When October rolls around, it’s all about those spooky vibes. Pumpkins, skeletons, spiders, witches, and more!
For thousands of years, the changing of the season from summer to winter has been a time to think about the “other side.”
And in the modern world, what better way to do it than with Halloween STEM activities for kids?
These Halloween STEM challenges are a fun way to keep kids engaged with science throughout the month of October!
You’ll find everything from Halloween sensory activities to Halloween STEM challenges for all ages from toddler through middle school!
100+ Fun and Not-Too-Spooky Halloween STEM Experiments
Keep reading to find the ultimate list of Halloween STEM projects for kids from toddlers through 8th grade!
What are Halloween STEAM Activities?
A STEM activity is an activity that includes elements of science, technology, engineering, and math for kids!
While all of these subjects are important, it is the mixing of the subjects that really helps kids maximize what they are learning and help them remember the lessons for years to come. Researchers have found that STEM education is beneficial to kids in many areas. Dr. Elisabeth R. McClure, a research fellow at the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at the Sesame Workshop reports:
Whether it is gardening, building forts, stacking blocks, playing at the water table, or lining up by height in the classroom, children demonstrate a clear readiness to engage in STEM learning early in life. And research from several disciplines is converging to show the importance of a new national commitment to early learning generally. Brain and skills-building experiences early in life are critical for child development, and high-quality early STEM experiences can support children’s growth across areas as diverse as executive function and literacy development.
McClure, E. R., Guernsey, L., Clements, D. H., Bales, S. N., Nichols, J., Kendall-Taylor, N., & Levine, M. H. (2017). STEM starts early: Grounding science, technology, engineering, and math education in early childhood. New York: The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop.
Hands-on STEM activities are the perfect way to get kids interested in science, and Halloween is one of the best times to do it because there are so many fun spooky things to learn about and try!
What Do I Need to Do Halloween STEM Projects?
You can do a STEM activity with almost nothing, but I do recommend having at least a few common supplies for science experiments.
Additionally, you may want a few of these supplies on hand to make things easy and spooky:
- Ghost Science Kit– lots of supplies for fun ghosty science.
- Toy bugs– always a plus in Halloween STEM activities.
- Gross science– because Halloween is the perfect time to bring out gross science.
- Mad scientist kit– the madder the better at Halloween!
The Ultimate List of Halloween Activities for Kids
Find over 100 Halloween STEM activities for kids below! First find Halloween sensory ideas, Halloween fine motor activities, and Halloween shadow puppets.
Or, search by age from toddler through middle school to find Halloween STEM activities that suit the learning targets for each grade level.
October STEM Activities for Elementary
If you have elementary kids or are teaching Elementary this year, check out this list of fun October STEM Activities for Elementary!
Halloween Science Experiments
Keep things simple and try out these easy and fun Halloween science experiments! There are fun options for kids from toddlers all the way through middle school!
Halloween Sensory Ideas
Halloween sensory ideas offer a fun way for young kids to experience all the senses, including boiling blood slime and glow-in-the-dark fluffy slime!
Halloween Fine Motor Activities
You kids will enjoy these Halloween Fine Motor Activities featuring fun Halloween themes like Halloween ghosts, bats, spiders, witches, and more!
Halloween Shadow Puppets
Make your own Halloween Shadow Puppets and have a blast this Halloween while learning about shadows, light, spooky shapes, and the science behind ghosts!
Halloween Slime Recipes
If your kids and students love slime, they will have a blast with these Halloween slime recipes!
Halloween Activities for Toddlers
Toddlers can get in on the Halloween fun, too! These Halloween activities for toddlers have a STEM twist and will keep little kids busy for hours!
Halloween Activities for Preschoolers
There are so many fun Halloween activities for preschoolers out there. It was hard to narrow it down, but these are my favorite preschool Halloween activities.
Halloween STEM Activities for Kindergarten
Kindergarten kids can do STEM, too! These Halloween STEM Activities for Kindergarten were chosen especially with kindergarten kiddos in mind.
Halloween STEM Activities for First Grade
Your first graders will have a blast with these Halloween STEM Activities for First Grade. Easy, hands-on, and exciting experiments will set first graders up for a lifelong love of STEM.
Halloween STEM Activities for Second Grade
7-8 years olds will enjoy these Halloween STEM Activities for Second Grade. There are tons of Halloween activities for 2nd grade that kids will remember for years to come.
Halloween STEM Activities for Third Grade
Halloween STEM Activities for Third Grade provide hours of fun for 3rd grade students! From making gross slime to performing mock brain surgery, you’ll find it all here!
Halloween STEM Activities for Fourth Grade
If you have a 9-10 year old in your life, grab these Halloween STEM Activities for Fourth Grade as soon as possible! There are so many fun gooey and gross STEM activities that are perfect for the Halloween season.
Halloween STEM Activities for Fifth Grade
5th graders will have a blast with these Halloween STEM Activities for Fifth Grade! There is just enough spooky and STEM learning fun to make this Halloween season memorable for all 5th graders!
Halloween STEM Challenges for Middle School
If you have a middle schoolers, you won’t want to miss these Halloween STEM Activities for Middle School! The activities are perfect for kids from 6th through 8th grade.