It’s the winter season again and you’re looking to entertain your kids and teach them new things while they’re home for the winter break. We have put together a list of forty activities that you can do with your kids this winter season that are sure to be just as fun for the kids as they will be for you. There are some very educational STEM activities, some extremely hands-on winter activities, some activities that promote creativity and planning and so much more. So now that you know what we’ll be tackling, let’s dive right into some winter STEM activities.
These are some fun and challenging winter STEM activities for kids.
Science Winter STEM Activities
There are so many science winter STEM activities to try with kids.
Outdoor Science
If you have snow in the yard, these are the best STEM activities for you.
1. How To Crush A Bottle With Your Mind
This science experiment of crushing a water bottle teaches kids about heat transfer. By filling the bottle with hot water and then tossing it out into the snow, it collapses as the water molecules inside the bottle slow down.
2. Appearing Snowflakes
One of the most fun STEM activities for kids, Appearing Snowflakes only requires three items:
- Clear wax
- Blue paintballs
- Watercolor paper
All you have to do is draw a snowflake on the paper with wax, then throw paintballs at it and the snowflakes will get revealed.
Snow Science Experiments
There are plenty of lessons to be learned from playing with snow.
3. Melting Snowman Science Experiment
Melting Snowman is one of the simple STEM activities for kids. You’ll need the following supplies for this experiment:
- Baking Soda
- White Vinegar
- Water
- Decorations
Using water and baking soda to make fake snow for the little snowmen, then melting them down with white vinegar, demonstrates simple chemical reactions while being entertaining at the same time.
See here for some great Christmas STEM activities.
4. Catching Snowflakes
Catching Snowflakes is a winter STEM activity that makes learning fun. The goal is to use a black paper sheet to catch snowflakes, after which you try and find two identical snowflakes using a magnifying glass.
Catching identical snowflakes is a difficult task but it’s entertaining and educational for kids.
Ice Science Experiments
For those who love playing with ice, here are our top picks.
5. Frozen Bubbles Winter STEM Activities
Did you know that when it’s cold outside, bubbles can freeze and solidify? Seeing a regular bubble turn into a perfect frozen bubble in seconds is a unique experience.
6. Ice Cream In A Bag Experiment
Just like the bath bombs, making Ice Cream In A Bag is a satisfying winter STEM activity for kids because it results in a yummy treat.
You’ll only need the following:
- Half & Half or plain milk
- Vanilla ice
- Sugar or any other sweetener
- Rock salt
You’ll need to do a lot of shaking when making the ice cream in a bag (10 to 20 minutes), so you should pass it around because you can get tired quickly.
7. Engineering An Ice Lantern
You can engineer an ice lantern by taking advantage of cold temperatures and using ingenuity.
For this winter STEM activity, you’ll need the following:
- Two cups (one smaller than the other)
- Water
- Decorative pieces
- Battery operated candle
This candle slowly melts away, so you should put it in a bowl or on a small tray.
What are STEM toys? Read more here.
8. Frost Experiment
A Frost Experiment works like the Frozen Bubbles STEM activity in that it teaches kids about how cold works but this activity has a different twist. You’ll need the following:
- A Tin Can
- Water
- Ice
- Salt
You must first fill the tin can with water, ice and salt. You then place it in the cold outside weather or the freezer and the frost will start forming.
9. Frost In A Jar
Like the Frost Experiment, the Frost In A Jar experiment is about creating frost with a glass jar instead of a tin can.
All you need is the following:
- A Jar
- Water
- Ice
- Salt
10. Ice Crystals Science Experiment
The Ice Crystals Winter STEM activity demonstrates how water gets affected when frozen and kids will be able to examine the difference between ordinary and distilled water.
Putting a bowl of normal and distilled water into the freezer will produce different results. Ordinary water will form a flat surface, while distilled water will form rough and jagged terrain.11. Glowing Ice Cubes
Glowing Ice Cubes teaches kids how UV lights work and how you can see them. When making an ice cube, you can flash the UV light and see the ice cubes glow.
