Our Favorite Springtime STEM Activities
STEM learning is so essential to increasing a child’s early development and pathways to success. That is why we pride ourselves on including STEM-based activities in our curriculum. Read on for some of our favorite springtime STEM activities from that classroom that you can try at home. We guarantee they are preschooler approved!
SEED GERMINATION EXPERIMENT
Spring represents growth and change. That is why this is one of our favorite springtime STEM activities for the classroom. Teaching our preschoolers how flowers bloom is one of the first steps in their fundamental understanding of nature. What is even better about this activity is how easy it is to do. All you need is a single seed (bean or pea), a jar, paper towels, and water. That’s it! Your little one will be amazed to watch their plant sprout, all from the smallest of beginnings.
COLOR CHANGING FLOWERS
This is one of the springtime STEM activities that we can’t help but be mesmerized by, and we think you will agree. You will need white flowers (carnations are recommended), food coloring, jars, and water for this activity. To save time, fill the jars with water first and then have your preschooler add a few drops of color to each one. You will both love watching each flower begin to change as they absorb the colorful mix.
GROWING SEEDS IN EGGSHELLS
Here is another fun growing activity that requires very little prep. This seed-growing activity can make practical use of your empty eggshells while teaching your little one that nature can happen anywhere. To prepare this activity, you will need eggshells, soil, seeds, and a spoon or small tool to scoop with. Your preschooler will have so much fun creating their eggshell garden and seeing how their plants grow over time.
RAIN CLOUD IN A JAR
We know how much our students love rainy days, so this craft is another one of our favorite springtime STEM activities. While it won’t precisely be raining in their jar, they’ll get the chance to explore clouds and rain in a truly crafty way. You will need a jar or cup, shaving cream, blue food coloring, and a dropper or pipette for this weather experiment. You’ll want to mix the food coloring with water separately before starting this activity. After you fill your jar with water, you will then add shaving cream to the top. From there, your little one can begin adding their drops of ‘rain’ to their puffy clouds and watch as the rain pours down.
CHROMATOGRAPHY BUTTERFLY CRAFT
Colorful crafts are our favorite kind of springtime STEM activities! This science experiment is equal parts STEM and art. You’ll love how this rainbow-colored craft comes together, making it a perfect spring-themed activity that you can keep. Since there are more than a few steps to bring your little one’s butterfly craft to life, we will leave it to Buggy and Buddy for the complete how-to.
SKY SCIENCE EXPERIMENT
If your preschooler has ever asked why the sky is blue, this is the STEM activity for you! While your child may have moved on questions about why the atmosphere changes colors, you can use this craft for either scenario. Another project that utilizes a jar, the Sky science experiment, is effortless to do. For this, you will need water, milk, a jar, a flashlight, and a room in your home that can block out light. Once you find the right mix of water and milk, you will place your flashlight under the jar to demonstrate how light changes color in the ‘sky.’ This can be an entertaining family activity or something for your little one to do after school. Either way, they will be filled with joy overseeing how the direction of light can change what we see in the sky, whether day or night.
REGROW LETTUCE
If you happen to have aging lettuce to spare, this activity can give it some new life. The regrow lettuce STEM activity will demonstrate to your child how some plants can renew with the right amount of care. To make your lettuce grow with success, you will have to use the lettuce head’s bottom portion. This activity is also great for teaching your preschooler about responsibility as they will need to change the plate of water that their lettuce head will be in every day. The result will be a new head of lettuce and a whole lot of joyful wonder from your child.
3-in-1 FLOWER ACTIVITY
A three-in-one STEM activity just might need to be at the top of our list of springtime STEM activities that we love. So how exactly is this activity supposed to be three-in-one? We are glad you asked! The first portion of this experiment is creating an ice melt using flowers. From there, the second activity focuses on your young scholar identifying each part of the flower. And the last activity? A water sensory bin! All together, you have a STEM activity that is 3x the fun and play, with just the right amount of learning.
SPROUT HOUSE
We may have this on the list because it is adorable but also because of how much fun your little one will have learning through play. To create their very own sprout house, you will need sponges, toothpicks, glue, and seeds. This activity combines engineering and science to build a literal “greenhouse,” and we love how perfectly they turn out. The complete how-to is at the link above.
RAINBOW MELTING ICE
More rainbow activities? Yes, please! This springtime STEM activity is another easy-to-do craft that is perfect for those on a time crunch. To create your little one’s rainbow melting ice experiment, you will need ice, coarse salt, food coloring, purple gel food coloring, and watercolors. Follow each step at the link above to have a bright, fun craft and filled with just the right amount of curiosity.
