitate real tornadoes, which get their murky colour from all of the dirt they pick up as they travel. Tightly screw the lid onto your jar. Turn it upside down and shake it for 1-2 minutes in a circular motion. Quickly turn it back the right way up and place it onto a table or counter and you'll see your tornado build, swirl and then fade away!

2. Magic Milk Experiment

 

You'll need: food coloring, washing up liquid, cotton buds, full-fat milk and a shallow dish

If you're trying to search for things to make and do with what you've already got at home, this activity is perfect. It might be a science experiment, but it also looks like a cool art project! Pour milk into your dish to about 1cm deep. Add drops of food coloring all over - the more colors, the better. Next, dip a cotton bud into washing up liquid and then touch the surface of the milk with it, holding it there for about 15 seconds. It'll turn into a beautiful rainbow in front of your eyes, all because of how the milk's fat molecules react to the soap!

 

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3. Make A Volcano

 

You'll need: plastic bottle, modeling clay, 2 tbsp bicarbonate of soda, 2 tbsp washing up liquid, 1 tbsp food coloring, a splash of vinegar and a plastic dish or container

If you're hunting for ideas for scientific things to make, a DIY volcano never disappoints. Use your modeling clay to create a volcano shape around your plastic bottle before placing it into the plastic container. Add washing up liquid, food coloring and bicarbonate of soda to the bottle. To make the volcano erupt, add vinegar and watch the chemical reaction take place! If your kids are a bit older you can go into more detail and learn about how bases and acids react together and understand why the volcano reacts like this.

 

4. Plant Seeds And Transform Your Garden

 

You'll need: seeds or bulbs, a small shovel, a watering can, lollipop sticks and a pen

Head out to the garden and find a good spot to grow some plants. Dig a hole, plant your seeds, cover them with more soil, water them and poke lollipop sticks into the soil with the names of each plant on. Now see how long they take to grow! Use this time to teach your kids about what plants need to grow and survive, going into more detail if you have older children. Why not try planting some vegetables while you're at it? Potatoes and carrots grow well in cooler climates so who knows, maybe you'll have your own vegetable patch by the time lockdown is over!

 

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5. Make Fireworks In A Jar

 

You'll need: large jar, food coloring (multiple colors), warm water, 4 tbsp oil, a small bowl

Fill your jar 3/4 full with warm water and set aside. Add oil and a few drops of each food coloring to your bowl. Slowly mix until the color has broken up into smaller droplets. Carefully pour this mixture on top of the water and watch as the food coloring slowly moves out of the oil and into the water. As it does it'll start to dissolve and swirl, making a watery firework explosion in the jar! This is because oil is less dense than water, and the food coloring beads are heavier than oil.

 

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