Current pandemic making the kids bored at home! Keeping the kids active has become intimidating for both parents and guardians. If you are a busy parent or home schooler or guardian and looking for ‘NO PREP STEM ACTIVITIES’ that will save your time and sanity right from your own home. In this post, I am including a bucket list of no-prep STEM activities that helps to manage your busy schedule and takes very less time to spend hours prepping your STEM lessons. So, keep scrolling and get ready to include this list to your to do list of No Prep STEM activities which also offer some other stuff to do with your time after grabbing these low-prep STEM activity ideas!
What is STEM?
STEM in full, Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math is a special approach to explore the world while making connections between the concepts we are learning and how they apply to the real-world problems. STEAM is another integrated approach to learning that helps learners ask questions, think creatively, problem solve, and produce innovative solutions.
No-Prep / Low Prep STEM Activities
Let us begin to explore what those no-prep / Low Prep STEM activities are!
1. Refraction of Light: Play & Learn Activity for Kids
So quick activity that requires just 2 ingredients and through which all the kids can understand the science behind light refraction. The best part of this quick activity is, it is an experiment which is listed under experiments done with items available at home. This 10 minute no-prep STEM activity is perfect for 5-7 years old kids. Children under 5 years may not understand the science but they will enjoy the experiment results.
Do you want to try this simple and easy science activity at your home along with your kids? Click on: Refraction of Light: Play & Learn Activity for Kids
2. Density Science for Kids: Create Fireworks in Water & Oil
This is a super fun and simple experiment to explain kids about the clouds formation and rain. Just fascinate our kids by bringing clouds and rain to our home since we cannot bring the real clouds though. Do not worry about the things we need to do this experiment. It sounds complex but it is very easy to do using a few commonly found ingredients in our home. The best part – you can do both these experiments in less than ten minutes. Don’t you think this simple experiment is no-prep STEM activity? If you are interested to do this simple science activity, you are just a click away to browse full description of this cool activity: Click on Density Science for Kids: Create Fireworks in Water & Oil
3. Static Electricity Balloon and Salt and Pepper Experiment
As this activity requires just 3 ingredients and no preparation to explore static electricity, this is the one of the best no prep STEM activity to introduce your kids to the concept of electricity. You all might have seen a balloon magically sticking to something. What could be the reason behind it? Don’t know!! Today’s experiment is all about that. Are you excited? Then, what are we waiting for!! Get ready with your little ones near the experiment table with the ingredients we need to start the experiment.
Learn the simple step-by-step instructions required to perform this super cool activity, Static Electricity Balloon and Salt and Pepper Experiment to explore static electricity as well as properties of matter.
4. Swirling Milk Experiment (Magic Milk Activity)
One of the easiest and my most preferred science experiment that you can try at home (just with products from your home). The positive part of this amazing science activity is it just takes few minutes. Both preschoolers and toddlers can do this and even kindergarteners can work on this and ask them to guess color formation. You can explain color mixing with the primary and secondary color.
Do you want to teach your kids how magic milk experiment works to explain the concept of mixing color and what other concepts does this experiment teach? Just click on Swirling Milk Experiment (Magic Milk Activity)
5. Delightfully Fizzy Sherbet
This is a spectacular edible science activity that can be done at home within 10 minutes and with no preparation. Edible science fun activities help kids to understand chemistry in an easy way. These reactions are great to see in real-time. What can you expect from this sherbet? Fizzing sound, great flavor, sweet taste, and really fun. Kids can have colorful sherbet with joy!
What will you require to make this sherbet fizzy version at home? Just browse here Delightfully Fizzy Sherbet to learn more information about this super cool activity.
6. Candle under Glass Experiment
Cool candle and glass experiment that teaches kids about the role of oxygen in fire and its presence in the air. This simple and easy science activity takes less than 5 minutes to complete it. Kids who are less than 5 can only understand that oxygen is required for a candle to burn while 5 – 6-year old kids can experiment this by noting time and they can learn how much oxygen is required to burn the candle. However, 8+-year-old kids can learn chemical equations, balancing them and the detailed science behind the candle and glass experiment.
Do not miss to browse and investigate this super exciting science activity: Click on Candle under Glass Experiment
7. Rainbow Rubber Egg Science Experiment
Are you looking for simple experiments that explains about the mineral calcium and layers of egg? Rainbow rubber egg science experiment is a colorful and attractive experiment for kids to investigate eggs. This experiment offers a great opportunity to explore egg science in an educational and entertaining way. It is easy to set up and finish but offers a week’s worth of observations.
