With the warm weather finally arriving, it’s time to get outdoors and explore nature. Here are some fun STEM activities to try.
Observe the Worms
Worms are interesting. They move around in the soil while they transport nutrients and minerals from below to the surface, according to National Geographic Kids. They have ringlike segments called annuli, which are covered in setae, or small bristles.
Want your kids to get an up-close look? Try this observation activity from I’m The Chef Too.
Worm Observation Stations
Materials:
Clear plastic jar or container (e.g., a large pickle jar)
Layers of soil and sand (alternating light and dark layers)
A few earthworms (gently collected from your garden)
A few small food scraps (e.g., a piece of carrot, apple peel)
Dark paper or cloth to cover the jar
Process:
Layer the soil and sand in the jar, moistening each layer.
Gently place the worms on top. They will soon burrow down.
Add a few small food scraps on the surface.
Cover the outside of the jar with dark paper or cloth. This encourages the worms to tunnel along the edges of the jar, making their movements visible when the cover is removed.
Observe daily, noting new tunnels and how the food scraps diminish.
After a few days of observation, gently return the worms to your garden.
Source: imthecheftoo.com
Have Kids Engage All the Senses
We are typically taught the senses: sight, sound, smell, taste and touch. Take the kids outdoors, at home or to a local park to go on a nature sensory scavenger hunt.
There are plenty of resources online if you want to print sheets so they can mark which sense they found, or you can create your own.
According to a blog from Claire Heffron from InspiredTreehouse.com, she suggests to make it picture perfect and take a photo of each find or make it a group activity, with teams competing against each other.
Explore the World of Bugs
There are many ways parents and their children can discover nature’s littlest creatures, including going to the local nature center, as many offer hands-on experiences, and reading books at-home. Here are a few to try.
Bug Hotel
by Libby Walden
Welcome to the Bug Hotel, a homemade habitat where creepy crawlies of all shapes and sizes can find a place to stay! Discover how a bug hotel can create a sustainable, safe environment for insects and mini-beasts by exploring each section, lifting the flaps and finding out facts about your favourite garden insects.
STEM Starters for Kids Insects Activity Book: Activities about Bugs and Entomology
by Sam Hutchinson and illustrated by Ste Johnson
This book includes what insects look like, how they behave, and where they live. Future entomologists will love the mix of non-fiction and activities as they discover how ants build their homes, the different types of wings that exist and, most importantly, what an insect is and what it isn’t!