Screen-Free STEM Activities to Keep Kids Engaged Indoors
Educational and Fun Activities
Written by James Harris
20 February 2025
đź•“ 12 min
Keeping kids engaged in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) without screens can be both fun and educational. Hands-on activities not only encourage creativity but also help develop problem-solving skills and critical thinking. Here are five screen-free STEM activities that will keep kids entertained while learning valuable concepts.
1. Building Structures with Everyday Materials
Encourage kids to explore engineering by constructing structures using common household items like toothpicks and marshmallows, straws and tape, or LEGO bricks. Challenge them to build the tallest tower, the strongest bridge, or even a model of a famous landmark. This activity helps kids understand basic engineering principles, including balance, stability, and weight distribution. They can experiment with different shapes and materials to see what makes a structure stronger or taller. For older kids, introduce concepts like force, load-bearing, and architectural design.
To expand this experiment, have kids compare different materials, measure load-bearing capacity with small weights, or incorporate mathematical calculations into their designs. Adding a competitive element, like a challenge to build the strongest bridge with a limited number of materials, can make it even more exciting.
Additionally, encourage kids to work in teams and present their findings. This promotes collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills. Discussing their approaches and the challenges they encountered helps them refine their ideas and understand real-world engineering concepts better.
2. DIY Science Experiments with Kitchen Ingredients
Transform your kitchen into a science lab by conducting exciting experiments with common ingredients. Some fun ideas include making a baking soda and vinegar volcano, creating invisible ink with lemon juice, or testing the acidity of different foods using red cabbage juice as an indicator. These experiments introduce kids to fundamental chemistry concepts like chemical reactions, pH levels, and states of matter. They can observe changes, make predictions, and analyze results—all while having fun with simple ingredients they can find at home.
To make the activity more engaging, turn it into a mini science fair by having kids record their hypotheses, document their findings, and present their conclusions. Encouraging them to try variations, such as changing the quantities of ingredients or testing new substances, helps build curiosity and experimentation skills.
Another way to enhance learning is to incorporate storytelling. For example, frame the experiment as a mission for young scientists trying to discover a secret formula. Making science feel like an adventure can inspire kids to develop a lifelong interest in STEM subjects.
3. Nature-Based STEM Activities Indoors
Even when stuck inside, kids can explore the wonders of nature with creative STEM activities. Try growing plants in jars, making a DIY rain gauge, or setting up a mini ecosystem in a bottle to learn about biology and environmental science. These activities teach kids about plant growth, weather patterns, and ecosystems while encouraging them to observe and record changes over time. Watching a plant sprout or measuring rainfall over a few weeks builds patience and scientific observation skills.
To extend the learning, kids can experiment with different growing conditions (such as varying amounts of light and water), observe the effects of pollutants on plants, or track weather changes over time. Keeping a journal with daily sketches and notes helps develop scientific observation skills and encourages curiosity about the natural world. Another way to deepen the experience is by incorporating artistic elements. Have kids sketch plants at different stages, create nature-inspired crafts, or write a short story about their ecosystem. This helps bridge science with creativity, making the learning process more immersive and enjoyable.
4. Simple Coding Without Screens
Coding doesn’t always require a computer! Teach kids the basics of programming through hands-on activities like creating code using colored beads, making an obstacle course with if-then logic, or writing algorithms on paper to guide a toy through a maze. These unplugged coding activities help kids understand sequencing, logic, and problem-solving without relying on a screen. They develop computational thinking skills while having fun creating their own “programs.”
For an added challenge, try a coding scavenger hunt where kids create instructions for a sibling or friend to follow, acting as a “robot” that must reach a goal by following their commands. These types of activities mimic the way real coding works while making it interactive and exciting.
Additionally, introduce storytelling to coding by having kids create sequences that narrate a short adventure. They can use drawings or tangible objects to represent steps in their algorithm, making the concept of coding more tangible and engaging.
5. DIY Engineering Challenges
Kids love a good challenge! Set up hands-on engineering activities like designing and testing paper airplanes, creating a marble run from recycled materials, or building a catapult using rubber bands and popsicle sticks. These challenges encourage kids to use critical thinking, trial and error, and creativity to solve problems. They’ll learn about aerodynamics, gravity, and simple machines—all while having fun experimenting with different designs and seeing what works best.
To enhance the experience, have kids test variables, such as changing the angle of a ramp or altering the weight of a catapult projectile. Encouraging them to make predictions, record data, and improve their designs helps foster a growth mindset and perseverance in problem-solving. Another way to build excitement is to introduce a real-world connection. For example, challenge kids to design a paper airplane that mimics the flight of a specific bird or a catapult that models medieval siege technology. Providing historical or scientific context makes the activity more meaningful and educational.
Conclusion
Screen-free STEM activities offer an engaging and enriching way for kids to explore scientific concepts, develop problem-solving skills, and ignite their creativity. By using everyday materials and simple experiments, parents and educators can provide children with fun, hands-on learning experiences that keep them engaged indoors. Whether it's building structures, conducting experiments, or learning coding without a computer, these activities encourage a lifelong love for STEM.
By making STEM learning interactive, kids gain a deeper understanding of fundamental concepts while developing essential skills for future careers. Encouraging curiosity and exploration in everyday activities fosters a love for learning that extends beyond structured lessons. With a little creativity and everyday materials, families can turn any moment into an opportunity for discovery and fun
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Looking for more STEM activity ideas? Check out www.scienceofsound.co.uk for more hands-on experiments and creative challenges!
