One of the best times to enjoy STEM activities for kids is summertime. This list of top Summer STEM activities for kids will have your kids playing and learning all summer long!
Summer is upon us which means families everywhere are looking for fun and engaging activities their kids can enjoy while they are on summer break.
This collection of fun summer STEM activities for kids ages 4-19 is a fun way for parents to encourage problem-solving and critical thinking skills while also having fun!
When you’re done with this list, take a look at the rest of the fun STEAM activities for kids we have on the blog.
There are enough ideas to last you all year long!
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Get Your Free Summer STEM Activities Printable
Looking to get started with a fun summer STEM activity? By clicking here and filling out the form, you’ll get a free STEM printable from our brand new Summer STEM Activities Workbook!
The printable activity includes teacher and student instruction pages, a reading passage with questions for further understanding, a diagram page, and a reflection sheet.
It’s completely free. Fill out the form above or click here to get your free activity in your inbox.
Why Include Summer STEM Activities?
There are many reasons to include summer STEM activities in your child’s summer homeschool schedule. STEM activities and science experiments are a fun way to engage a child’s mind and get them thinking critically about the world around them.
As I often say, it’s better to teach a child HOW to think rather than WHAT to think. And STEM activities, whether summer themed or not, are an easy way to encourage children of all ages to learn how to think.
DIY science activities or STEM challenges allow educators to present students with problems that may include multiple solutions. Students must decide on a solution that is best for them, for whatever reason they decide.
The best kid-friendly STEM activities involve household items you already have on hand but some fun science experiments will be worth investing in.
Go through this list and see if one of these summer learning activities strikes your fancy! Now the only question is what summer science experiments will your kids want to try next?
And be sure to grab my free scientific method printable worksheet bundle! This printable bundle is easily adapted for any science experiment or STEM activity. Feel free to use them again and again!
And be sure to check back soon because I update this list of summertime STEM activities regularly.
The Ultimate List Of Summer STEM Activities For Kids
This summer, enjoy some sunny rays and soak up some vitamin D while engaging in fun and educational summertime STEM activities for kids. Here are a few of our favorites.
- Homemade Spectroscope – What better way to enjoy the bright and beautiful summer days than by learning about light refraction? This homemade spectroscope makes it easy to learn while also enjoying some summertime fun.
This summer STEM activity is perfect for preschoolers and elementary-aged students.
- Regrow Food From Kitchen Scraps – Gardening is a basic summertime activity that many families participate in. However, sometimes gardening can feel overwhelming and downright difficult. This regrowing kitchen scraps activity is a good way to get your kids’ feet wet in regards to gardening.
Before you know it, they’ll be growing all kinds of foods! Perfect for ages 6-19.
- DIY Seed Bomb – Garden bombs or seed bombs are another fun way to combine STEM learning with summertime fun. Learn how to make your own DIY seed bombs and then plant your seed bombs somewhere you can watch them grow!
These little garden bombs even double as gifts for loved ones or party favors. Perfect for ages 7-19.
- Exploding Sidewalk Chalk – Sidewalk chalk is a fun summertime activity for kids but did you know you can easily turn this activity into an educational adventure? It’s easy!
Follow this tutorial for making exploding sidewalk chalk and you’ll be well on your way to a fun and engaging summer STEM activity. Perfect for ages 4-14.
- Soda Mentos Rockets – If you enjoy blowing things up or making things fly through the air, you have got to give this soda mentos rocket a try.
Similar to a soda and mentos geyser, this activity combines science, engineering, mechanics, and a little bit of math, ending in a super fun outdoor activity that your kids are guaranteed to enjoy.
- Homemade Archery Bow – Archery is traditionally an outdoor sport making this homemade bow project a good summer STEM activity for older kids. Learn how to make a homemade bow out of PVC pipe. It’s inexpensive and it’s a whole lot of fun! Perfect for ages 12+
- DIY Composting Bin – Nothing says summer quite like a garden and nothing says gardening like a homemade composting bin. Turn this summer project into a learning adventure by getting your kids involved!
- Tin Can Ice Cream – Nothing says summertime quite like ice cream. Homemade ice cream is a fun summer activity but you can up the educational factor even more by making homemade ice cream in a tin can.
Learn how to combine summertime STEM and physical fitness with this fun experiment.
