Specialist -
STEM at Home
The school holidays are a wonderful opportunity for children to explore, experiment and discover the science and technology all around them. STEM is not just something we learn at school, it is part of everyday life.
Whether your child enjoys building, investigating, creating or solving problems, there are plenty of exciting STEM activities that families can enjoy together using simple materials from around the home.
Here are some ideas to get your family started.
Become an Aerospace Engineer: Design a Straw Rocket
Challenge: design and launch a rocket using just paper, a drinking straw and some tape.
The challenge: Can you design a rocket that will travel the furthest when launched by blowing through a straw?
Children can experiment with the shape, size and weight of their rockets and test different designs to see which travels the furthest.
Encourage them to:
- Draw and plan their rocket before building.
- Make a prediction about which design will travel furthest.
- Test their rocket several times.
- Change one part of the design at a time.
- Measure and compare the distances.
- Explain what they discovered.
STEM thinking: Imagine → Design → Build → Test → Improve.
Ask your child:
- What shape makes your rocket travel further?
- Does the size of the rocket make a difference?
- What happens if you add or remove weight?
- How could you improve your design?
It is a simple activity that introduces children to forces, motion, measurement, problem-solving and engineering design using materials they may already have at home.
Investigate Forces: Make a Balloon-Powered Car
Use a balloon, recycled materials, straws, bottle caps and cardboard to design a small car.
The challenge: Can you make a car that travels as far as possible using only the air escaping from a balloon?
Children can experiment with different wheel sizes, car designs and balloon positions while learning about forces and movement.
Become a Plant Scientist: Grow a Seed
Place a bean or another suitable seed in a clear container with damp paper towel. Observe what happens over several days.
Encourage your child to draw or photograph the changes and record their observations.
Questions to investigate:
- What does a seed need to grow?
- Which part of the plant appears first?
Does the amount of sunlight affect growth?
Explore Colour: Make a Rainbow
Use a glass of water and a sheet of white paper to investigate how sunlight can create a rainbow. You could also explore colour mixing with watercolours or food colouring.
Ask children to predict what will happen when they mix different colours together.
Remember to supervise children around water and avoid looking directly at the Sun.
Design and Test a Paper Plane
Challenge your child to design a paper plane that flies as far as possible or stays in the air for the longest time.
Try different paper sizes, folding techniques and wing shapes.
The engineering process: Design → Build → Test → Improve
Investigate Ice: Which Ice Cube Melts Fastest?
Place ice cubes in different locations around the house or outside. Compare how quickly they melt.
Children can investigate the effects of sunlight, shade, insulation and different surfaces.
Ask:
- Which ice cube melted first?
- Why do you think this happened?
How could we make an ice cube last longer?
Go on a Nature Investigation
Take a walk around the garden, local park or neighbourhood and look closely at the natural world.
Children could:
- Photograph interesting plants, insects or other living things.
- Collect observations of different leaf shapes.
- Count and compare the types of living things they find.
- Sketch something they have never noticed before.
- Create a nature-inspired invention or design.
Encourage children to ask questions and investigate their surroundings like scientists.
Explore These STEM Websites at Home
There are some fantastic, primary-school-friendly websites that provide free activities, experiments, games and ideas for further learning. (the headings are also the links to the websites)
CSIRO Education Resource Library
Explore science and STEM activities, inquiry projects and educational resources from Australia's national science agency. Resources can be filtered by subject and year level.
Discover creative science activities using everyday household materials. Children can explore chemistry, physics and engineering through hands-on challenges.
Play interactive science games exploring topics such as forces, energy, light, living things and the environment. There are activities suitable for different primary year levels.
ABC Kids – Play School Science Time
Find simple science experiments and activity guides using everyday materials. This is particularly suitable for younger children and early primary students.
Explore STEM at Home – South Australian Department of Education
Find ideas for bringing STEM into everyday activities such as cooking, gardening, construction and coding. There are suggestions for children of different ages.
Remember, STEM learning does not always require expensive equipment or complicated experiments. Sometimes the best discoveries begin with a cardboard box, a handful of LEGO or a simple question:
“I wonder what would happen if…?”
Have a wonderful holiday filled with curiosity, creativity and discovery.