29+ Surprising STEAM Activities for Elementary Kids

If you’ve got kids between the ages of 5 and 12, then this collection of STEAM activities for elementary kids is for you. Part of our entire collection of STEM activities, these activities in particular target grades K-6

STEAM activities are all the rage right now, and for good reason! They help kids learn in a fun and interactive way.

If you’re looking for some new STEAM ideas to try out with your elementary-aged child, you’re in luck. This list has 29+ Surprising STEAM Activities for Elementary Kids that will keep them entertained and engaged.

From making slime to learning about outer space, there is something here for everyone. So get creative and have some fun!

What is STEAM?

STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics. Kid activities that encompass one, several, or all of these subjects are considered STEAM activities for elementary kids.

There are many ways to enjoy STEAM activities. Some families enjoy STEAM-based homeschooling. Others enjoy an activity here and there on weekends or during the summer. And of course STEAM activities have a strong presence in public school classrooms.

Kids who engage in STEAM activities grow up to be strong critical thinkers and problem solvers who are ready to face the challenges of the world, both today and tomorrow. It is wise to invest some time into your child’s STEAM education.

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Scientific Method Worksheets – Free Download

Before you move on, we’ve got some free scientific method worksheets for you to download and enjoy. These printable worksheets are useful for any science experiment, science project, STEM challenge, or STEM projects your students might be engaging in.

Turn every science project and STEAM activity into a thought-provoking STEM challenge. Plus give left brain and right brain kiddos alike a chance to utilize their strengths and improve their weaknesses. Get yours now!

What is the Difference Between STEM and STEAM?

The only difference between STEM and STEAM is the A which stands for Art. STEM activities are purely analytical in nature and do not invite art. This is not necessarily a good thing or a bad thing, it just is. Most activities qualify as both STEM and STEAM so you don’t need to worry too much.

Our family absolutely LOVES STEM and STEAM activities and we enjoy them several times a week. We have even begun a series of STEM books that other homeschooling families have been using as part of their homeschool STEM curriculum.

The Benefits of STEAM Activities for Elementary Kids

Engaging in STEAM activities offers a multitude of benefits for kids of all ages, particularly young children. They can foster holistic development and prepare children for success in a rapidly changing world while offering a range of other benefits, including:

• Critical Thinking Skills: STEAM activities challenge kids to think critically, analyze problems, and develop effective solutions. They learn to question, experiment, and approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset.
• Creativity and Innovation: The arts component in STEAM learning encourages creativity. Kids are free to explore their imaginations and find innovative solutions as they solve problems.
• Hands-On Learning: STEAM activities are typically hands-on projects with an experiential component to them. This tactile learning helps children understand complex concepts by engaging their senses and making learning more enjoyable and more memorable.
• Collaboration: Many STEAM projects encourage students to use teamwork. Kids learn to communicate, share ideas, and collaborate with peers, preparing them for future collaborative work environments.
• Real-World Application: STEAM activities often mirror real-world scenarios. Kids can see how what they’re learning applies to everyday life, making education more relevant and meaningful.
• Career Readiness: STEAM skills are in high demand across various industries. Exposure to STEAM at an early age can spark interest in future careers in science, technology, engineering, arts, or math.
• Confidence Building: Successfully completing STEAM projects can go a long way to increasing a child’s self-confidence and self-esteem.

Incorporating STEAM activities into your elementary student’s education or playtime can have a seriously profound and lasting impact. It equips them with valuable skills, nurtures their creativity, and empowers them to tackle the challenges of the future with confidence and enthusiasm.

Today, I am sharing some of my favorite STEAM activities for elementary kids. Enjoy!

The Best STEAM Activities for Elementary Kids

Here are some of the best STEAM activities for kids. Our family has enjoyed each of these activities in our home over the last year so we can attest to their awesomeness.

Many of these activities only require simple materials that you probably already have on hand, so you can get them set up pretty quickly for some STEAM learning fun.

