If you’re here, you want more ideas for STEM activities for kids. For kids, the summer is all about having fun, getting outside to play, and doing new experiences.
If you’ve never done STEM activities with your kids before, now is the perfect time to try summer STEM activities!
Summer STEAM projects are one of the best ways to keep your kids learning through the summer, but also having a wonderful time learning in new and creative ways.
During the summer, I like to engage my kids with themes they are currently interested in. All of the summer STEM activities in this list are a direct result of my kids’ interests and are perfect for STEM summer camp activities!
Read on to find the complete list of STEM activities for summer!
You’ll also want to check out the ultimate list of summer science experiments.
What are STEM Summer Projects?
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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.
Summer STEAM projects use all of these subjects together to solve real-world problems.
When doing summer STEM activities, you can focus on just one element of STEM at a time, or do projects that include two or more STEM subjects.
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.
The Benefits of Fun Summer STEM Activities
During the summer, kids have about two full months when they are not participating in educational activities.
Although you might put your child in camp a few weeks to facilitate learning, there will still be gaps in their knowledge when they return to school in the fall.
Adding summer STEM activities to your summer line-up will help prevent some of this summer slide, and summer STEM activities are tons of fun and a wonderful way to bond with your kids over the summer.
During the summer, we like to do STEM projects that are filled with color, explosions, and fun so that kids see science and STEM as one of their favorite subjects.
My own kids have done summer STEM activities since kindergarten, and science and STEM continues to be their best subject in school.
Summer of STEM Supplies
These books and supplies can help make your summer STEM activities fun and educational!
This post contains affiliate links.
The Mason Jar Scientist: 30 Jarring STEAM-Based Projects
Engineering Construction Toy Set | 62 PC Gear and Building Block Set That Promotes STEM Learning, Educational Toys for Kids Ages 3, 4, 5+Awesome Science Experiments for Kids: 100+ Fun STEM / STEAM Projects and Why They WorkSTEAM Kids: 50+ Science / Technology / Engineering / Art / Math Hands-On Projects for KidsCoding Games in ScratchSTEM Starters for Kids Science Activity BookSmartLab Toys Smart Circuits Games & Gadgets Electronics Lab
Summer STEM Activities for Preschoolers
Preschoolers can get in on the fun of summer STEM. Here are 20 summer STEM activities for preschoolers.
Summer STEM Activities for Elementary Students
Elementary is the best time to try summer STEM activities! Try these activities at home or at a STEM camp! Summer STEM activities for elementary students.
Summer STEM Activities for Middle School
Don’t leave middle schoolers out! They love to have fun with science, too. These summer STEM activities for middle school will keep them off screens all summer long!
STEM Camp Activities Kids Will Love
Follow along with this guide to find super fun and engaging STEM activities for summer! If you want more fun STEM ideas, try these creative STEM activities for kids, the ultimate list of STEM activities, quick STEM activities, and easy STEM activities!
SUMMER SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS
Check out this list of summer science experiments below- but if you need more ideas, check out this complete list of summer science experiments!
This Exploding Paint Rockets STEM Activity is perfect for the summer.
Every kid needs to try making Galaxy Oobleck in the summer!
The Hot Ice Science Experiment may take a while, but the results are super cool.
Galaxy Sugar Crystals are edible and super delicious!
Make planet slime an an entire solar system out of slime when you make Solar System Slime!
The Oil and Water Experiment is the perfect cool science experiment this summer.
Create a whole Science Summer Camp!
Make a Solar System Model to displacy this year!
Every child needs to try the Ivory Soap Science Experiment at least once!
Can you get ice to burn? Find out in the Burning Ice Science Experiment.
Make this Ice Magnifying Glass and use ice as a magnifying glass!
Try this Temperature Water Density Science Experiment and discover the magic of temperature!
An easy Tornado in a Jar will be loved by kids of all ages!
Make an Erupting Slime Volcano and get a volcano that really erupts!
Try this Disappearing Vitamin C and Iodine Experiment for some science magic.
Salt Crystal Dinosaurs Science is a super fun crystal growing activity that kids will get a kick out of.
SUMMER TECHNOLOGY ACTIVITIES
Make a Squishy Circuit Mermaid as teh ultimate summer technology project.
Not into mermaids? Why not make Unicorn Squishy Circuits instead!
And here are the basics on How to Use Squishy Circuits.
Coding Apps for Kids will help engage their brains during screen time.
Get Creepers that really explode when you do this Minecraft Exploding Creepers STEM Activity.
The Stop Motion Jellybean Technology Activity is such a fun project for kids to try in the summer!
Make a Words of Affirmation Coding Bracelet and carry secret messages around all summer!
Screen Free Coding Ideas will keep kiddos learning for hours!
SUMMER ENGINEERING CHALLENGES
When it comes to engineering projects for kids, the summer is such a fun time to try new things!
Make these Marshmallow Constellations and learn about the summer sky.
Design your own Melty Bead Pokemon.
Try the classic Egg Drop Engineering Challenge.
Try this Clothespin Airplane STEM Activity and make your own realistic airplane models.
Learn about molecules when you make a 3D Carbon Atom Model.
SUMMER MATH ACTIVITIES
Math is a blast when it’s the summer! Why do boring math over the summer? Make it fun with these ideas!
Make your ownDIY Math Summer Camp.
Learn fractions with these fun Lemonade Fraction Clip Cards.
Play this easy Number Sentence Game.
The Watermelon Measurement Game is perfect for active kids!
Try this super fun Fraction Art Project.
Get even more Hands-On Math Projects for Kids!
