5 Fun STEAM Projects and Activities Kids Can Do at Home

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No, we’re not talking about laundry! The term STEAM refers to an educational concept that focuses on teaching kids Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math using a hands-on and cooperative approach in order to engage children in these subjects while encouraging creativity and curiosity. Researchers believe that getting children interested in these areas from a young age will better prepare them for the workforce of the future and create more well-rounded individuals adept at critical thinking and problem solving.

Many schools throughout the US and the world at large are turning toward STEAM methods in the classroom, but there are plenty of STEAM projects and activities that kids can do at home with minimal prep using regular household items. Whether you have young children who haven’t yet entered elementary school or you’re looking for ways to keep your child busy on weekends and school breaks, STEAM projects are a fun way to keep them having fun while learning information and building skills that will benefit them for the rest of their lives. Here are five simple projects and activities to get them started. 

DIY Robot Hand. What kid doesn’t think robots are the coolest?! Using just straws, paper, string, and tape, your children can engineer their very own robotic hands. This project integrates design, engineering and creative thinking and is simple enough for even young children to complete.

Find the project details here.

Bird’s Nest. Working with technology doesn’t have to mean sitting in front of a screen. Using STEAM techniques children can get out in nature and attempt to build their very own bird’s nest like a bird actually would — without using tape or glue! This fun project will encourage your kids to get out into nature, create something with their own hands, and build problem solving skills. Even better, they’ll use mostly found objects so you won’t have to go out and buy a bunch of supplies.

Find the project details here.

Painted Rainbows. Even toddlers can get in on the STEAM action with this rainbow project. Using a flashlight, you can reflect the “rainbow” that shows up on the shiny side of a CD or DVD onto paper for your child to use as a stencil to create her very own rainbow using paint. Little ones will be fascinated by the shifting colors on the back of the disk and so excited to recreate them, creating a natural interest in science, exploration, and art.

Find the project details here.

Bungee Barbie. Yes, you can teach the scientific method using a Barbie, and it’s a great way to get girls interested in physics and math. All you need for this Bungee Barbie project is a bunch of rubber bands and a Barbie doll. The idea is to tie the rubber bands together to create a bungee that you will eventually attach Barbie to see if you can get her hair to touch the ground while her body remains elevated. Kids can make a hypothesis about how many rubber bands they’ll use and record data every time they test it out.

Find the project details here.

Sierpinski Fractal Triangle. Art and math go hand-in-hand, as proven by this super-cool Sierpinski Fractal Triangle project that has kids create a 3-D project by cutting and folding paper into tetrahedrons (triangular pyramids) and then taping them together to form the 3-D “tree.” Kids can get creative with colors, patterns, and the size of their trees. Bonus: The finishes trees are cute enough to be used as decorations!

Find the project details here.