17 Free Christmas STEM Activities for Kids

The festive season is a time for joy, giving, and, surprisingly, learning. As educators, homeschoolers, and parents gear up for the holidays, there’s an incredible opportunity to infuse kids’ holiday spirit into STEM activities. The Christmas season provides a rich backdrop for exploring these subjects creatively and engagingly.

To help you make the most of this holiday season, we have compiled a list of free Christmas STEM activities that can be easily implemented in the classroom or at home. You don’t need a sleigh of funds to participate in these festive STEM activities. These activities suit students of all ages and can be adapted to different skill levels. So, let’s spread some holiday cheer while learning through these 17 fun and educational Christmas STEM activities for kids!

Christmas-themed Science Experiments

Science during the holidays can be magical. You can turn your kitchen into a science laboratory by leveraging household items and a dash of holiday cheer. Here are a few easy, Christmas-themed Science experiments to get you started:

Hot Chocolate Science

Materials

• Hot chocolate mix
• Milk or water
• Thermometer

Instructions

1. Measure out equal amounts of hot chocolate mix and milk/water.
2. Heat the milk/water on the stove or microwave until it reaches around 180°F (82°C).
3. Pour the heated liquid into a mug with the hot chocolate mix.
4. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the hot chocolate and record it.
5. Ask students to predict what will happen when you add a candy cane or marshmallows to the hot chocolate.
6. Drop in a candy cane or marshmallow and observe any changes in temperature over time.
7. Discuss why these changes might occur and how they relate to the science of heat transfer.

Candy Cane Crystal Experiment

Materials

• 2 cups of water
• 1 cup of sugar
• Food coloring (optional)
• Small saucepan
• Candy canes
• String or wire
• Pencil or wooden skewer

Instructions

1. Mix 2 cups of water and 1 cup of sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves.
2. Optional: add a few drops of food colouring for a colourful crystal effect.
3. Remove from heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly.
4. While the mixture is still warm, dip the candy cane into it, coating all sides evenly.
5. Tie a string or wire around the top of the candy cane and suspend it in a jar or glass.
6. Allow the candy cane to sit for 24-48 hours, occasionally rotating it with a pencil or wooden skewer.
7. Discuss why crystals form and how they relate to the science of evaporation and saturation.

Creating a Pine Cone Weather Station

Materials Needed

• Pine cones
• Water
• Bowls
• Container

Instructions

1. Place a set of pine cones in a bowl of lukewarm water and another in a bowl of cold water.
2. Observe the changes in the pine cones after a few hours. The pine cones in the cold water will close, while those in the warm water will retain their open, flared shape.
3. Explain the science behind this: the pine cones respond to humidity and moisture changes, just like before a rainstorm.

Making Ice Cream in a Bag

Materials Needed:

• Heavy cream
• Sugar
• Vanilla extract
• Rock salt
• Ice cubes
• Large resealable plastic bag
• Small resealable plastic bag
• Gloves or a towel to hold the bags

Instructions

1. Mix the cream, sugar, and vanilla extract in the small bag. Seal tightly.
2. Fill the giant bag halfway with ice and add a few spoonfuls of rock salt. Place the smaller bag with the cream mixture into the big bag.
3. Seal the giant bag tightly and shake it vigorously for 10-15 minutes.
4. Open the giant bag and remove the smaller bag with the ice cream. Rinse it under cold water, open the bag, and enjoy your homemade ice cream.

Melting Snowman Experiment

Materials Needed

• Snow (can use artificial snow or shaved ice)
• Tray
• Salt
• Eyedropper or water dropper

Instructions

1. Create a small snowman on the tray using the snow.
2. Sprinkle salt over one side of the snowman and observe what happens.
3. Use the eyedropper to drop water over the other side of the snowman and watch how it reacts.

Math Challenges with a Holiday Twist

Math can be merry, too! Inject some holiday magic into your mathematical challenges with these Christmas-themed math puzzles and games:

Counting the Ornaments

Materials Needed

• Paper
• Pencils or markers

Instructions

1. Give each participant a piece of paper and a writing instrument.
2. Set a timer for 60 seconds and ask them to write down the numbers 1 to 10.
3. Now, show them a group of Christmas ornaments for 10 seconds. They should quickly count the ornaments and note the number on their list.
4. Repeat with different groups of ornaments, increasing the number each time, and ask participants to correctly note the amount without recounting.

The Stocking Stuffer Challenge

Materials Needed

• Imaginary or real stockings
• Objects of various sizes (from small candies to large toys)

Instructions

1. Label each object with a price (in imaginary money or real currency if using math as a financial literacy exercise).
2. Hand participants a budget or have them calculate a budget based on family guidelines.
3. Challenge them to ‘purchase’ the objects and stuff their stocking completely without exceeding their budget.

