Chemistry STEM Activities for Kids (84 results)

Mouthwatering Candy Melt

STEM Activity

82 reviews

What is your favorite type of candy? Have you ever wondered why you like this candy so much? Is it its taste, how it feels in your mouth, or both? Cooks and food scientists study how substances dissolve or melt to create a unique and pleasant sensation in the mouth and optimize the release of flavor. Would you like to know how your favorite candy works? In this science activity, you will study two types of candy and discover what makes them so enjoyable. Read more

Folded or Flat Paper Towel: Which One Absorbs Most?

STEM Activity

50 reviews

It’s fall, which means flu season. We all know that washing hands a few extra times a day can help keep colds and flu at bay, so we wash hands frequently and use a paper towel…then another one, maybe even three or four to dry them off. Because who likes to go out with wet hands in cold fall weather, right? But could there be a way to conserve some of that paper, and get a paper towel to go the extra mile, allowing you to dry your hands with just one single sheet? This… Read more

Shine Bright Like a….Penny!

STEM Activity

47 reviews

‘See a penny pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck!’ – maybe you’ve heard this phrase before, and maybe you’ve even stopped to pick up a lucky penny off the sidewalk. But sometimes those pennies you see on the ground look anything but lucky. They look brown or black, and sometimes they’re so dirty looking that you can’t even tell whether they’re pennies! In this activity we’re going to explore why pennies don’t… Read more

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Make String from Algae

STEM Activity

226 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

Cucumber Chemistry: Moisture capture with desiccants

STEM Activity

12 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

Make a Sunprint Using Objects from Nature!

STEM Activity

10 reviews

Have you ever wondered how artists are able to replicate intricate details in nature on paper or canvas? In this activity, you will depict these details in a different way! Using Sunprint® paper and sunlight, you too can make breathtaking representations of objects found in nature. 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

Splitting Water

STEM Activity

14 reviews

You use it basically every day and cannot survive without it—no it is not your cell phone, but water! It is one of the most essential compounds of the world and has become an increasingly important issue everywhere. You probably have heard that in many places droughts or water pollution limits clean drinking water supplies, and those supplies keep shrinking. When considering this, have you ever wondered why we do not just make our own water, and what water is actually made of? In this… Read more

Underwater Color Bursts

STEM Activity

132 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

Use Chemistry to Lift Ice Cubes

STEM Activity

34 reviews

Have you ever wondered why salt is used to de-ice roads? Did you know that snow sticks more readily to pavement that has been treated with salt? Why would this be the case? In this activity, you will use the same principles to hoist ice cubes with a piece of string. Is it possible to do this without getting your hands cold? Try the activity and see what a pinch of salt can do! Read more

Charge from Change: Make a Coin Battery

STEM Activity

54 reviews

Have you ever wondered why your phone, computer, or a flashlight works without being plugged into a power outlet? Where does the electrical energy come from that makes all these portable devices function? You probably know the answer: they use batteries! But do you know how these batteries work? Batteries store electrical energy in the form of chemical energy, which means that electrochemical reactions inside the batteries create electricity. It may sound complicated, but it is simpler than you… Read more

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