Kids are naturally curious, and they learn about the world through exploration and play. To that end, we’ve gathered together various ideas for at home STEAM activities. What is STEAM? STEAM is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, art and math. Researchers recently suggested adding art to the STEM education initiative, because art experiences help to foster imagination and creativity, qualities necessary for success and innovation in the sciences.
The Exploratorium’s Tinkering at Home is a great place to begin, and keep exploring with the suggestions below. Don’t get overwhelmed though! STEAM can be as simple as building a tower with blocks or LEGOs, making a fort with card board boxes or blankets, or cooking a recipe. No special supplies are needed to bring STEAM home, all you need is playful curiosity, and possibly some space to be a bit messy.
VIDEOS: HVL STEAM AT HOME
We’ve been making videos of activities you can do at home (with help from some special guests). Our videos interweave concepts from science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM) for hands-on fun!
Homemade Science Lab
Library staff and volunteers show you simple experiments you can do at home!
Let’s LEGO!
Join Blair of BRIX Edu in his studio for some LEGO creating fun!
Create!
Art projects and fun stuff you can make at home.
BOOKS: STEAM GUIDES & PROJECTS
Here are some titles for parents who want to share hands-on activities and creative exploration with their children.
Nature Play Workshop for Families: A Guide to 40+ Outdoor Learning Experiences in All Seasons by Monica Wiedel-Lubinski & Karen Madigan
Cardboard Box Engineering: Cool, Inventive Projects for Tinkerers, Makers, and Future Scientists by Jonathan Adolph
WEBSITES: MORE ACTIVITIES & VIDEOS FOR CURIOUS KIDS
Looking for more at home inspiration? These are some of our favorite websites for science activities, creative fun, and learning.
Science Snacks
Exploratorium
Start with their “Family-Friendly Snacks”, easy science explorations you can do with things around the house, and then keep exploring!
Activities to Do at Home
PBS Parents
Explore an extensive collection of craft and science activities, filter by age 2 – 8, topic, and show.
Science at Home
OMSI
Explore OMSI’s collection of cool, fun videos and activities, plus links to lots of other cool stuff!
STEM at Home
NASA
NASA presents a variety of STEM activities, videos, and learning opportunities for kids.