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Here are 15 Wonderful Winter STEM Projects for Kids to learn, play & have fun doing! All you need are regular household materials & craft supplies.

One reason we love doing crafts is because it’s plain good fun, that doesn’t involve a screen! But another reason is that it is a great way for kids to learn, and school lessons are much more effective when they are accompanied by crafts, especially those dealing with STEM.

So what is STEM? STEM stands for Science-Technology-Engineering-Math. When we add art to the equation, it becomes STEAM. STEM/STEAM is an important focus for schools and educators today – as well as crafters like us!

Well, looks like we have the perfect opportunity to explore some more of it, with STEM Day coming up on 8th November!

What is STEM Day?

STEM Day was created by MGA Entertainment, the world’s largest private toy company. To encourage more kids, especially girls, in the STEM space, the company launched a franchise called Project Mc² which features science toys including a series of fashion dolls with experiment kits, who were described as part of a spy organization called NOV8, pronounced ‘innovate’. Now you understand how 8th November became STEM Day!

As its name suggests, National STEM Day is all about innovation, problem-solving and critical thinking. To encourage future engineers, scientists and artists, we’ve rounded up some cool winter STEM projects that are perfect for the season!

15 Wonderful Winter STEM Projects for Kids

1. Salt and Ice STEM Experiment

What happens when you put salt on ice? Salt and ice have a strange but interesting relationship, which you can explore with this fun experiment from Views from a Step Stool!

2. Salt Crystal Snowflake STEM Science

When we are talking about winter STEM projects, we have got to include snowflakes! Living Well Mom has a fun project that features chenille stems or pipe cleaners that turn into gorgeous snowflakes!

3. Sled & Slope STEM Challenge

Feel Good Teaching has a fun resource that kids can use to learn about simple machines, motion and force. The Christmas-themed clip art is sure to keep little kids interested!

4. Igloo Home STEM Challenge

Did you know that STEM was originally known as SMET? It was Judith Ramaley, the National Science Foundation biologist, who rearranged it to STEM. Check out Elementary Island Blog for a bunch of winter STEM projects – or SMET projects!

5. Borax Crystal Snowman

While encouraging kids to explore STEM can help them get jobs when their adults, it can inspire some kids to innovate even while they’re kids! Take Avi Schiffmann for instance, a 15-year-old who developed ‘NCOV2019.live’, one of the most popular COVID-19 tracking websites. See if this fun snowman project from Science Kiddo sparks any new ideas!

6. Ski Jumping Straw Rockets

It’s always more fun when winter STEM projects can be playful too, like this skier from JDaniel4’s Mom! Kids will have to blow hard into the straw and see how far they can make the skier jump.

7. Snowstorm in a Jar Science Experiment 

If you’re wondering why STEM is getting so much attention these days, it’s because careers in this field are growing 70% faster than others. If you’re looking for a way to get your kid interested in STEM, this project from Mombrite should do it!

8. Snowman Snow Globe STEM Activity

You can’t leave out snowmen when talking about winter STEM projects, and this project from Hands On Teaching Ideas shows! If you’re wondering why some kids appear to be more interested in STEM, Microsoft found that it could be due to parental influence, involved teachers and toys or TV shows related to STEM.

9. Exploding Snowman Experiment

Okay, now this one from 123 Homeschool 4 Me is definitely going to be a hit with the kids! Mix baking soda with vinegar, and the resultant carbon dioxide causes the snowman to explode – how fun is that!

10. DIY Geoboard Snowflake STEM Activity

We love how artistic this STEM project from School Time Snippets is! The reason for adding art and turning STEM into STEAM was to make a more ‘well-rounded’ education system. 

11. Winter STEM Building Challenge

A polar bear makes an appearance on the next item on our list of winter STEM projects! Hands On Teaching Ideas shows us a fun and interesting project for future architects, that’ll also keep them occupied for a while. 

12. Snowman Launcher Winter STEM Activity

One reason for celebrating STEM Day is to encourage girls more into STEM fields, considering women constitute less than 30% of researchers across the globe. Microsoft found that girls who participate in STEM activities early are more likely to opt for STEM subjects for higher studies. Talk about this with your kids as you try out this project from 123 Homeschool 4 Me.

13. Penguin Science Experiment

Do penguins get wet? How do they stay dry when they’re always on ice or in water? Find out with this fun project from ABCs of Literacy that features a cute little penguin friend!

14. Q-Tip Snowflake STEM Center

Did you know which countries produce the most STEM graduates? It’s India and China! However, studies show that although there are many graduates, less than 28% of them work in a STEM job. Let’s find out why as we make this fun project from Playdough to Plato.

15. Building Shapes STEM Snowman Activity

The reason these winter STEM projects are so important for young kids is because over 90% of kids lose interest in STEM by the 5th grade if they weren’t encouraged earlier. Studies show that almost 60% of 9th graders are no longer interested in STEM, and choose other subjects in college. This snowman project from JDaniel4’s Mom is a great project for the younger lot, and they’ll have fun with it!

Many people tend to associate subjects like science and math with boredom, but these winter STEM projects show that they are anything but boring! Projects like these encourage kids to think outside the box when faced with a problem, or when trying to find out why something works. Let them go ahead and make their own great discoveries!

If you liked these projects, you may also like these:

• 15 STEM Building Challenges for Kids
• 20 STEM Kitchen Science Projects for Kids
• 20 Math Crafts and Activities for Kids
• 15 Math Art Activities for Kids
• 20 Fun Educational Printables for Kids