Help build your child's S.T.E.M skills with these hands on activities

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STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) activities help children develop problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking skills. Here are 10 engaging, hands-on STEM activities parents can do at home with their primary grade students.

1. Building a Paper Bridge

Challenge your child to build a bridge using only paper and tape. Test its strength by placing small toys on top and discussing how to make it stronger.

2. Sink or Float Experiment

Fill a container with water and gather different objects. Have your child predict whether each item will sink or float and test their hypothesis.

3. Lego Coding Challenge

Give your child a set of instructions (like “place a red block on top of a blue block”) to introduce the concept of coding through step-by-step problem-solving.

4. Balloon Rocket Race

Blow up a balloon, tape it to a straw threaded on a string, and release it to watch it zoom forward. Discuss how air pressure and force make it move.

5. DIY Volcano

Mix baking soda and vinegar in a homemade volcano model to watch an exciting chemical reaction take place.

6. Shadow Tracing

Go outside and have your child trace their shadow at different times of the day to observe how the sun’s position changes.

7. Make a Rain Cloud in a Jar

Fill a jar with water, add shaving cream on top, and drop food coloring to watch it “rain” through the cloud.

8. Marshmallow and Toothpick Structures

Challenge your child to build different structures using marshmallows and toothpicks, introducing basic engineering concepts.

9. Magnet Exploration

Provide magnets and let your child test which objects around the house are magnetic and which are not.

10. DIY Water Filter

Layer sand, gravel, and coffee filters in a bottle and pour water through it to see how filtration works.

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These hands-on STEM activities encourage creativity, exploration, and problem-solving. By incorporating STEM into everyday play, children develop a lifelong love for science, technology, engineering, and math!