- Dragon Fire Science – Summer nights mean bonfires or campfires. This dragon fire experiment is perfect for those warm (or cool) summer nights where you want to stay outside after dark. Of course, you can enjoy it in the daytime too but it’s extra cool at night.
Learn what ingredients and materials you can throw in your fire to make the flames multi-colored! Make blue, purple, pink, and even green flames with this fun summer STEM experiment.
- Smoking Dragon STEM – This smoking dragon STEM activity is classified as a summer activity because dry ice is best experimented with outside. Have your kids make a homemade dragon out of recycled materials and then make the dragons smoke using dry ice!
Fun, engaging, and educational too.
- Floating Boats – While this post was originally written with a Thanksgiving theme in mind, your kids can make a floating boat any time of year! Using recycled materials you already have at home, challenge your kids to build a boat. When you’re done, see if your boats float!
This summer STEM activity can be enjoyed in buckets, in kiddie pools, or in a small stream, or even a bathtub! Perfect for educational summertime fun! Perfect for ages 4-14
- Rock Candy Science – Rock candy is not traditionally considered to be a summertime activity, but since this STEM activity takes at minimum a week to complete, summer break is the perfect time to enjoy it – especially if you have other commitments keeping you busy during the school year.
Plus, these rock candy treats are delicious when enjoyed out by the pool!
- DIY Bug Jars – There is much to be learned from a child’s bug jar. Learning about bugs, how they live, and the habitats they are found in. Learn about beneficial vs harmful bugs, and have fun while you’re at it!
This article also includes a free paper bug jar activity/craft for kids to print out when they can’t have a bug jar of their own.
- Bug Identification – Learning how to identify backyard bugs is another fun summertime STEM activity for preschoolers and elementary students. This article even has a free journal to keep track of the bugs you’ve identified.
As you can see, there are so many ways to enjoy some educational summertime fun! Whether your STEM project involves baking soda, LEGOS, or computer science, as long as you’re learning while you’re having fun, you’re on the right track.
Tips for Incorporating STEM Activities This Summer
Tips for Incorporating Summer STEM Activities
Now that you have an exciting list of summer STEM activities for kids, here are some tips to help you make the most of your STEM-filled summer:
- Create a Schedule: Plan a weekly or bi-weekly schedule that includes dedicated time for STEM activities. This will help ensure consistency and provide structure to your summer learning plan.
- Encourage Exploration: Let your child take the lead and explore topics that interest them. Allow them to choose activities from the list or propose their own STEM projects. Supporting their curiosity and interests will make the learning experience more meaningful.
- Adapt Activities to Different Ages: Tailor the activities based on your child’s age and skill level. Modify instructions, materials, or the complexity of the project to ensure it aligns with their abilities. This way, children of different ages can participate and learn together.
- Document and Reflect: Encourage your child to document their summer STEM journey. Have them maintain a journal, take photos, or create a scrapbook to record their experiments, observations, and reflections. This practice promotes critical thinking, communication skills, and helps them track their progress.
- Seek Community or Other Online Resources: Explore local community centers, libraries, or science museums that may offer summer STEM programs or workshops. Additionally, there are numerous online resources, websites, and educational platforms that provide STEM activity ideas, printable worksheets, and video tutorials – similar to what you’ve found here at Hess UnAcademy.
- Collaborate with Other Families: Consider organizing STEM activities with friends or neighbors. This not only enhances the social aspect but also allows for group projects, discussions, and shared learning experiences. Collaborating with others can foster teamwork, communication skills, and make the activities more enjoyable.
- Celebrate Achievements: Acknowledge and celebrate your child’s achievements throughout the summer. Recognize their effort, creativity, and problem-solving skills. This positive reinforcement motivates them to continue exploring STEM and builds their self-confidence.
Remember, the goal is to make summer STEM activities an enjoyable and enriching experience for your child. By incorporating these tips, you can create a summer full of learning, discovery, and endless possibilities.
Even More Summertime Posts
- 4th of July STEM Activities
- At-Home Summer Camp Ideas
- Free Summer Reading Logs
- The Ultimate List of STEM Activities
- STEAM Activities for Elementary Kids
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!
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Jess Brooks
Jess is the managing editor for Hess UnAcademy. She is a former elementary school teacher turned homeschool mom (of three!). She can be reached at jess@hessunacademy.com.
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