Read on to learn more about this super cool science activity of making rubber eggs: Rainbow Rubber Egg Science Experiment
8. Respiration in Plants – Live Proof Science Experiment
Do Plants Breathe? Do a simple science experiment with your kids to show respiration in plants. This experiment reveals a lot of plant science just using 2 ingredients and a less time. No special preparation is required to investigate respiration in plants. Kids will love low-prep STEAM activities that can be performed at house and have a blast investigating simple science activities. This super cool activity is designed for toddlers all the way to tweens!
Follow the experiment instructions to investigate how plants breathe in a simple way: Check out Respiration in Plants – Live Proof Science Experiment
9. Naked Egg (Dissolving Egg Shell) Experiment
Do you want show naked egg to your kids? Try this fun project by dissolving an eggshell into a glass of vinegar solution which involves absolutely no complication but only fun. There is no need to run around to shop for materials because you can find everything from your household items. This will be a great activity for pre-schoolers and primary class kids.
Check out more information about Naked Egg (Dissolving Egg Shell) Experiment in detail by clicking on the link attached on the experiment title here.
10. DIY Fridge Door Marble Run Using Magnets
This is a fun STEM (STEAM) activity of making a marble run with magnets for kids. This is best suited for refrigerator doors any steel surface (you can also try with magnetic white/black boards.) This can be done by all age group kids namely, pre-schoolers, kindergarteners, and school-aged kids. Gravity, energy, force and fiction are the basic science concepts involved in this fun science activities.
Follow these steps and let your kids make one for your fridge door as well: Click on DIY Fridge Door Marble Run Using Magnets
11. Easy Volcano Eruption Experiment for Kids
Are you looking for an easy fun and intellectual science experiment for your kid’s science fair!? In this page, you can find three simple and easy experiments that teaches kids about volcano making and eruptions that also works better as fair science project. This fizzy science experiment gives young children an exciting and learning experience as they watch and learn about incredible geological formations. This is a perfect activity for 3-4 year olds, 5-6 year olds and up. Even pre-schoolers can enjoy the activity by watching.
Check out here: Easy Volcano Eruption Experiment for Kids to know how to investigate volcano reactions by experimenting this super fun activity at home.
12. Glowing water beads experiment for kids
Glowing water beads experiment is as simple as playing with regular water beads. Also gives so much fun for all ages of children including adults. This glowing chemistry experiment can be so much fun. It can be used for imaginative and sensory play. This is the perfect sensory activity for 3-4 year olds and 5-6 year olds.
Follow the post to know the complete procedure in order to give your kids a cool learning experience with glowing water beads activity: Click on Glowing water beads experiment for kids
13. Glow in the Dark Ice Cubes – Sensory, Edible Science Activity
Are you throwing a Halloween Party in your home? If yes, then why not spice up your party with some simple and amazing techniques that can be done at home!? As the name suggests, this super fun experiment using ice cubes offer a great visual eye treat. Glowing ice cubes are easy to make and safe to do this activity for kids. It is also safe to consume as well since it is non-toxic and edible.
So let us see what happens with the activity and learn some fun science at home using some magical ingredients that are available at home: Click on Glow in the Dark Ice Cubes – Sensory, Edible Science Activity
14. Why Do Flowers Change Color in Food Coloring – Experiment for Kids
How do flowers change color in food colors? Wondering how? You can now change the flower color at home and at any time during the year. Let’s try this natural science experiment with white roses that reveals the concept of absorption of water in in plants and flowers. This experiment can be done with pre-schoolers and they will love to make their hands colorful too. Other kids including Kindergarteners and 7 – 9-year-old kids can do this experiment, not just for fun but to learn some science as well.
For more details about the experiment in detail: click on Why Do Flowers Change Color in Food Coloring – Experiment for Kids
15. Make fire using Magnifying Glass Science Experiment
STEM is everywhere!! Starting a fire with magnifying glass is going to thrill your kids. This super easy and no-prep STEM activity offers a perfect chance to improve your kid’s motor skills. Kids are naturally curious and love to explore the world around them!! But this time we are going to give them a magnifying lens to enhance their learning experience in a better and closer view.
Get more information about this unique and creative science activity here: Make fire using Magnifying Glass Science Experiment
16. Snow Storm in a Jar Science Fair Project
This is another spectacular Winter STEM activity and science experiment that you can do indoors to create snow storm in a jar using very simple ingredients and finishes in no time. This super cool and exciting experiment can either be a science demonstration and even used to discuss a scientific concept. A perfect science demonstration for 7-9 year old children as they can able to catch hold the science that create snow storm in a jar. Pre-schoolers and kindergarten can enjoy watching the amazing results.
Follow along to learn how to make your very own snow storm in a jar! Browse here for full description of the experiment: Snow Storm in a Jar Science Fair Project
17. Testing the strength of Spaghetti Engineering Project
Do you have spaghetti in your home? If yes, get ready with a cup of spaghetti to investigate this simple experiment that teaches some important information about engineering, construction, and critical thinking skills. Extremely simple and easy! This one is super easy and no-prep because it requires very less ingredients (all you need is spaghetti) and finishes in less than 5 minutes.
