Spring STEM Projects for Budding Scientists

Spring is a time for growth, exploration, and learning. Encourage children to develop their STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) skills by trying out these fun and educational garden stem activities. Here are 20 ideas, each with a list of materials needed and instructions on how to play.

1. Planting a Garden
   • Materials: seeds or seedlings, soil, pots or garden plot, journal
   • Instructions: Select a sunny spot in the yard, prepare the soil, and choose a variety of seeds or seedlings to plant. Children can keep a journal to record the progress of their plants and make observations about the differences in their growth and development.
2. Building a Birdhouse
   • Materials: wood, nails, hammer, paint and decorations (optional)
   • Instructions: Use wood and nails to build a birdhouse and allow children to learn about the different types of birds and their habitats. They can also paint and decorate the birdhouse to their own liking.
3. Conducting a Nature Scavenger Hunt
   • Materials: paper and pen for making a list, backpack or basket for collecting items
   • Instructions: Create a list of items to find such as leaves, rocks, and bugs and let the children go on an adventure to find them all.
4. DIY Nature Crafts
   • Materials: natural materials such as leaves, sticks, rocks, glue, markers or paint (optional)
   • Instructions: Collect natural materials and use them to create unique creations, such as leaf rubbings or stick forts.
5. Building a Solar Oven
   • Materials: cardboard box, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, glue, scissors, black construction paper, thermometer
   • Instructions: Build a solar oven by lining a cardboard box with aluminum foil and plastic wrap. Use black construction paper to absorb the heat and a thermometer to measure the temperature. Cook snacks or treats using the power of the sun!
6. Growing Crystal Flowers
   • Materials: borax, hot water, pipe cleaners, jar or glass, food coloring (optional)
   • Instructions: Dissolve borax in hot water to create a solution, then soak pipe cleaners in the solution overnight to grow crystal flowers. Use food coloring to add a pop of color.
7. Making a Rain Gauge
   • Materials: clear plastic cup, ruler, marker, rocks or stones, silicone caulk or hot glue
   • Instructions: Mark measurement lines on a clear plastic cup using a ruler and marker, then fill the bottom of the cup with rocks or stones for stability. Secure the cup to the ground using silicone caulk or hot glue.
8. Creating a Compost Bin
   • Materials: large plastic container with a lid, drill, compost materials such as fruit and vegetable scraps, leaves, and grass clippings
   • Instructions: Drill holes in the lid and sides of a large plastic container for air flow. Fill the container with compost materials and stir regularly to help the compost break down.
9. Building a Terrarium
   • Materials: clear container with a lid, soil, plants, rocks or gravel, decorations (optional)
   • Instructions: Layer soil, plants, and rocks or gravel in a clear container to create a miniature ecosystem. Decorate the terrarium with small figurines or other decorations.
10. Growing a Bean Sprout Garden

• Materials: beans, paper towels, plastic bag or container

• Instructions: Soak beans overnight, then place them between damp paper towels in a plastic bag or container. Watch as the beans sprout and grow, and observe the changes in their growth over time.

11. Making a Sun Dial

• Materials: cardboard, pencil, compass, ruler, scissors, toothpick, paper fastener
• Instructions: Draw a circle on cardboard using a compass and mark the hours around the circle. Cut out the sun dial and attach a toothpick to the center using a paper fastener. Place the sun dial in a sunny spot and observe how the shadow changes throughout the day.

12. Building a Windmill

• Materials: cardboard, straws, scissors, pencil, ruler, protractor, markers or paint (optional)
• Instructions: Cut out blades and a base from cardboard, and attach the blades to a straw using a pencil or toothpick as the axle. Place the windmill in a windy spot and observe how it spins.

13. Making a Solar System Mobile

• Materials: Styrofoam balls of various sizes, string or fishing line, scissors, markers or paint (optional)
• Instructions: Paint or color Styrofoam balls to represent the planets in our solar system and hang them at varying lengths from a central point to create a mobile.

14. Growing Microgreens

• Materials: seeds, soil, container with a lid, spray bottle
• Instructions: Fill a container with soil and sprinkle seeds on top. Cover with a lid and spray with water regularly. Observe as the seeds sprout and grow into microgreens.

15. Making a Cloud in a Bottle

• Materials: clear plastic bottle, water, hair spray, matches
• Instructions: Fill a clear plastic bottle with water and spray with hair spray. Light a match and quickly drop it into the bottle, then observe as a cloud forms inside the bottle.

16. Building a Water Filter

• Materials: coffee filter, gravel, sand, activated charcoal, clear plastic bottle or jar
• Instructions: Layer gravel, sand, and activated charcoal in a coffee filter and place the filter in a clear plastic bottle or jar. Pour dirty water through the filter and observe as it is filtered and becomes clean.

17. Making a Simple Machine

• Materials: cardboard, paper towel rolls, rubber bands, marbles
• Instructions: Build a simple machine, such as a ramp or pulley system, using cardboard, paper towel rolls, and rubber bands. Observe how the machine works by using marbles as test objects.

18. Growing a Mini Greenhouse

• Materials: plastic bag, seeds, soil, rubber band
• Instructions: Fill a plastic bag with soil and plant seeds. Close the bag using a rubber band and place in a sunny spot. Observe as the seeds sprout and grow in the mini greenhouse environment.

19. Making a Balloon-Powered Car

• Materials: cardboard, straws, balloons, scissors, markers or paint (optional)
• Instructions: Cut out a car shape from cardboard and attach straws to the back using tape. Blow up a balloon and secure it to the front of the car. Observe as the air from the balloon propels the car forward.

20. Building a Solar-Powered Robot

Materials: cardboard, scissors, markers or paint, solar cell, motor, gear set

Instructions: Cut out a robot shape from cardboard and decorate it with markers or paint. Attach a solar cell and motor to the robot to create a solar-powered robot that moves when exposed to light. Experiment with different gear sets to change the speed and movement of the robot.

These 20 spring STEM projects are sure to keep children engaged, learning, and having fun all season long. With Panda Crafty, you can take your STEM projects to the next level with our one-stop-shop solution that offers custom solutions, sourcing, logistics support, and even co-development of DIY kit products. Get started today and see how far your young scientists can go!

Conclusion

Spring is the perfect time to get outside and explore the world through STEM activities. Whether you’re planting a garden, building a birdhouse, conducting a nature scavenger hunt, or making DIY nature crafts, there’s something for everyone. And with Panda Crafty, you can take your STEM projects to the next level with our one-stop-shop solution that offers custom solutions, sourcing, logistics support, and even co-development of DIY kit products. So why not start planning your spring STEM projects today?