Chemistry STEM Activities for Kids (84 results)

STEM Activity

58 reviews

What if you could take a single liquid, and change it into a rainbow of colors without using food dye. You can! In this activity you will use red cabbage to make what is called an indicator solution. Indicator solutions can change colors depending on what you add to them. In this case adding something acidic (like lemon juice) will change it to one color while adding something basic (like bleach) will change it to another. Try and see how many colors you can make using different household… Read more

Foaming Fake Snow

STEM Activity

137 reviews

If you live where there is snow, it can be fun to play in it for a while—but it can get quite chilly! Or maybe you live in a place that does not get snow. In this fun activity, you can experience something similar to snow anytime, in the comfort of your own home. You will mix together common kitchen supplies to make a sculpted object, and then, whenever you decide, you can let your snow creation "melt" away into a white surface. Curious about how kitchen chemistry can look like snow? Try… Read more

Test Your Foods for Starch

STEM Activity

61 reviews

Have you ever heard about starchy and non-starchy foods? What is the difference? Starchy foods contain the carbohydrate starch, which is converted to sugar (glucose) inside our body for energy production. How do we know which foods contain starch and which do not? There is a simple chemical test that you can do to detect starch, which involves an iodine solution. The iodine solution turns any food that contains starch dark blue. Try this activity and watch it in action yourself! Read more

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Make String from Algae

STEM Activity

212 reviews

Did you know that the seaweed you've seen in the ocean or even eaten as a snack is inspiring innovators to imagine new materials? Large brown algae, like kelp, contains polymers—long chains of molecules—that are more environmentally friendly than the ones in most plastics. These natural polymers (alginates) could eventually be used to create sustainable everyday objects. Try your hand at using a bit of chemistry to turn biodegradable polymers from algae into your own custom… Read more

Blowing the Best Bubbles

STEM Activity

41 reviews

If you have ever tried to make bubbles using plain water, you may have seen that it does not work. This is because the surface tension of water is too high. When detergent is added to water, it lowers the surface tension so that bubbles can form. Other things can be added to this mixture, such as corn syrup or glycerin, to make a solution that is even better for creating bubbles. In this science activity, you will find out which solution creates the best bubbles! Read more

Make Your Drawings Float!

STEM Activity

68 reviews

Have you ever wished your drawings would come alive and the stick figures or objects on your paper could move around? What sounds impossible actually is not! In this activity, you will make your drawing move around by letting it float on water. What makes this possible is the interesting chemistry of dry erase markers. These markers are usually used to write on white boards or glass surfaces and can easily be erased to make space for more writing or drawing. It turns out that they are also… Read more

Candy Rainbow

STEM Activity

106 reviews

Here is a fun project you can try with leftover candy you have. You will make some amazing art using nothing but colored candy and hot water—and a little bit of science. Save some of your candy and get started! Read more

Stacking Liquids

STEM Activity

55 reviews

Did you know that not only can solid objects sink or float, but liquids can, too? It is actually possible to stack different liquids on top of each other in layers. The key is that all the different layers must have different densities. You can stack them by either picking several liquids with a range of densities, or by varying the density of one liquid by adding chemicals like sugar or salt to it. If you choose colored liquids, or add food coloring to each layer, you can even create a whole… Read more

Make Tie-Dye T-shirts with Permanent Markers

STEM Activity

24 reviews

Have you ever made a tie-dyed t-shirt? It can be a lot of fun to dye a shirt in bright colors with spiraling designs (especially when it is done on a warm day outside to prevent indoor messes)! In this science activity, you will get to dye a t-shirt with your own colorful artwork using permanent markers. Along the way, you will find out how solubility helps your drawings leave beautiful designs on the fabric. Read more

Underwater Color Bursts

STEM Activity

129 reviews

Summertime often brings beautiful fireworks displays. Whereas you normally look up into the sky to see fireworks, in this activity we will take the bursts of color underwater—with chemistry. Although it is not exactly the same as real fireworks, you will be amazed by the color explosions you will see. Curious about what that looks like? See for yourself in this activity! Read more

Cucumber Chemistry: Moisture capture with desiccants

STEM Activity

11 reviews

Have you ever dropped your phone in the water and it stopped working? It would be great if you could somehow dry the phone from the inside before it got damaged, right? There are actually some substances that can absorb water from their surroundings. You might have noticed that when you buy new shoes, electronics or beef jerky, that often there is a little package inside that says “silica gel, do not eat.” This little bag of silica gel protects the product from water damage when it… Read more

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