Whether you are a homeschooler, a public school teacher, or a loving parent, educators will love including these fun activities in their kids’ day.

1. Homemade Pop Rocks

Store-bought pop rocks are awesome and jolly good fun but did you know you can make pop rocks at home? Learn about science and chemistry with this simple homemade pop rocks STEAM experiment for elementary students and have some learning fun in the kitchen today!

2. Edible DNA Model

While lessons on DNA structure and the double helix are typically saved for upper grades, older elementary students can learn about this topic with a fun and edible DNA model. Your kids won’t even realize they’re learning they’ll be having so much fun doing an edible science project!

3. Exploding Ivory Soap

If you want to teach your kids about catalysts, chemistry, and physical reactions, why not try exploding Ivory soap? This experiment has a definite wow factor and your kids will definitely have a blast watching their soap, well, explode!

When you’re done with the basic experiment, be sure to follow the instructions for taking it further so you can apply the scientific method and learn even more!

4. Rock Candy Science

Rock candy is a fun kitchen experiment that kids of all ages will enjoy. Plan ahead with this STEM project as it will take more than a week to complete, but as long as you’re aware of this time frame, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s actually quite fun for elementary kids to watch their crystals grow day by day!

Learn about chemical reactions with this fun science activity. Go learn more about using rock candy science as a STEAM activity now.

5. Gingerbread Structures

Gingerbread structures are more than just a holiday activity. Turn this traditional December activity into a year-round STEM project by building models of real-world buildings.

Encourage your students to experiment with various materials in order to determine which ones work best. So much learning to be had! Go learn more about using gingerbread structures as STEM projects now.

6. The Science of Cookies

Your elementary students will learn chemistry concepts that many adults are still unable to grasp with this fun and engaging science of cookies STEAM activity. This activity is messy and takes several hours but it’s a ton of fun and highly educational.

7. Elephant Toothpaste

Looking for a fun way to get your kids interested in science? Try the elephant toothpaste experiment! This easy and exciting project will have your little ones excited to learn more about chemistry. All you need is some dish soap, hydrogen peroxide, and food coloring. Let the fun begin!

8. DIY Seed Bombs

Gardening is a fun activity for kids in and of itself but throwing in some garden-themed STEM activities is a great way to step up an already educational experience. These DIY seed bombs, AKA garden bombs, are fun for kids and adults alike!

Pick your seeds based on your personal goals (food, flowers, etc) and your native climate. Then discuss how plants grow and why plants are good for bugs, animals, and humans alike as you build your homemade seed bombs. Then plant your seed bombs and enjoy your creation for many weeks or even months to come!

9. Chomping Dragons

Explore the concepts of simple machines while you build these chomping cardboard dragons! Kids will have a blast playing with their creations and you will have an easy STEAM lesson that they will eat right up. It’s a win-win!

10. Static Electricity Dragon Taming

Learn about static electricity and experiment with positive and negative charges, all while taming a dragon! This static electricity experiment is super fun and it’s also fast and simple, making it perfect for elementary-aged kids.

11. Toothpick Bridges

Another fun STEAM project for kids is the toothpick bridge. Use various materials from toothpicks and gumdrops to spaghetti noodles and marshmallows as your kids learn about physics. This activity is perfect for lessons revolving around engineering for kids.

How do bridges work? What makes a bridge strong? Can they build one of their own? Learn the answer to all these questions and develop problem solving and critical thinking skills with your own toothpick bridge STEM challenge for elemtnary kids. This will go down in history as a beloved fun activity your kids will never forget.

12. Homemade Butter

Making your own DIY butter puts your kids back in the kitchen again with some more STEM fun. How is butter made? What are molecules and how do they interact with each other? Your kids will find out with this homemade butter activity.

13. Edible Slime

If your kids like playdough, they will love making their own edible slime. This activity is especially fun for younger elementary students, including preschoolers as you won’t have to worry if too much gets in their mouths.

