50 STEM Projects & Extracurricular STEM Activities for Kids
Extracurricular STEM Activities for Kids
Encourage interest in STEM with these engaging activities that go beyond the classroom. Our top picks for STEM activities are not only fun and exciting, but also help build a strong foundation in science, technology, engineering, and math.
1) Have a STEM Challenge!
To make fun STEM activities for kids even more enjoyable, consider organizing a group STEM activity such as an egg drop challenge, rocket launch competition, bridge-building contest, foil bug floating competition, balloon-powered car race or a paper airplane challenge! It's a great way to learn engineering skills by practicing the engineering design process. By participating in a STEM activity as a group, everyone can see the creativity and problem-solving skills that each person brings to the table, making the experience inspiring and memorable for all. So why not get involved in a STEM challenge today and see what you can achieve together!
2) Watch a STEM TV Show!
Introducing kids to STEM can be fun and engaging with these kid-friendly TV shows. Check out our top picks for shows that incorporate STEM education into entertainment.
Ask the StoryBots (TV-Y, all children)
"Ask the StoryBots" is a children's animated TV series that follows the adventures of five lovable creatures, answering questions submitted by young children, such as "Why do we have to brush our teeth?" and "How do airplanes fly?". Each episode features a new question, and the StoryBots go on an adventure to find the answer, learning important lessons along the way. The show is educational, engaging, and it encourages children to be curious and ask questions about the world.
Odd Squad (TV-Y, all children)
Odd Squad is a math live-action children's series that follows the adventures of a young team of agents who use math skills, deductive reasoning, and teamwork to investigate and solve strange and unusual occurrences in their city.
Square One Television (TV-Y7, 7 years and up)
Square One is a math show produced by Sesame Street's Children's Television Workshop from 1987-1992 for elementary and middle school students. Each episode includes a mix of game shows, music videos, and commercials. The show concludes with a segment called "Mathnet", which parodies the "Dragnet" police detective TV series. Additionally, a teacher's guide is available for 13 Mathnet cases, including handouts and activities to help kids learn math!
Archived Youtube Videos: Square One Season 1 - Square One Season 2 - Square One Season 3 - Square One Season 4 - Square One Season 5 - Mathnet
BattleBots (TV-PG, 10 years and up)
BattleBots is a tournament-style competition that features remote-controlled robots battling each other. The contestants' engineering skills are amazing, and the robots they design are incredibly creative! This show is a fun way to get younger kids to adults interested in robotics and engineering. You can even get tickets to see the Battle Bots in action in Las Vegas, Nevada!
Mythbusters (TV-PG, 10 years and up/ for some episodes TV-14, 14 years and up)
This documentary series features two Hollywood special effects experts investigating urban legends through a series of STEM activities. Each episode is like a big science fair project, often resulting in lively discussions, big explosions, and unexpected outcomes. At the end of each episode, the truth about the urban legend is revealed, making it a fun and educational watch for all ages.
The Big Bang Theory (TV-PG, 10 years and up/ for some episodes TV-14, 14 years and up)
"The Big Bang Theory" is a TV sitcom about the lives and research of Leonard and Sheldon, two physicists, along with their friends Howard, an aerospace engineer, and Raj, an astrophysicist. Fun fact: a UCLA astrophysics professor is the science consultant on the show!
Cells at Work (TV-14, 14 years and up)
A Japanese anime about the immune system. Who would've thought an anime show could teach STEM! You need to see it to believe it! It's fun, exciting, and surprisingly very scientifically accurate.
Cells at Work on Netflix - Cells at Work on Amazon Prime Video - Cells at Work on Crunchyroll
3) Visit a STEM Museum!
Museums are awesome places to learn about science, technology, engineering, and math. There are different types of museums such as science, tech, natural history, space, discovery, and children's museums, all of which offer innovative hands-on STEM activities. By visiting these museums, you can inspire young scientists and young engineers with STEM learning, while having a full day of fun at the museum!
There may be free admission days or free passes to a museum near you! Check your credit card for offers, your local library for free museum passes, and museums for free entrance days.
Find a STEM museum near you and prepare to be awed by all that you can learn there!
4) Explore STEM Summer Camps!
Summer is the best time for exploring STEM activities outside of school! Check out summer STEM camps at your local science museums or universities.
There are also longer summer camps around the US that include STEM activities that range from robotics to hands-on study of marine science and volcanos. Here are some popular STEM camps in the US:
California Science Center Summer Camp
Who: pre-K to 8th grade
Where: Los Angeles, California
What: day classes, scholarships available
Science Camps of America
Who: 4th grade to 12th grade
Where: Oahu & Hawaii islands
What: STEM workshops, day camps, overnight camps on volcanos & oceans, scholarships available
Marine Science Summer Camps at Acadia Institute of Oceanography
Who: 4th grade to 12th grade
Where: Seal Harbor, Maine
What: 2-week marine biology camp, scholarships available
Museum of Science & Industry
Who: pre-K to 12th grade
Where: Chicago, Illinois
What: single- to multi-day camps year round, scholarships available
What is STEAM?
You may have heard about STEAM and may be wondering how it's different from STEM.
STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and math!
Many of our STEM projects combine art into the project. Experience the perfect combination of STEM and creativity by trying out one of our fun STEAM projects today!
