Fourth grade art students are ready for new challenges, like trying out perspective or exploring tessellations. These projects are all well within their abilities but will also encourage your students to push themselves to create cool new works of art they’ll be proud to take home and show off. We’ve got art projects for 4th graders in every medium, so there’s something for all classrooms.
“I believe the art room is a joyful place where every child’s imagination can bloom and grow, with the right amount of nurturing!” says elementary art teacher Caroline M., known on Instagram as @scs.artteacher. “I love creating mixed‑media projects with my students, especially those that celebrate nature and the world around us.”
Caroline encourages art teachers to embrace a wide array of materials and supplies to encourage creativity at home and school. “My goal is to provide an environment that supports curiosity, celebrates process over perfection, and is ultimately a welcoming space where every student’s creative voice and spirit will grow and flourish.”
Explore some of Caroline’s favorite 4th grade art projects below, along with ideas from Lauralee Chambers (@2art.chambers) and Yvette Ackerman (@ackermans_amazing_artists), two more Instagram favorites. Visit their pages for more details and photos of each project!
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4th Grade Art Projects
Courtesy of @2art.chambers
Origami Pencils
Lauralee notes that she loves doing a lesson on “pencil power” at the beginning of the year. Origami pencils give kids a bit of a challenge, just enough to encourage a growth mindset and set them up for a terrific year ahead.
Start by having kids paint or draw in the branches on their background paper of choice. To make the petals, students will be amazed at the cool effect they can get when they double-dip their brushes in two colors of pink paint, then “stamp” the brush down and twist.
This can be a quick project when you use supplies like Roylco butterfly frames and Hygloss cellophane sheets. For a more complex project, have students trace and cut out their own butterfly frames from black construction paper.
Start by spending time looking at pictures of castles from around the world with your class. Then, lead them through a guided-drawing session to create their own castles with the details of their choosing.
Geometric black-and-white patterns contrast beautifully with neon in this striking project. Try it around Valentine’s Day or any time you need to brighten up your art room.
If you haven’t tried foil-marker printing with your students, what are you waiting for? You’ll need water in spray bottles to create that beautiful blended effect. It makes the perfect background for patterned black-and-white leaves.
Here’s another terrific 4th grade art project contrasting color with black-and-white. This one teaches students about depth and 3D effect, as well as shapes like cylinders and ellipses.
Capture the magic of a snowy day with this painting project. Lauralee notes that this lesson teaches composition, texture, and value. Plus, kids will love adding the white paint splatter for snowflakes!
Put the power of symmetry to work by having students paint one half of a spider along the crease of a folded page. While the paint is still wet, fold the paper and press gently to create a balanced spider painting.
For this project, students take a close look at one part of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night,” and re-create the brush strokes with oil pastels. Spend some time telling them about the artist’s life while they work. “Talking about art is just as important as creating,” Lauralee reminds us. “We hope to nurture well-rounded students who can appreciate art. Not all of them will become artists, but all will need to be visually literate in this world of images.”
Every kid will be excited to create these vibrant cupcakes! Art teacher Caroline from @scs.artteacher uses Crayola Model Magic for this project. Try using silicone cupcake “wrappers” as molds for the bottom.
What better way to urge kids to shoot for the stars than by asking them to draw themselves as astronauts? Chalk pastels give these drawings their vibrant color, with each student choosing the “groovy” design that suits them best.
This modern artist’s style is sure to strike a chord with students. Use the foil-printing method to create colorful backgrounds after students draw the pumpkins.
Students can develop real confidence in their artistic skills through directed drawing sessions. This makes them much more likely to try more drawing activities on their own too.
What a brilliant twist on gingerbread art! The background uses the popular foil-marker printing method. (Caroline notes that this time around, her students used Dab-o-Ink bingo daubers.) Students can sketch any style of gingerbread house they like; it’s the perfect project for those crazy days that lead up to winter break.
Start by having students draw their own patterned paper—Lauralee’s kids used metallic markers on black paper. Cut out acorn caps from their designs, then add them to acorn bottoms cut from wood-grained scrapbooking paper.
Talk with your students about the differences between our left brain and our right brain. Then, ask them to illustrate the part of their brain they feel is their strongest. (Or they can do both!)
When you rip the top layer off a piece of cardboard, you expose the cool textures underneath! Use them to create these fun sandcastle collages—add some real shells for detail if you can.
Use color theory or explore all the colors of the rainbow with this simple project. Lauralee used empty heart-shaped candy boxes, then had students cut strips of construction paper and roll them into tight scrolls. Glue them into place once you have a design you like.
Here’s another project that’s fun for learning color theory, as well as perspective and drawing 3D shapes. Let students choose their own way to “fill” each black-and-white box with color.
Need a simple project with fantastic results? Try these little Crayola Model Magic pumpkins. Use a stiff piece of cardboard to add the segments to flattened balls of clay in colors of your choice. Make the vines from green wire or pipe cleaners.
Circle weaving on paper plates is a pretty standard primary art project. So we love the twist Yvette Ackerman puts on it, using the circle weaving as a background with black paper silhouettes glued on top.
Here’s another surprisingly simple clay project. Roll out a slab of clay, then drape it over an object to create a ghost shape. Cut out the eyes and mouth with a craft knife or pointed stick. Spooky and cool!
