Peeps® are adorable little marshmallow candies that have turned from simple desserts to an inspiration for a vast number of things, from dioramas to art projects to Peeps® science experiments. As STEM activities lovers, we have experimented with our fair share of Peeps STEM activities and Peeps experiments.
We had such fun trying these out! We’ve even rounded up a few extra activities invented by other excellent kids activity bloggers. If you have leftover Peeps® after your Easter fun, try one or more of these educational Peeps® STEM activities.
Find our favorite Peeps STEM activities below!
If you like these Peeps challenges, don’t miss out on the complete list of Easter STEM activities and Easter science experiments.
Fun Peep Experiments for Kids
Try these fun Peeps STEM activities in your classroom or home this Easter season!
Don’t Miss: More Peeps STEAM Activities
WHAT ARE STEM ACTIVITIES?
STEM is not so much a topical study as it is an approach to teaching and learning the subjects of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. STEM activities use all of these subjects together to solve real-world problems.
A STEM activity uses elements of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math to solve problems. All STEM activities are inquiry-based, which means they are designed to answer a question (often a question the child creates herself).
STEM activities encourage children to see subjects like math and science in a new light, and how to use those subjects to solve their day to day problems and the problems that they might face as adults. All STEM activities should contain elements of at least two disciplines in STEM, and all of them when possible!
As critical thinking and creative thinking become more and more important, STEM activities provide a safe and fun way for children to explore the concepts of science, math, engineering, and technology in a kid-friendly and fun way.
Even if a child never goes into a STEM field as an adult, engaging in STEM activities will encourage problem-solving, logical thinking, and creativity in any industry.
At the pre-elementary and elementary level, STEM is about exploring STEM subjects in a fun and hands-on way.
What are Peeps Projects?
A Peeps STEM activity is simply a STEM activity where one of the elements is Peeps. What you do with the Peeps is up to you, and there are nearly endless ways to play with Peeps in the STEM classroom. Use them for Peeps science, Peeps engineering, Peeps technology, and Peeps math! You may be surprised at how much learning you can do with a simple Peep!
Don’t Miss: Peeps STEAM Activity Ideas
WHY SHOULD I DO PEEPS STEM CHALLENGES WITH KIDS?
Many schools require some form of STEM education in the classroom. During the Easter season, Peeps are everywhere! Using them in the STEM classroom offers a fun way to learn using seasonal themes.
Use Peeps in place of marshmallows in any STEM activity, or use our ideas to spark your creative Peeps learning activities!
But you don’t have to be a teacher to do Peeps STEM activities with kids. Not only do STEM activities help children learn how to solve problems on their own, but it also allows hands-on kiddos to learn in a way that makes sense to them.
Children who need to touch and feel to learn effectively will thrive in a STEM-focused classroom or home.
You may also like: Peeps Candy Science Experiments
WHAT CAN KIDS LEARN WITH PEEPS STEM ACTIVITIES?
There are so many different Peeps STEM activities to try. Kids can learn a variety of themes using Peeps, including:
Science: Explore color theory with Peeps, try a Peeps taste test challenge, examine the properties of Peeps, use Peeps in science experiments.
Technology: Examine Peeps under a microscope, build a circuit system using Peeps, learn about how Peeps are made.
Engineering: Learn about the properties of Peeps, build with Peeps, manipulate Peeps, use Peeps as a glue, and test the strength of Peeps!
Math: Use Peeps as manipulatives in regular classwork.
What are Peeps?
Peeps are marshmallow candies invented in the United States. They were first made in chick shapes and sold during the Easter season. Since their initial conception, Peeps also come in many other shapes, like bunnies (our favorite shape), ghosts, hearts, and more.
Now, you can find Peep candies for almost every season.
We don’t really like eating Peeps, but we do like using them for marshmallow science projects and marshmallow STEM challenges.
Who Invented Peeps?
It is unclear exactly who made the first Peep, or if more than one company made a chick-shaped marshmallow. There is some information that a company as long ago as 1916 was hand-piping marshmallow peeps for Easter.
But Peeps were first solidified into Easter history when the company Just Born bought out the company making Peeps (which took about 27 hours to make one tray by hand). They invented a machine that could cut down on manufacturing time to just 6 minutes in 1953.
Ever since then, Peeps have been a staple of the Easter season, whether you like to eat them or not!
If you’re like us, and don’t like eating them, but like their adorable shape, use them for STEM activities like we do!
WHAT YOU NEED FOR PEEPS STEM ACTIVITIES
Keep these supplies on hand when doing your Peeps STEM projects. This post contains affiliate links.
Easter Marshmallow Chicks Peeps Variety Pack 4ct.Peeps Yellow Chicks/10-Cnt12 Ball Mason Jar with Lid – Regular Mouth – 16 oz by JardenDawn Ultra Dishwashing Liquid Dish Soap, Original Scent, 2 count, 56 oz.Squishy Circuits Standard KitMagnifying Glasses | 4 1/4 Inch Magnifying Glasses | 24 Pack | Great for Party or As Bag fillersAmScope M150C-I 40X-1000X All-Metal Optical Glass Lenses Cordless LED Student Biological Compound MicroscopeMember’s Mark Distilled White Vinegar Jug, 1 gal
The Complete List of Peeps Experiments
Use these exciting Peeps experiments to learn all about science, technology, engineering, and math with little marshmallow treats!
Check out the Peeps® slime experiment where we found out that you can transform Peeps® into some pretty epic slime!
We’ve also tried three other Peeps® science experiments with chick Peeps®. We mixed colors, tested whether Peeps® float (and if it is possible to sink them), and whether temperature can make a difference in the density of Peeps®.
Another fun Peeps® STEM experiment is the Peeps® density experiment we tried. This experiment tested whether there is any liquid denser than the fluffy Peep.
On the engineering side, we experimented by building Peeps® marshmallow bridges and other engineering activities.
We also tried a Peeps® engineering challenge to see who could build the best boat out of Peeps®.
Fling your Peeps® across the room in this fun catapult experiment from Lemon Lime Adventures.
What happens when you place a Peep inside a bottle? Find out in this experiment from Housing a Forest.
For our next project, we tried to see if Peeps® could transform into a soap-powered boat.
Learn how to make Peeps® playdough with this easy recipe!
MORE EASTER ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
Want more STEM activities for kids? These activities are simple but educational at the same time!
If you’re short on Peeps®, you might want to try one of these STEM activities instead. Science, technology, engineering, and math have never been more fun!