The fall season brings to mind images of pumpkins, apples, and leaves, so how much fun would it be to incorporate these into a few S.T.E.A.M. (science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics) activities for your little ones? Here are 6 challenges and experiments to try with your family this fall.
Pumpkin Volcanoes
My kids never tire of baking soda and vinegar experiments, and a pumpkin volcano is the perfect fun fall activity. When the vinegar (acid) and baking soda (base) combine, they make carbon dioxide which fizzes as it is released. To do this experiment, carve out the pumpkin as you would if you were making Jack-O-Lanterns. Place a few tablespoons of baking soda in each pumpkin and add a few drops of food coloring. Have your child use a small measuring cup or baster to add the vinegar and watch it erupt!
Apple Boats
Ask your child if she thinks an apple will sink or float and why. Then place an apple in a large bowl of water and see what happens. Your child may be surprised to find that the apple floats! The challenge is to make apple boats that float upright in the water. The sails can be made simply with toothpicks and card stock. Cut the apple into different lengths and shapes and see which boats float the best.
Candy Pumpkin Stacking
Around Halloween, you can find Brach’s Mellowcreme Pumpkins (allergen warning!) which are perfect for this activity. If you can’t find this candy, just look for something at your local dollar store that is fall-themed and stackable! Give your little engineer some playdough to stick the pumpkins together and see how tall they can stack them – pumpkin, playdough, pumpkin, playdough – before they fall over. Try different ways of stacking to see which works to use the most pumpkins. Try a straight line, a pyramid, or make a 3D structure!
Fall Lego Challenge
Building with Lego bricks is a great S.T.E.M activity! Find photos of “fall-ish” things that your kids can create, such as pumpkins, leaves, black cats, apples, etc. Print them on cardstock and mix them up. Let your child choose a card and build it!
Leaf Art
There are many ways to create art with leaves. You can paint them, dip them in paint and press on a canvas, create leaf people, or make leaf rubbings just to name a few! My favorite is dipping leaves in paint and pressing them on a canvas. Your child can create a beautiful painting to hang in your home while having lots of fun and learning!
Apple Toothpick Tower
Give your child the fun challenge of creating a tower using cubes of apples and toothpicks. Often seen with marshmallows or gumdrops, this activity can be given a fall twist with the use of apple cubes, and they make a tasty treat when the engineering is done!