Snowflake Symmetry

Materials Needed

• Paper
• Scissors
• Pencils or markers

Instructions

1. Fold a piece of paper in half and draw half a snowflake on one side. Make sure the design aligns with the fold.
2. Cut out your drawing along the lines, keeping the paper folded.
3. Open the paper to reveal a symmetrical snowflake. Discuss rotational symmetry and how it’s used in creating snowflakes.

Christmas Tree Fractions

Materials Needed

• Paper or cardstock
• Scissors
• Markers or crayons

Instructions

1. Cut out a large triangle from the paper or cardstock. This will be the Christmas tree.
2. Divide the triangle into equal parts (for example, 4). Colour each part a different colour.
3. Label each part with a fraction (for example, 1/4).
4. Cut small rectangles from paper or cardstock and decorate them like presents.
5. Place the presents under the tree according to the fraction labels; for example, 1/4 should be a specific colour.

Engineering Christmas Crafts

Crafts are a great way to bring engineering principles to life. Here are some instructions for crafting holiday-themed engineering projects:

Straw-Sized Snowflakes

Materials Needed

• Drinking straws
• Scissors
• String
• White paint or markers

Instructions

1. Cut the drinking straws into equal lengths (about 1–2 inches).
2. Paint or colour the straws white to represent the snowflake’s crystalline structure.
3. Thread the straws onto the string in a snowflake pattern, securing the ends with knots to prevent them from coming loose.

Cup Stacking Christmas Tree

Materials Needed

• Plastic cups (varying sizes)
• Festive tape or glue

Instructions

1. Stack the cups in a pyramid shape, with the most giant cup on the bottom and gradually decreasing in size as you move up.
2. Secure each layer with tape or glue to prevent it from toppling over.
3. Decorate the cups with festive tape or by drawing on them with markers.

Tin Foil Star Challenge

Materials Needed

• Tin foil
• Scissors or utility knife (adult supervision is recommended)

Instructions

1. Cut out a large star shape from the tin foil.
2. Give each participant a piece of tin foil and challenge them to create their unique 3D star using only their hands and the tin foil.

Technology-based Christmas Projects

For tech-savvy learners, the holiday season offers myriad opportunities to explore and create using digital platforms. Here are some tech-based Christmas STEM projects to get you started:

Coding Christmas Lights

Materials Needed

• Computer or tablet with internet access
• Scratch or other coding software

Instructions

1. Set up a Christmas light display using Scratch or another coding platform.
2. Use code blocks to program the lights to turn on and off in different patterns, such as blinking, fading, or changing colours.
3. Play some holiday music and sync the lights to the beat.

Paper Circuit Ornaments

Materials Needed

• Conductive tape
• LED lights
• Coin cell batteries
• Cardstock or construction paper

Instructions

1. Create a simple circuit by placing a coin cell battery and LED light on the cardstock or construction paper.
2. Use conductive tape to connect the positive (+) end of the battery to the positive (longer) leg of the LED and the negative (-) end of the battery to the negative (shorter) leg of the LED.
3. Cut out festive shapes from paper and use conductive tape to add circuitry, creating a light-up ornament.

Build a Reindeer Robot

Materials Needed

• Micro: bit or other microcontroller board
• Servo motors and wires
• Craft supplies (such as popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, googly eyes)

Instructions

1. Design and build a reindeer robot using craft supplies.
2. Program the microcontroller to control the movement of the servo motors, making your reindeer walk, nod, or wag its tail.
3. Add festive decorations and personalize your robot with a name and personality.

Design a Christmas App

Materials Needed

• Computer or tablet with internet access
• App development software (such as MIT App Inventor)

Instructions

1. Brainstorm and design a Christmas-themed app idea.
2. Use app development software to build and code the app’s features, such as games, puzzles, or interactive holiday content.
3. Test your app and make any necessary revisions before sharing it with others.

Wrap-up with a Festive STEM Challenge

Combine elements of all STEM disciplines with a grand challenge that requires teamwork, creativity, and problem-solving. Here’s an example of a collaborative challenge:

Build a Sleigh for Santa

Materials Needed

• Various crafting materials (paper, cardboard, sticks, cotton balls, etc.)
• Scissors, tape, glue

Instructions

1. Challenge your learners to build a sleigh that can hold a specific weight (marbles, coins, or weights) and travel down a ramp (a board propped up on a stack of books).
2. The sleigh should be propelled by ‘reindeer’ (rubber bands, balloon power, human breath, etc.).
3. Test each design and make modifications based on performance.

Conclusion: The Gift of Learning

Integrating STEM activities during the Christmas season is more than just fun; it’s a gift that keeps giving. These holiday-inspired projects foster critical and strategic thinking, encourage innovation, develop essential math and science skills, and promote hands-on learning. They also provide a unique opportunity for multi-generational learning and bonding, as everyone from grandparents to toddlers can participate.

As we wrap up, the most crucial aspect of these activities lies in the community that forms around learning. The conversations, the shared ‘Aha!’ moments, and the problem-solving all contribute to an environment of continuous discovery. And remember, the best gift you can give this holiday season is not found under the tree—it’s the gift of knowledge and creativity.