The Glowing Ice Cubes experiment requires only one ingredient: tonic water that contains quinine.
Melting Experiments
Learning about the process of melting is very educational and fits the wintery theme.
12. Melting Ice And Snow
The point of the Melting Ice And Snow science experiment is to study water as it changes from its solid form to a liquid state and to measure the differences.
You can use ice for this experiment if there’s no snow outside.
13. Melting Snowman Oobleck Challenge
The Melting Snowman Oobleck Winter STEM challenge is very tricky and requires speed and engineering and is very hands-on, improving motor skill levels.
Oobleck liquids are non-Newtonian fluids that melt when there’s no pressure, so you have to use force to solidify it. As soon as the oobleck is solid, you have to make a shape of a snowman and add decorations before it melts. It is quite challenging for children but oobleck is so much fun as it teaches them in a hands-on way.
14. Hot Chocolate Science
This undeniably tasty science experiment teaches kids about deduction and induction. All kids have to do is make hot chocolate with marshmallows using three different settings on the microwave.
Make sure kids use the same mugs and portions for this STEM activity.
15. Salt And Ice Experiment
The Salt And Ice Experiment illustrates how salt, which is neither cold nor warm, affects how quickly the snow melts by lowering its melting point.
For this science class experiment, you’ll need three simple materials:
- Trays
- Snow
- Salt
Put salt on the snow on one of the two trays and you’ll quickly notice how much faster that snow melts than the snow on the other tray.
Indoor Winter Science
If you prefer the warmth inside your home, there are plenty of hands-on learning activities kids can do indoors.
16. Make A Toy Wish List!
Making A Toy Wish List is an activity where kids write down toys they would like to have and then mail their lists to Santa.
You should show your kids some fun STEM and STEAM toys this Christmas season since they can also provide kids with a learning experience.
Click here for STEM toys for 4 year olds and STEM toys for 5 year olds.
17. Crystal Snowflakes Winter STEM Activities
Crystal Snowflakes are easy-to-make Christmas ornaments with a fun twist. To make Crystal Snowflakes, you’ll need the following:
- Jars
- Wire Cutters/Scissors
- White Pipe Cleaners
- String
- Water
- Pencils or Popsicle Sticks
- Food Coloring
- Borax Salt
18. Winter Play Dough
If your kids love playdough, this is the perfect activity you can do with them. To make the No Cook Winter Playdough, you’ll need the following:
- Salt
- Cream Of Tartar
- Flour
- Vegetable Oil
- Hot Water
- Food coloring
- Glitter (optional)
- Essential oil (optional)
19. Magic Snow Winter STEM Activity
Magic Snow is a simple 2-ingredient snow you can easily make at home. Kids of any age group can do this simple experiment which only requires two simple materials:
- Cold water
- Baking soda
- Bowl/Tray
Put two to four cups of baking soda and ½ cup to a cup of cold water into the bowl and mix them and you get a snow-like substance, which is easily moldable.
You can use the magic snow to create a lovely snowy landscape on a tray.
20. Candy Cane Bridge STEM Challenge
The Candy Cane Bridge STEM Challenge is fun for kids and improves their engineering skills.
The Candy Cane Bridge STEM Challenge requires a bunch of candy canes and two boxes. The goal is to make a bridge sturdy enough to hold objects on it using only candy canes.
Animal Science
Kids of every age group love animals, so why not show them a fun video or give them some fun hands-on activities?
21. The Impact Of Climate Change On The Polar Bear’s Icy Habitat
Learning about the impact of climate change on the polar bear’s icy habitat is a serious subject that you can discuss with kids by doing a STEM activity that teaches kids about the problems we’ll be facing in the future.
The topic of melting ice caps is suitable for a slightly older age group, such as older elementary kids or middle school kids.
