Science, technology, engineering, and math, collectively known as STEM, are the subjects that will prepare you for the tech-oriented jobs of the future. A lot of different jobs rely on computers and other types of technology, and you’ll also find that math, science, and engineering turn up in a lot of different areas of life. Some kids can find these subjects tricky at first, but there are lots of different games and activities you can try to make learning about STEM topics easier and more fun.
Science
Science is about exploring the world and learning how everything around you works. A lot of science experiments are hands-on activities that let you see how something works up close, like how clouds form or how different types of rocks are made. Science also teaches you about the scientific method, which is a series of steps that scientists follow to test out their ideas.
- Storm in a Glass Experiment: Learn a little about how rain works by making your own “cloud”!
- Baked Ice Cream: With science, you can put ice cream in the oven and have it still come out cold.
- Discover Acids and Bases From Everyday Foods: Experiment on your favorite foods to learn about acids and bases.
- Model the Rock Cycle With Chocolate: Make different kinds of rocks out of chocolate and you can also eat the results.
- Grow a Chia Pet: Learn about growing seeds and make your own spongy pet.
- Collect Bugs From Your Own Backyard: The science that studies bugs is called entomology.
- Triboluminescence Experiment With Candy: You can make flashes of light using candy in a bag!
- Power a Boat With Soap: Try this activity to learn about the science of soap and water.
- Build a Model of the Digestive System: Create your own model intestines, then try an experiment to learn about how they work.
- Cloud in a Jar Experiment: With a few things from around the house, you can create a cloud inside a jar.
- Thunderstorm at Home Experiment: Learn about how air currents work to create thunderstorms with a simple experiment.
- Light a Flame in a Bottle: Create your own “fire” and learn about how different fluids interact.
- Study Genomes and Adaptations: Your genome is what makes you you, and differences in genomes make you different from your friends and people different from turtles or flowers.
- Atom Touch Game: Play around with atoms and molecules, the smallest parts that make up everything.
Technology
Technology is everywhere around us, from the car your mom or dad drives to the computer you use to do schoolwork. A lot of schools even require students to learn about things like coding and Web design, which let you use computer technology to create machines and share information. Knowing how technology works can help you to fix things when they don’t work, and it can also help you to be ready to get a good job someday.
- Binary Code Challenge: Computers work based on binary code, meaning that everything they do breaks down to ones and zeroes.
- Blockchain Basics: Blockchains allow people to send information safely using lots of math calculations.
- Make Your Own Web Page: Every page on the Internet is made with a special type of code called HTML.
- Code Monster: Play around with HTML to see what you can do with it here.
- Tech Vocabulary for ESL Students: Learn basic words to describe computers and how we use them.
Engineering
Engineering used to just mean things like designing bridges or building cars, but now, there are a lot more challenges facing engineers. They might focus on figuring out ways to keep us and our property safe from wildfires or hurricanes, or they might work on ways that we can use cleaner energy sources like solar power. There are lots of different types of engineers, but they all work on finding solutions to problems in our lives.
- DIY Rockets: Create your own rocket and make it blast off!
- Build a Rube Goldberg Machine: Try this fun challenge to build a machine out of all sorts of different things.
- Heat Exchange Activities: Learn about how water heaters can work by building your own.
- Mechanical Engineering Activities: Create a catapult and find out more about what mechanical engineers do.
- Create a Car Game: Put together the parts to create your own cool vehicle!
- Fun Heat Experiments: Study how materials expand and contract when they’re heated and cooled with these activities.
- Build a Lego Catapult: You can build your own catapult using the toys you probably already have a few other things from around the house.
- Jelly Bean Structural Engineering: Try building different types of structures using jelly beans and toothpicks.
- Craft Origami Cups: You can fold a flat piece of paper and turn it into a cup!
Mathematics
Math is the foundation for the other three STEM subjects, and it’s also an important thing to understand no matter what you want to do when you grow up. Basic math can help you do things like plan a budget or save up money for a new car, and it can also help you figure out how to split up something between you and your friends equally. Things like geometry and algebra can also help you learn how to solve problems, both in class and in your real life.
- Factris Math Game: This block-stacking game can help you learn about multiplication.
- Magic Squares Math Activity: Can you make your own magic square?
- Mensa Ratio Martian Game: Feed the alien numbers that are ratios.
- Odd Squad Pienado Game: Make the shapes fit the outlines to stop the pie tornado!
- U.S. Census Histogram Comparison Activity: Look at and make graphs to learn more about the people in our country.
- Fractions With Frogs: Practice breaking up 40 frogs into groups, then figuring out what fraction of the whole each group is.
- How to Solve Word Problems: Learn some tips for figuring out this type of math problem.
- Analyze the Sugar Content in Carbonated Drinks: Studying the labels on drinks can help you to figure out how much sugar is in them.
- Lemonade Stand Game: Can you make a profit by running a lemonade stand?