Find out more information about the experiment’s instructions and science involved by clicking on: Testing the strength of Spaghetti Engineering Project
18. Desalinization Science Experiment
How do you remove the salt from saltwater? In this experiment we are going to use desalinization process which requires a few supplies and less time to finish while investigating the salt water properties. This experiment can be done with pre-schoolers and kindergartens. High grade children will learn and understand the science involved in it.
Try it in your home and explore the desalinization process and how it works using simple supplies available at home: Click on Desalinization Science Experiment
19. How to make a Water Balloon sink Science Experiment
Kids love to play with water balloons! Let us turn this interest on water balloon play in to a quick science activity to learn about hot water and cold water density properties. This super cool activity offers a great opportunity to explore how and why temperature effects water and balloon. Also, helps to improve kid’s critical thinking skills in finding right answers to their assumptions by comparing to the actual results of the experiment.
If you are interested in investigating this simple science experiment: Click on How to make a Water Balloon sink Science Experiment
20. Floating Egg Science Experiment
This is so simple and quick, but there’s a lot of learning involved too. All you need to investigate this super exciting experiment is just two eggs (one raw and the other hard boiled), salt, and two glass containers. What is the magical ingredient that makes egg float in the water? This is a cool science activity that is suitable for primary school kids (5-6 year olds) or kindergarteners (3-4 year olds). The older kids will not only enjoy the activity but also learns the simple science behind the experiment.
Do you want to try this science activity in your home? If yes, click on Floating Egg Science Experiment
21. Simple Slime Recipe with Borax
Homemade slime is the most versatile slime recipe, always a delight for kids to make. Learning how to make this easy slime recipe with borax powder as the slime activator is much simpler than you might think. Slime making is even more fun when you add in foam beads, confetti, or soft clay. Since this is a sensory play and an activity that involves kids to use their motor skills, this is highly suitable for toddlers. In addition, pre-schoolers will also love to create their own homemade slime in a fun and educational way.
Watch this awesome slime making recipe and see how easy it is to make the best slime: Click on Simple Slime Recipe with Borax
22. STEM for Kids: Egg Drop Science Project
A lot of experiments take a long time but not Egg Drop Project! The egg drop engineering challenge will become one of your child’s favorite engineering activity as it involves creativity mixed with a bit of physics! In this experiment, kids will explore the strength of the eggs, different designs that make eggs safe, what differing designs could be successful in keeping the eggs from breaking. and a whole lot more with just one experiment that takes less than 10 minutes to complete.
Check out how to do it with your children or students at home: STEM for Kids: Egg Drop Project
23. Why Does Water Rise? Best Science Experiments for Kids!
This is such a wonderful experiment where kids are introduced to the concept of magic that involves a simple science! Kids get an opportunity to explore how heat and temperatures impact vacuum by using a simple technology. It is fun to investigate, watch the amazing results and exploring the science behind it.
Why does water raise? Try this popular “Why Does Water Rise?” experiment and incorporate some STEM to your home schoolers.
24. Button STEM Activity Challenge for Kids
Another quick activity that challenges and improves your child’s fine motor skills and critical thinking skills plus adds great fun to their free time. The challenge is to analyze and see how tall kids are able to build a structure using just two simple items. Gathering everyday items that are readily available from around the house helps creating learning moments for kids that are super fun as well. Since this is a sensory play and educational activity, this is highly suitable for toddlers whereas pre-schoolers will also love to play around play dough.
Are you ready for the button challenge? Get the complete information about this classic experiment here: Button STEM Activity Challenge for Kids
25. Inflate a Balloon Dry Ice Science Experiment
Have you ever inflated a balloon without using your energy and breathing? I think NO! Try out this super cool experiment that saves your energy and helps you in inflating balloons, no matter what the occasion is to celebrate with balloons. Yes, this activity doesn’t only make your efforts easy but also teaches some science in a fun and exciting way.
Check out if you are wondering how to inflate a balloon just without using any bit of energy of yours: Click on Inflate a Balloon Dry Ice Science Experiment to learn how it works.
As we already discussed introducing STEM education to kids at early age helps to create critical thinkers, develop questioning skills that eventually supports logical thinking to find reasonable answers to their questions, increases science literacy, makes technically aware of how things happen around the world and enables the next generation of innovators. Eventually, kids become more curious towards finding out things creatively based on their knowledge and create new innovations and this innovation and science literacy knowledge depends on a solid knowledge base in the STEM areas.
So, let our kids get exposed to STEM education and provide them enough opportunities to explore STEM related concepts that helps them to connect to their real life and cherish with good analytic power. Give them a try with your kids and have an amazing science learning experience. Happy experimenting!!