22. Animal Hibernation
Many animals hibernate during the winter season, from bears to hedgehogs, so hibernation is a winter topic. Elementary kids can learn about the intriguing biology behind it as a STEM activity.
You can watch some educational and fun videos about animal hibernation.
23. How Arctic Animals Stay Warm In The Cold Water
This is a hands-on activity to teach children about biology. How Arctic Animals Stay Warm In The Cold Water teaches kids how animals survive in cold climates.
Seals and Polar Bears survive freezing temperatures thanks to blubber (fat).
If you give a surgical glove to your child and put some blubber on their hand, the child won’t feel the cold when they put their hand in the bucket of cold water.
Chemistry Winter STEM Activities
There are plenty of great chemistry activities we just had to include on this list. Learning about chemical and acid-base reactions helps kids explore and create new things.
24. Snow Storm In A Jar
Snow Storm In A Jar is a fun way for kids to learn about chemical reactions.
For this hands-on STEM activity, all you have to do is fill a jar with baby/vegetable oil and some paint and then put in the Alka Seltzer tablets.
Alka Seltzer tabs create a bubbling inside the jar, forcing the movement of paint and oil. The chemical reaction that’s produced looks like a lava lamp.
25. Bath Bomb Chemistry
Creating a bath bomb involves a lot of chemistry and engineering, making it a fun winter STEM challenge for kids. You’ll need plenty of supplies to make a bath bomb, such as fragrance oil, molds and many more.
Engineering Winter STEM Activities
Kids love creating things, so they will love these engineering activities, which will allow them to be creative. Here are some more STEM challenges with the winter theme.
26. Floating LEGOs
Did you know that some lego blocks can’t float? Making a Lego boat is a STEM activity that’s so much fun for elementary kids. Kids use LEGOs to make a Lego shape that can float.
There’s a lot of hands-on learning in this activity and using materials such as lego blocks is so much fun for elementary kids.
27. Popsicle Stick Catapult Snowball Fight STEM Activity
This extremely simple catapult is one of the fun science activities for kids who love creativity and engineering.
All you need for the popsicle stick catapult are the following supplies:
- Popsicle Sticks
- Spoon (Plastic)
- Rubber Bands
- Objects To Toss (Mini Marshmallows)
28. Engineer An Igloo From Marshmallows
Engineering An Igloo Using Marshmallows and sticks is a fun winter STEM activity and you get a yummy treat at the end. Kids learn to plan, design and implement their ideas while building a marshmallow igloo.
To engineer an igloo from marshmallows, you’ll only need the following:
- Toothpicks
- Mini Marshmallows
29. Design A Snow Shelter
Designing A Snow Shelter is one of those winter STEM challenges that you can do during the winter season when there’s a lot of snow.
Regardless of kids’ age group, designing and building a snow shelter is one of the STEM winter activities that’s suitable for everyone.
30. Build An Igloo With Sugar Cubes And Frosting
This fun winter STEM activity is focused on science, technology, engineering and design.
All you need for this winter STEM activity is the following:
- Sugar Cubes
- Powdered Sugar
- Lemon
- Egg Whites
- Tray
31. Design And Build A Gingerbread House
A common tradition and an entertaining STEM activity, Building A Gingerbread House is one of those activities that exercises kids’ motor skills and stimulates their creativity.
Kids learn about cooking while improving their creativity and cooperation when doing this winter STEM challenge.
You can let kids sketch your gingerbread house design you’ll create together.
32. Design And Build A Christmas Sleigh For Santa
Designing And Building A Little Sleigh For Santa is one of the best STEM activities for kids of all ages.
Building a Christmas sleigh is a fun activity that enables kids to develop their problem-solving skills while letting them explore and learn through the process of creation:
- Ask
- Think
- Design
- Build
- Test
- Improve
33. Candy Cane STEM Activity
There are many great Candy Cane STEM activities you can do during the winter season, such as:
- Candy Cane Ornaments: Reshaping candy canes into different ornaments with an oven and cookie cutters.