Older students can experiment with various ingredients and materials while younger students develop muscles and motor skills. It’s a win-win with edible slime.

14. Regular Slime

While these slime recipes are not edible, there is still plenty of room for learning. In fact, with this science activity, your kids can experiment with even more processes and materials when they are not limited to food items. Just be sure not to get anything in their hair! Check out this article on turning slime into a science fair project now.

15. Tin Can Ice Cream

What kid doesn’t like ice cream? Making homemade ice cream is a fun STEM activity for elementary students that ends in a delicious treat. They can make homemade ice cream in a baggie or they can get some extra energy out with a tin can ice cream activity. The choice is yours!

16. Fizzy Lemonade

Teach your kids about acids and bases with this simple STEAM activity. Your kids might have seen homemade volcanoes but this is a fun variant on that popular experiment. Using edible ingredients, your kids can make their very own explosion! Go learn how to make a fizzy lemonade experiment now.

17. Dyeing Easter Eggs

Dyeing Easter eggs is usually done around Easter but that doesn’t mean I had to leave it off this list of STEM activities for elementary kids. For this activity, you will have your kids come up with their own methods for dyeing Easter eggs.

They must come up with several options and then test them all out in order to determine which one is best. This is a fun activity that encourages your kids to really think big and develop their critical thinking and problem solving skills. Go read more about this Easter STEM activity now.

18. Solar System Activities

If your lesson plans include space and solar system topics, you are going to love these solar system activities. You’ll find projects and printable activities that revolve around the solar system.

Build a 3D model and then enjoy some printable space-themed math activities. It’s all part of the STEM education adventure! Go read more about solar system activities for kids now.

19. Build a Floating Boat

Another STEM challenge for elementary students that involves materials you probably already have at home. Using recycled materials only, can your kids build a boat that floats?

This activity is fun for elementary students of all ages. It can be done in a bathtub or in a pool in the back yard. Go learn how to build a floating boat now with this simple STEAM challenge.

20. Smoking Dragon

Kids can easily learn about states of matter as well as how dry ice works with this smoking dragon. First your kids will be able to build their own dragon heads out of styrofoam cups (or whatever you choose) then they can watch their dragons blow real smoke out of their mouths!

This dry ice experiment is perfect for elementary students who like science, dragons, and arts and crafts. Go learn more about smoking dragon STEM projects now!

21. Soda and Mentos Geyser

Younger kids such as lower elementary grades and preschoolers will enjoy watching a soda and mentos geyser and older elementary students can enjoy an engineering activity as they design and build a rocket launcher.

Can your kids blast an empty soda bottle into the air using only mentos and soda as a propellant? Find out with this soda bottle rocket activity.

22. Learn to Crochet

Learning how to crochet is a good way to help kids develop both the left brain and the right brain at the same time. This sneaky math activity will have your kids developing their logic and art skills, not to mention their fine motor skills, in no time flat. Read the simple tutorial on teaching kids how to crochet now.

23. Homemade Spectroscope

Teach kids about light with this simple STEAM activity. After they build their spectroscope, they can experiment with light refraction and learn how rainbows are made. It’s fun, simple, and educational. Learn how to make a homemade spectroscope now!

24. Flying Dragon Craft

Another fun craft project that invites some learning fun is these flying dragons. After your kids build their dragons, they can learn about force and motion as they watch their dragons fly up and down a piece of string. It’s really quite fun!

Read about the flying dragon STEM craft now and learn why so many families are including this in their list of favorite STEM activities for kids in elementary school

25. Exploding Sidewalk Chalk

Have you ever made sidewalk chalk explode? This activity is super simple and fun for all ages, but elementary kids will especially enjoy this STEM project.

All you need to do is mix corn starch, water, and food coloring in a baggie. Go outside so you can make a mess, add some vinegar, and close the baggies real tight. Then let them explode and make a great big, colorful mess! It’s tons of fun for everyone!

