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in Halloween STEM Activities

Build a Cotton Swab Skeleton STEM Activity

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This skeleton STEM activity is the perfect almost-spooky but not scary Halloween STEM activity to try with little ones! This cotton swab skeleton activity is perfect for preschoolers and kiddos up to 2nd grade.

Try it in the classroom or at home as part of your Halloween science experiments!

Combine science with Halloween with this simple STEM challenge to build 3D animal and human skeletons from cotton swabs! Halloween science is the best!

How to Create a Skeleton STEM Activity

Nothing is spookier than skeletons, right? My kids are delighted with skeletons, bones, and all things spooky and ghoulish in October.

I decided to let them try their hand at a Halloween STEM activity by building their own 3D skeletons using cotton swabs.

Cotton swabs are actually pretty good tools for recreating skeletons, and depending on the age of the children you’re doing this activity with, you can go super simple on skeleton design or try to create realistic skeletons using multiple cotton swabs. 

Combine scientific learning with the theme of the season in this fun Halloween engineering and science project.

Don’t miss the complete list of Halloween science experiments!

 halloween stem challenges 

Transform the cotton swab skeletons into a complete skeleton STEM activity

You can do this activity as a basic craft, or take it a step further by applying STEM thinking. This is how we approached it:

Science: We discussed what bones are present in the bodies of the animals we chose (Bobcat and human).

Technology: We used technology to research our answers and record data.

Engineering: We build 3D versions of our skeletons.

Math: We counted the number of bones in each creature and noted any number differences between animal and human bones.

Get the STEM challenge worksheet!

STEM challenge worksheet

How to make a 3d skeleton model for school project: supplies

You’ll need just a few things for this skeleton STEM activity:

  • Cotton swabs
  • Black paper
  • Fast-drying glue
  • Pencil for labeling your skeleton bones

Make Your Own Halloween Science Skeleton Building Challenge

We love Halloween because it is the perfect time to explore the creepy science of science.

This simple Halloween science activity was a favorite with our kiddos! We loved how simple and quick this activity was, but the kids ended up learning a lot! 

Combine science with Halloween with this simple STEM challenge to build 3D animal and human skeletons from cotton swabs!

 halloween stem challenges 

Related: Halloween STEM Experiments

What you’ll need to build cotton bud skeletons:

  • Cotton swabs
  • Hot glue gun or school glue sticks
  • Black paper
  • Diagrams of animal and human bones

Doing the Skeleton STEM Activity

Before starting the activity, go over the diagrams with the kids and discuss similairities and differences between animal and human bones.

Count how many major bones each animal has and discuss how bones work similarly in all mammals.

You can also discuss how fish, reptiles, and insects have a different sort of bone structure.

Combine science with Halloween with this simple STEM challenge to build 3D animal and human skeletons from cotton swabs! Halloween science is the best!

Let each child select a skeleton to attempt to recreate.

Have the children build a 3D version of their skeleton, from memory or by using the diagram.

Use glue to hold the cotton swab “bones” together. Talk about how bones fit together while conducting the activity.

More Halloween STEM Ideas

Spooky Diving Ghost

Monster Engineering Challenge

Witch’s Brew Bubbling Slime Fun

 halloween stem challenges 

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Filed Under: Halloween STEM Activities Tagged With: biology, elementary, halloween, preschool

About Brenda Priddy

Brenda grew up thinking she hated science.

But when her 4-year- old daughter was more interested in reading science facts than fairy tales, Brenda realized she had to learn more about science to keep up with her daughter.

Through simple at-home science experiments, Brenda developed a passion for science and now acts as an advocate for STEM education for kids at her website STEAMsational.com.

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What is STEAM?

STEAM activities for kids promote the idea that science, technology, engineering, art, and math can all work together to help kids become critical thinkers, problem solvers, and innovators!

Join us on our journey to discover just how much fun science experiments can be.

What we do… 

STEAMsational offers STEM and science lesson plans and teaching resources to provide a firm STEM foundation for children in the classroom or home.

All you need to do is find your supplies, gather your scientists, and let the innovation unfold.

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