- Dissolving Candy Canes: Find out in what liquid candy canes melt the quickest.
- Candy (Anything But) Canes: Make new shapes from candy canes.
Math Winter STEM Activities
Math activities enable kids to enhance their problem-solving skills the most. We have listed three enjoyable math activities you can do with kids.
34. Build A Symmetrical Snowflake
Building A Symmetrical Snowflake is one of the winter math activities focused on geometry, technology, engineering and math in general. What you’ll need for this winter STEM challenge is:
- Paper
- Glue
- Small Decorations (Cotton Balls, Ornaments Of Different Shapes and more).
Building A Symmetrical Snowflake is a math activity that improves kids’ precision.
35. Build A Snowflake Using Geometric Shapes
Pushing the envelope in mathematics even further, using geometric shapes to build a symmetrical snowflake is a fun activity for any STEAM-powered family. All you need is craft paper, glue and scissors.
36. How Do Snowflakes Form?
How Do Snowflakes Form? is one of the simple STEM activities for kids. It’s similar to building a symmetrical snowflake but with an educational twist.
Kids learn how a snowflake forms and then create their snowflakes using glue, paper and cotton balls to make it look realistic.
They can also make their own frost in the frost experiment and jar frost experiment.
Coding Winter STEM Activities
Manipulating variables is far easier in coding. Here are two activities your kids can do with coding.
37. Create A Winter-Themed Coding Game On Scratch
Scratch is an easy-to-use and educational video game-making software for kids of all ages. It’s the best introduction to computer coding for kids that can help them learn, explore and create video games.
When making a game on Scratch, kids can include images of their favorite toys and even their house by using a camera.
38. Code A Candy Cane
Coding A Candy Cane is one of the printable winter activities that can get kids excited about programming.
All you need are the following supplies:
- Pipe Cleaners
- Red Beads
- White Beads
- Paper to write code on
- Free Printable ASCII Code Sheet
Using ASCII and treating white beads as zero and red beads as one, your kid can write their name on a candy cane.
Winter STEM Activities – Seasons
Here are two more winter STEM activities for kids to try out.
39. Build A Wheel Of The Year
Building A Wheel Of The Year is a great winter or spring activity for kids of all ages. These are the necessary supplies:
- Paper Plates
- Construction Paper
- Colored Craft Sticks
- Thumbtacks
- Ruler
- Marker or a Fine-Tip Sharpie
- Glue Stick
- White Glue
- Scissors
- Tape
- Computer with printer or stickers with the month names and images.
Visit our site for more paper activities for kids.
40. Solstice Science
Solstice Science teaches kids about the Solstice phenomenon. You can do many STEM activities that explore the Solstice theme that are both educational and enjoyable.
Solstice Science is a winter STEM activity that examines the position of Earth during the winter solstice, which makes it the perfect winter theme activity for kids.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Winter STEM Activities?
Winter STEM activities are educational activities with a winter theme. Some examples of winter science experiments are:
- Melting Snowman Science Experiment
- Ice Cream In A Bag Experiment
- Melting Snowman Oobleck Challenge
- Make A Toy Wish List!
- Build An Igloo With Sugar Cubes And Frosting.
You can go here for more winter activities during the Christmas holidays.
What Science Experiment Can I Do With Snow?
Here are some science experiments you can do with snow:
- Design And Build A Snow Shelter
- Salt And Ice Experiment
- Catch Snowflakes
- Design And Build A Snowman
- Expanding Snow Science
- How Cold Is The Snow
- How Color Travels Through Snow
- Snow Sink Or Float
- How To Make It Snow
- Melting Ice And Snow.
How Do You Make Fake Cold Snow?
To make fake cold snow, you’ll need two ingredients: cold water and baking soda. Put three cups of baking soda into a bowl, add a cup of water and mix together. If you think that your mixture is too dry and flakey, you can slowly add some more water while stirring the mixture.
