STEM Projects for Preschoolers to Try This Summer

Summer is the perfect time to spark curiosity in little minds especially when it comes to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). Preschoolers naturally love exploring, building, and experimenting, and you can nurture that with fun, simple activities using everyday items from around the house.

Here are 6 age-appropriate, mess-friendly STEM projects your preschooler will love this summer:

Rainbow Walking Water

What You Need: 6 cups, paper towels, food coloring (red, yellow, blue), water
How to Do It:

• Fill 3 cups with water and add a few drops of red, yellow, and blue food coloring to each.
• Place empty cups between the full ones in a circle.
• Fold paper towels into strips and place one end in a colored cup and the other in an empty cup.
• Watch the colors “walk” and mix over a few hours.

Sink or float?

What You Need: A bowl of water, small objects like a spoon, crayon, leaf, rubber duck, or rock
How to Do It:

• Ask your child: “Do you think this will sink or float?”
• Let them drop each object into the water and observe what happens.

Build a Marshmallow Tower

What You Need: Mini marshmallows and toothpicks (or pretzel sticks)
How to Do It:

• Show your child how to connect marshmallows with toothpicks to build shapes.
• See how tall or wide they can make their tower.

Fizzy Ice Cubes

What You Need: Baking soda, water, food coloring, vinegar, eye droppers or spoons
How to Do It:

• Mix baking soda with water and a few drops of food coloring, then freeze in an ice tray.
• Let your child drop vinegar onto the ice cubes and watch them fizz.

Nature Scavenger Hunt & Sorting

What You Need: A bucket or bag for collecting, paper, crayons
How to Do It:

• Go on a nature walk and collect leaves, rocks, flowers, sticks, etc.
• At home, help your child sort items by size, color, or shape.

Magnetic or Not?

What You Need: A magnet (like from a fridge), paper clips, coins, plastic spoon, key, buttons
How to Do It:

• Let your child test different items to see what the magnet attracts.
• Sort objects into two piles: “magnetic” and “not magnetic.”