Surviving (and Thriving) in Summer: Easy STEM Activities to Keep Kids Engaged ☀️
Ah, summer—longer days, warmer weather, and the sweet sound of students not asking to go to the bathroom during a lesson. You’ve made it through the school year (barely), and whether you’re teaching summer programs, running a camp, or just looking for ideas to stash away for next year, summer is prime time for hands-on STEM fun.
The best part? These activities are low-prep, high-engagement, and perfect for the great outdoors. Plus, they sneak in some learning while kids are too distracted by explosions (safe ones, I promise) and ice cream (homemade!) to realize it.
So grab your sunscreen and a cold drink—let’s dive into some sizzling summer STEM!
1. Solar S’mores Oven (Because Science Should Be Delicious) 🍫🔥
☀️ Concepts: Solar energy, heat transfer, sustainability
What You’ll Need:
✔ A pizza box (or any cardboard box with a lid)
✔ Aluminum foil
✔ Black construction paper
✔ Clear plastic wrap
✔ Tape and glue
✔ A ruler and scissors
✔ Graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate (a teacher’s survival kit)
Steps:
1. Cut a flap in the lid of the pizza box, leaving one side attached.
2. Cover the inside of the flap with aluminum foil—this will reflect sunlight.
3. Line the bottom of the box with black construction paper (it absorbs heat).
4. Stretch clear plastic wrap across the opening, sealing it with tape.
5. Assemble the s’mores inside the box.
6. Adjust the foil flap to direct sunlight inside. Wait 30 minutes, then enjoy gooey, solar-powered treats!
💡 Teaching Tip: Discuss how solar ovens are used in real life, especially in areas without electricity.
🔗 Want more solar science? Check out NASA Climate Kids
2. Water Bottle Rockets (Because Who Doesn’t Love an Explosion?) 🚀
🌊 Concepts: Newton’s Third Law, aerodynamics, pressure
What You’ll Need:
✔ An empty 2L plastic bottle
✔ A cork (fits snugly into the bottle opening)
✔ A bike pump with a needle attachment
✔ Duct tape
✔ Cardboard (for fins)
✔ Water
Steps:
1. Make the rocket: Attach cardboard fins to the bottle for stability.
2. Fill the bottle 1/3 full with water (this is your “fuel”).
3. Insert the cork tightly.
4. Attach the bike pump needle through the cork.
5. Pump air into the bottle until the pressure builds and… LIFT OFF! 🚀
💡 Teaching Tip: Have students predict how different water levels affect flight distance.
🔗 Want to build a better rocket? Check out NASA STEM Engagement
3. Ice Cream in a Bag (Because Chemistry Should Be Tasty) 🍦
🥶 Concepts: States of matter, freezing point depression
What You’ll Need:
✔ 1 cup heavy cream
✔ 1 cup milk
✔ 1/4 cup sugar
✔ 1 tsp vanilla extract
✔ Ice cubes
✔ 1/2 cup salt (rock salt or table salt)
✔ 1 large ziplock bag
✔ 1 smaller ziplock bag
Steps:
1. Mix the ingredients (cream, milk, sugar, vanilla) in the small bag and seal it.
2. Fill the large bag with ice and salt.
3. Place the small bag inside the big bag and shake it like your summer happiness depends on it (because it does).
4. After 5-10 minutes, your ice cream is ready!
💡 Teaching Tip: Explain how salt lowers the freezing point of water, helping the ice cream freeze faster.
🔗 Want more cool chemistry? Visit Steve Spangler Science
4. DIY Water Filter (Because Clean Water = Life) 💧
🌍 Concepts: Water purification, environmental science, filtration
What You’ll Need:
✔ A plastic bottle (cut in half)
✔ Coffee filters
✔ Sand and gravel
✔ Activated charcoal (optional but highly recommended)
✔ A cup of dirty water (just mix soil + water)
Steps:
1. Layer the materials inside the upside-down bottle: coffee filter → charcoal → sand → gravel.
2. Pour dirty water into the top and watch it slowly filter through.
3. Observe! Is it clearer? Would you drink it? (Spoiler: Probably not. But it’s a cool experiment!)
💡 Teaching Tip: Discuss global water access and how real filtration systems work.
🔗 Explore more water science at Teach Engineering
5. Giant Bubble Engineering (Because Science Should Be Magical) 🫧
🌈 Concepts: Surface tension, polymers, chemistry
What You’ll Need:
✔ 6 cups water
✔ 1/2 cup dish soap (Dawn works best)
✔ 1/2 cup cornstarch
✔ 1 tbsp baking powder
✔ A large container
✔ String and two sticks (for a giant bubble wand)
Steps:
1. Mix all ingredients in a large container and let it sit for 1 hour.
2. Make a bubble wand: Tie the string into a loop between two sticks.
3. Dip the wand into the mixture, pull it out slowly, and walk backward to create GIANT bubbles!
💡 Teaching Tip: Experiment with different soap-to-water ratios and talk about how bubbles form.
🔗 Want next-level bubbles? Bubble Science Experiments
Wrap-Up: STEM + Summer = Success!
Whether you’re teaching summer school, running a camp, or just need ideas for next year, these STEM activities make learning feel like play. Plus, they’re an easy way to fight the dreaded summer slide.
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