Hands-On STEM at Home: PK–1 Family Activities

Simple, exciting ways for young children to explore science, technology, engineering, and math through play and curiosity!

Preschool STEM Fun

1. Sink or Float

Goal: Explore water science and prediction
Materials: Bowl of water, small household items
How to Play:
Gather objects (toy car, sponge, crayon). Ask, “Will it sink or float?” Test each one and talk about what you notice.
“What do the floaters have in common?”

2. Building Towers

Goal: Experiment with balance and design
Materials: Blocks, cups, or boxes
How to Play:
Challenge your child to build the tallest tower possible. Try again with different materials.
“What makes your tower strong?”

3. Color Mixing

Goal: Observe color changes
Materials: Food coloring, water, clear cups
How to Play:
Mix red + yellow, yellow + blue, blue + red. Watch what new colors you can create!
“What happens if we mix all three?”

4. Nature Collectors

Goal: Observe patterns and classification
Materials: Small basket or bag
How to Play:
Go outside to collect leaves, rocks, or sticks. Sort by color, shape, or size.
“How are these the same? How are they different?”

Kindergarten STEM at Home

1. Paper Airplane Testing

Goal: Introduce experimentation and measurement
Materials: Paper, tape, measuring tape
How to Play:
Fold paper airplanes in different ways. Fly and measure how far each goes.
“Which design flew the farthest?”

2. Bridge Builders

Goal: Explore engineering and strength
Materials: Paper, tape, blocks, coins
How to Play:
Build a bridge between two blocks. Test how many coins it can hold before it bends.
“How can we make it stronger?”

3. Shadow Play

Goal: Observe light and shadow
Materials: Flashlight, toys
How to Play:
Shine a flashlight on toys to make shadows. Move the light closer and farther.
“What happens to the shadow when we move the light?”

4. Sound Scientists

Goal: Explore vibration and sound
Materials: Empty boxes, rubber bands, spoons
How to Play:
Stretch rubber bands across a box and pluck them to hear sounds. Try different sizes.
“Which rubber band makes a low sound? A high one?”

Grade One STEM at Home

1. Parachute Challenge

Goal: Investigate air resistance and design
Materials: Plastic bag, string, small toy
How to Play:
Cut a plastic bag into a square. Tie strings to the corners and attach to a toy. Drop it and observe how it falls.
“How can we make it fall more slowly?”

2. Ice Melt Race

Goal: Compare and test materials
Materials: Ice cubes, salt, sugar, water
How to Play:
Place ice cubes in bowls and sprinkle different substances. Predict which will melt fastest.
“Why do you think salt melts it faster?”

3. Puff Mobile

Goal: Explore motion and simple machines
Materials: Paper, straws, tape, cardboard, small wheels (or bottle caps)
How to Play:
Build a small car and see if you can move it by blowing through the straw.
“What makes it move faster?”

4. Design a Bird Nest

Goal: Engineer like animals
Materials: Twigs, grass, paper scraps, tape
How to Play:
Challenge your child to build a nest that holds a small toy bird or egg.
“What makes a nest strong and cozy?”

Family Connection Ideas

• STEM Journal: Draw pictures or write notes after each experiment.
  
  
• Family Challenge Fridays: Pick one activity each week and share photos with your teacher.
  
  
• STEM in the Kitchen: Cooking = science and math! Measure, mix, and predict together.
  
  
• STEM Walks: Look for patterns, textures, machines, or animal homes while walking outside.
  
  
• STEM Read-Alouds:
  
  
• Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
  
  
• Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty
  
  
• Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty
  
  
• The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
  
  

Family Reflection Questions

• What did you build, test, or discover today?
  
• What didn’t work the first time — and what did you change?
  
• How did you feel when your design worked?
• What can we try next time?