Following this activity, dive into a lesson on chemical reactions or Non-Newtonian fluids with your students. Then let them make a mess and have some fun! Go learn more about exploding sidewalk chalk now.

26. Flying Dragon Paper Airplanes

On the topic of dragons, what about dragon-shaped paper airplanes? This STEAM activity is perfect for elementary kids who are getting their feet wet in the areas of art, engineering, and statistics (math).

Have your kids make a few airplanes and track the results of each plane’s performance. Which airplane was the fastest, flew the longest, had the most loop-de-loops, etc? Have them graph their results and you’ve turned a 5-minute kid-friendly STEM activity into a full-on STEAM activity for students of all ages. Go learn more about this dragon paper airplane STEM activity now.

27. Edible Stained Glass

If your kids like working with candy or have a passion for art, they are going to go crazy for this edible stained glass STEAM activity. Learn how stained glass windows are made and then make your very own stained glass window out of melted hard candy.

28. Regrowing Kitchen Scraps

Did you know you can regrow food from kitchen scraps? This STEM activity is fun and simple, making it perfect for elementary kids. All you need is a qualifying food (or foods) and a place to grow them. Go learn more about regrowing kitchen scraps here

29. Marbled Dragon Eggs

Looking for a fun STEM activity to do with your kids? Look no further! This marbled dragon egg activity is perfect for all ages. Kids will love using their creativity and science skills to make these eggs come to life.

Using materials you probably already have on hand, your kids will learn how to marble, or hydrodip eggs, all while learning about density. So what are you waiting for? Get ready to have some fun!

More Holiday STEM Activities

If you like holiday STEM activities, you are going to love these roundups of holiday-themed activities and challenges that promote hands-on, creative problem solving. Check back often as more great STEAM activities are added regularly.

Valentine’s Day STEM Activities

Don’t let Cupid take over the entire month of February. Enjoy some Valentine’s Day STEM activities with your kids. These are perfect for elementary students at home or at school to enjoy all month long.

Independence Day STEM Activities

Let Freedom ring with these patriotic STEM activities that are sure to make your Independence Day sparkle. Perfect for Memorial Day, Independence Day, or any other patriotic holiday.

Summertime STEM Activities

Summertime is a time to go outside and have some fun! But that doesn’t mean the learning has to stop. Check out this list of summertime STEAM activities for kids. You might even come up with your own at-home summer camp plans!

Halloween Science Experiments

Halloween is a time for some messy science activities which is why I made a roundup of the ultimate Halloween science experiments and Halloween STEM projects for you to enjoy in your home. What kid doesn’t like getting messy?

Thanksgiving STEM Activities

In the busy weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, you might not have much time for traditional lesson plans. But that’s okay because these Thanksgiving STEM activities have got your back! Keep the learning going while having a ton of fun.

Christmas STEM Activities

Many homeschooling families enjoy taking the month of December off from hardcore lessons but nobody wants their kids to lose momentum which is why this list of Christmas STEM activities is so handy!

More STEM Resources for Elementary Students

My favorite STEM resource is the collection of STEM Made Easy books. Each book includes 10 projects and details on how to adapt each project for all ages including elementary, middle school, and high school levels. The first book, the STEM Made Easy Edibles Edition, is especially popular.

Free STEM Project Guide Download

Want a free sample STEM project guide? Sign up to have one sent to you so you can see exactly what to expect from the STEM Made Easy Digital Subscription. Just click the button below!

Or read more about the other STEM Made Easy Digital Subscription here. Each month includes 5 STEM project guides along with instructions for how to make them fun and engaging for kids ages 3-19.

Or take a look at these other awesome STEM resources.

• 61+ Homeschool STEAM Activities
• 13 STEAM Art Projects
• Middle School STEM Activities
• Homeschool STEM Curriculum
• DIY Anemometer STEM Project
• Ocean Zones in a Jar STEM Activity
• DIY Jack in the Box STEM Project