We have the best STEM activities for St Patrick’s Day! A leprechaun boot race and a cereal rainbow for science learning and motor skills! These activities kept all our kids busy - ages 2, 3, 6, and 8!
leprechaun boot race
This is the ultimate way to make stem fun - through competition!
what you’ll need:
leprechaun boot shot glass (or any small/narrow cup)
baking soda
green food coloring
gold glitter (optional)
lucky charms (marshmallows only)
white vinegar
droppers
plate
peeps (or other prize)
instructions:
Fill the leprechaun boots with a few small spoonfuls of baking soda.
Add green food coloring and glitter on top of the baking soda.
Put one plate with a boot on top in front of each kid.
Let the kids pick out 1-5 lucky charms marshmallows to race.
Set out vinegar and droppers next to each station (or between stations for sharing).
Make sure everyone has a dropper in hand, and do a “ready, set, go!”
Encourage the kids to fill the boots as fast as they can with vinegar!
How to Win - The first one to get a marshmallow out (hands free obviously) gets a Peep and first one to get all of their marshmallows out gets two Peeps! Or prize of your choice... but doesn't everyone love Peeps?
Once they cool down from the completion, talk about the acid-base reaction. Ask questions like - What did you hear? (fizz) What did you see? (bubbles) Why? (the reaction between the acid and base causes a transformation - partly into carbon dioxide… a gas… which rises to the top in little bubbles!). And the marshmallows would likely already float in the vinegar, but force of the bubbles caused your marshmallows to rise up… and fast!
And as always, let them keep experimenting in their mess until they're over it!
a cereal rainbow
Next up, a cereal rainbow.
We saw this one on the internet, and it works on motor skills and appears simple on the surface - only requiring a few items. But getting it to stand up on its own is tricky, making it a fun challenge for kids of all ages!
what you’ll need:
pipe cleaners
large marshmallows
Fruit Loops cereal
paper plate (optional)
instructions:
Set up the activity by putting 2 marshmallows and a pipe cleaner on a plate for each kid. Put a large bowl (or pile) of Fruit Loops in the middle.
Have the kids thread the pipe cleaner with as any fruit loops as they can fit (leaving an inch free on each side!). It's fun to see what patterns the kids came up with using the various colors.
Once the pipe cleaner is full of fruit loops, stick the two ends into the marshmallows to make a rainbow arch. (Note: It's more challenging than it looks to get it to stand up - which makes it fun for the older kids!)
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