Whether you call it STEM or STEAM this week of Camp Fun spells fun! STEAM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. The STEAM projects and activities for this week touch on all of the different areas of STEAM while using your imagination and creativity to create cool things. Whether creating a race car powered by a balloon, a special device to protect an egg from cracking during an egg drop challenge, or your very own board game, you are bound to have fun this week! Be sure to download the STEAM Free Coloring Page here and the Free STEAM Scavenger Hunt Printable here! We are looking forward to spending our summer playing, crafting, and exploring at home and hope you join us for Camp Fun!
How would you protect an egg from a fall? Use any of the materials from the DIY STEAM Egg Drop Kit to create a special vessel for your egg. With craft sticks, straws, cardboard, packing peanuts, string and rubber bands, the options are endless! Once you have created your design, head outside and take turns doing the egg drop challenge! Don't worry if your egg cracks. Head back to the drawing table and try again!
Make the Project
This fun STEAM activity allows you to design your own race car with parts from the DIY STEAM Car Kit which includes wooden dowels, straws, balloons and rubber bands. Start by adding a cool design to your car with Sharpies®, then follow the instructions to assemble it. We used a little hot glue on low setting to attach the straws to the base of the car. The magic happens when you inflate the balloon through the straw, set down the car and let it go! Compare how far and fast each car goes, and what modifications can be made to their design to help them perform better.
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We love playing board games in our house, but this was the first time we've had the opportunity to invent our own! With this Crayola® Create a Game Kit you are given a blank playing board, cards, dice and game pieces to create the game of your dreams. We ended up creating a game with four different worlds: Unicorn Island, Emoji Island, Minecraft Island and Candy Land!
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Test how far you can make a pom-pom travel without stopping or falling by strategically placing cardboard tubes to make a maze. This DIY STEM Pom-Pom Drop Kit comes with 30 tubes in different sizes. We found it worked particularly well when we used masking tape to tape the tubes to a large window. Have a challenge to see who can build the longest path for their pom-pom!
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Launch your own rocket with this STEAM Color Your Own Rocket Pully Kit. Start by decorating your rocket and then using the materials provided in the kit to attach a string and beads that will work as a pulley. The adhesive pieces make it easy - no cutting or glue required for this activity. Once you have constructed your rocket, hang it from a door knob or tree branch and pull on both strings to watch it take off!
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Have a snack fit for a STEAM scientist with these test tube party favors and science party cups. We filled our party favors with a layered snack mix made from oat cereal, pumpkin seeds, chocolate chips and dried papaya. You could also use the test tubes to hold different toppings for an ice cream lab! For the drinks we experimented with adding a drop of food coloring to sparkling water to create a drink that looks like it came straight from the science lab!
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For an afternoon of fun, download this Free STEAM Scavenger Hunt Printable and hunt around your house and yard for materials from the scavenger hunt list. What invention can you create using at least five different items from the list? Try sketching out a plan before you build your creation. What problem does your invention solve? How does it operate?
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You can never have too many coloring pages to keep campers busy during Camp Fun! Be sure to download our STEAM Free Coloring Page here and set it out with colored pencils, crayons, or markers for a quiet indoor activity.
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Rosie Revere Engineer by Andrea Beaty
Ada Twist Scientist by Andrea Beaty
The Way Things Work Now by David Macaulay
So You Want to Be an Inventor by Judith St. George
Mary Had a Little Lab by Sue Fliess
How Does My Home Work by Chris Butterworth
Rube Goldberg's Simple Normal Humdrum School Day by Jennifer George
What Do You Do with an Idea by Kobi Yamada
The Dumpster Diver by Janet S. Wong
