Research has shown that regularly exposing students to hands-on STEM activities will further their interest in science, technology, engineering, and math. In fact, it could even inspire their future career paths!

In honor of National STEM Day on November 8th, we’ve put together a list of classroom activities that are designed to evoke critical thinking skills while also encouraging creativity, communication, and teamwork.

Kindergarten-2nd grade

Apple Oxidation Experiment
Perfect for fall, gather your little ones around for a lesson on the Scientific Method. Students will learn what it means to form a hypothesis and design an experiment to test it out.

Via Left Brain Craft Brain

Hot Ice Experiment
This easy to perform experiment will wow your little ones into thinking there’s some sort of magic involved! In reality, they’ll be learning about the crystallization process.

Via Playdough to Plato

Cloud in a Jar
This is a great experiment to test different methods on since there are multiple ways to make clouds in a jar. Try them all out, then talk to your students about the word “variable” and how it’s used in science.

Via Gift of Curiosity

3rd-5th grade

Marshmallow Catapult
Any experiment that allows students to snack on marshmallows while doing work will surely grab their attention! This fun project will get them thinking about scientific principles, all while launching marshmallows across the classroom.

Via Ruffles and Rain Boots

Ice Cream in a Bag
Believe it or not, there is a lot of chemistry that goes into making ice cream. We can’t think of a better way to get kids involved in STEM than teaching them how to make their own (surprisingly tasty) ice cream.

Via Rediscovered Families

Magnetic Slime
Making magnetic slime is truly one of the coolest STEM activities we’ve found, both kids and adults find it addictively fun to play with. In addition to its cool factor, it teaches principals of chemistry, physics, biology, and geology.

Via Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls

6th-8th grade

Fire Snakes
Make a black fire snake rise from the ground using a simple mixture of sugar and baking soda. Because this experiment involves a hefty dose of lighter fluid, we recommend it for older students only.

Via Science Buddies

STEM Balloon Cars
For this activity, students get to design, build, and race balloon-powered cars while learning about kinetic and potential energy.

Via Teachers are Terrific

Egg Drop Challenge
Spark some healthy competition in the classroom by holding an egg drop contest! Students work together to design and build a device that will support an egg when dropped from a high position. In addition to learning valuable STEM principals, this activity offers an excellent opportunity for teamwork.

Via Little Bins Little Hands