STEM, stands for the study of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
These 4 subjects teach critical thinking, logic and a large variety of other skills needed for when your child one day enters a future workplace.
But, how exactly do we as parents who grew up in a totally different world, equip our children for their future through everyday play ?
I’ve compiled a list of easy STEM activities that the entire family can enjoy together.
Activities
I have tried to separate the activities into a category each but many of the activities cross over into one or more of the other categories as well.
Science
- Take a nature walk in your backyard or neighbourhood.
- Visit a museum.
- Get an old microscope and look at things.
- Plant seeds and record their growth.
- Take photos of nature.
- Make slime or ooblek.
- Learn to recognize trees from their bark.
- Study a scientist and read their biography.
- Use a magnifying glass and search for bugs.
- Make art using leaves.
- Complete a science simulation online.
- Plant a vegetable garden.
- Weed the garden and identify weeds.
- Go rock hunting.
- Visit a farm.
- Make a time lapse video in nature.
Technology
- Give your children old appliances or toys to dismantle and discover how they work.
- Fix broken toys and let your child try help with a solution as to how it can be fixed, what materials or tools to use to do so.
- Investigate your family car’s engine.
- Learn to code a game.
- Create a stop motion video using LEGO or PLAYDOH.
- Learn to use a compass for direction.
- Fix a bike.
- Tour a factory.
- Make a “How to” video.
- Build a solar oven and cook something.
- Build something using a pulley
- Build something using using gears.
- Use a lever to lift something heavy
Engineering
- Use a large cardboard box to create a rocketship.
- Create your own boardgame.
- Make a LEGO car, building or ship.
- Make a LEGO bridge.
- Work out how much paint is needed to paint a room.
- Design a blueprint of your home.
- Invent a useful item.
- Make paper aeroplanes and host an aeroplane flying competition.
- Design and build mini boats and float them down a river or stream.
- Build something using only craft sticks, paper straws or pipe cleaners.
- Make a raft from an empty milk jug.
Maths
- Take a calculator with to the store and let your child add up your bill, find the best price or work out the cost per item.
- Play a card game involving numbers.
- Play connect 4.
- Play chess.
- Play checkers.
- Bake a cake or cookies.
- Learn to use a maths compass.
- Build a puzzle
- Make your own puzzle.
- Watch a sporting event and keep statistics.
- Play monopoly.
- Try origami.
- Build a picture only using one type of shape.
- Take photos of shapes around your home.
- Point out numbers whilst driving in the car.
