Summer STEAM Challenges for Kids

Summer vacation is here and it’s time to get your STEAM on!! Get outside and play while you have fun with some science, technology, engineering, art, and math! These FREE Summer STEAM Challenges are a perfect way to prevent the dreaded summer brain drain factor or just to have a good time this summer.  Plus, they’re super easy to set up and most use supplies you already have on hand because who needs complicated during summer break?!

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Summer STEAM Challenges for Kids

We have three goals this summer… Get outside. Have fun. Do some STEAM :) And these summer STEAM challenges are a great way to start because they’re entertaining, but don’t require much work. Your first step to having fun is to have us email you these free cards and then print them out. Then leave them hanging up for the kids to pick an activity when they say they’re bored or want some screen time. Simply fill out the form below to have the printable cards emailed to you.

 
Here are a few of our favorites…

Make a Magnifying Glass Out of A Clear Water Bottle: Did you know that you have a magnifying glass right in your fridge? Simply hold a full one (or a refilled one!) up to what you want a closer look at, like plants and bugs. We love Voss water bottles for this, but any without a ton of ridges will work.

Explore Shadows: Grab some toys, some chalk, and some sun and start tracking shadows. We love this activity because it’s so easy, but it lasts all day long! Just tell the kids, “Go check your shadows!” and before you know it, they’ll be outside, playing again :)

Make a Sculpture with PVC Pipe and Pool Noodles: This one might require a trip to the hardware store, but it’s really worth it. Kids can make giant sculptures in the back yard (or the living room if it’s rainy!) with pool noodles and cut pieces of PVC pipe used as connectors. Grab some elbow connectors and other fittings to make it even coolor.

Paper Airplanes and Hula Hoops: Kids can play aeronautical engineer by designing and folding paper airplanes and then testing them by flying them through hula hoops. Have more than one kid? Have one kid hold the hoop while the other flies the plane. But if  you only have one kiddo like me, you can tie the hula hoop in a tree or prop it on a wall.

Download Your Summer STEAM Challenge Cards

To get going on your challenges this month, you get the free printable emailed to you! Just fill out the form below and you’ll be having fun in no time.

 

More Summer Fun for Kids

Too hot outside to play? Need a quiet time break or something for a road trip? Try this Summer Agamograph Coloring Activity!

Looking for a plan to keep the kids busy all month long? Grab the STEAM Explorers Summer Fun ebook!! 

Kids will love building a Ferris wheel, flying a tie-dyed kite, learning about bubble science, crafting a keychain that changes color in the sun, popping kettle corn, and so much more! You’ll love the helpful standards-based learning, printables, and tools that make STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, & math) exploration easy!

How about some more STEAM Fun for the Rest of the Year, too!?!

Looking for some more STEAM inspiration that you can use right now? Instant gratification style? Check out STEAM Explorers!! The coolest creative experience for kids is here! It's a digital book of the month club filled with tons of fun stuff for the kids to do and learn. All engineer, teacher, and mom-approved. And most definitely KID APPROVED!⁣

What’s included?⁣

• A monthly digital magazine with cool themes that are fun to read
• Hands-on, exciting projects the kids will love.⁣
• Science, tech, engineering, art, and math learning YOU’LL love.⁣
• Delicious recipes the kids can make.⁣
• Fun printables and games⁣

Get ready to have fun with hands-on STEAM that’s a feast for all your senses! The kids will love trying food that tickles their taste buds, making art with texture, fooling their eyes with optical illusions, sewing soft stuffies that glow, and so much more!

We’ve split the issue into four weekly themes:

• WEEK 1: SEE STEAM
• WEEK 2: SMELL STEAM
• WEEK 3: FEEL STEAM
• WEEK 4: HEAR STEAM
• PLUS... TASTE STEAM ALL MONTH LONG!