Make this a simple project by starting with rainbow-colored paper. Then, guide kids through tracing shamrocks with black markers, adding patterns and using negative space for interest.
Click the button below and fill out the form on this page to receive our free printable bundle with art portfolio cover sheets for every grade, as well as an art project planning sheet and an artist study worksheet.
Have you ever watched as a child stares into an aquarium with awe? Whether it’s the song “Baby Beluga” or the movie Finding Nemo, kids love all things ocean! So you know they’ll be eager to dive into this collection of ocean activities and crafts. Whether it is a science experiment to learn how acid affects seashells, an art lesson where students create their own underwater scene, or a writing prompt about the ocean, students will learn all about our watery planet. Come on in … the water’s fine!
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Science Experiment Recording Worksheet
Our free printable recording worksheet is perfect for any science experiment or demo! Grab yours to use with the ocean experiments shown here.
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Ocean Experiments and Learning Activities
FEATURED PICK
1. Learn about sea turtles and marine ecosystems
Make a splash with Wild Classroom’s free Sea Turtles and Oceans Toolkit. This ready-to-use resource helps students learn about ocean ecosystems by providing an educator’s guide, presentation, and fun, cross-curricular activities. You will also get bonus resources like quizzes and a video playlist, offering diverse ways to enrich your lessons. It is a great way to build critical thinking skills and inspire a love for ocean conservation.
2. Make an ocean in a bottle
Turn an old water bottle into a mini-aquarium. Fill it about a third of the way with sand. Then drop in some small shells and plastic fish and other sea creatures. Finally, top the bottle off with water (it’s up to you whether you want to dye it light blue first) and screw on the lid. (Avoid spills by adding a few drops of glue to the threads of the cap first.) Now kids can explore the ocean anywhere they go!
All you need for this science experiment is a shallow dish, hot and cold water, and some food coloring. Fill the dish about halfway with cold water that’s tinted light blue. Add some ice and stir so your water becomes very cold. Bring a few cups of water to a boil, adding food coloring to make it very bright red. Slowly (and carefully!) pour some hot water into one corner of the dish. Watch as the warm and cold water swirls and mixes, simulating the ocean currents that are formed the same way!
5. Assemble ocean zone bottles
Learn the zones of the ocean with this simple ocean activity. Round up four empty bottles and label them, one for each zone: sunlight, twilight, midnight, and abyssal. Use food coloring to dye the water in each deeper shades of blue to represent the amount of sunlight that reaches each zone. Finally, drop in a marine animal toy or fish that’s appropriate for each zone.
6. Watch an ocean documentary
Every streaming service is loaded with nature documentaries. Disney+ has an especially robust collection that’s perfect for kids. On Amazon, try Wildest Places or Ocean Mysteries. Netflix’s Our Planet series has episodes on coastal seas and high seas. So many options!
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7. Assign an ocean-themed writing prompt
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Use ocean-themed prompts for daily writing, journal entries, essay topics, bell ringers, or exit tickets. Some possible prompts:
If you were a marine animal, which zone of the ocean would you prefer to live in?
What would it be like to live in a coral reef?
Tell the story of a female sea turtle, from the time she hatches on the beach until she returns to that same beach years later to lay eggs of her own.
Write about a journey in a submarine to explore the deepest parts of the ocean.
Describe a day in the life of a marine biologist. What are they studying, and how do they go about it?
8. Turn paint sample strips into ocean layers
You’ll need paint sample strips in at least four deepening shades of blue; you can also add a beige color for the sandy bottom if you like. (Contact your local paint store for donations if you need more than just a few strips.) Label each paint color with one of the four zones, using deeper colors to represent deeper zones. Kids can write in descriptions of the zones, or add drawings and stickers of marine animals to each.
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9. See ocean waves in action
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Oil and water don’t mix, which makes them the perfect way to observe wave action up close. You’ll need a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, plus water, oil, and blue food coloring. Fill the jar with water about halfway, add a few drops of food coloring, and mix. Fill the container the rest of the way with oil, getting as close to the top of the jar as possible, and put the lid on tightly. Turn the jar on its side and tilt it back and forth. Watch as the waves ripple and react to one another.
10. Host a marine animal fair
Let kids choose their favorite marine animal, then spend time teaching them how to research using trusted sources (see below for a list of kid-friendly ocean resources). Let them choose how they’ll present their animal—posters, dioramas, slideshows, presentations, etc. Then, set up your classroom as a “marine animal fair” and invite other classes and parents to come see what they’ve learned!
11. Draw a life-size whale
Did you know that blue whales are the largest creatures ever to have lived on Earth? They’re even bigger than dinosaurs! Head to the playground with some sidewalk chalk and a tape measure to measure out and draw a life-size blue whale. Kids will be astonished at the results. Find blue whale info from National Geographic here.
12. Explore saltwater density
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Use this easy ocean experiment to show that items float more easily in salt water than fresh. Fill two clear glasses with water about three-quarters of the way. Add 2 tbsp. of salt to one cup, 2 tbsp. of sugar to another, and mix thoroughly. Ask kids to predict what will happen when you drop grapes into each glass, then drop them in to see if they’re right. The grapes should float in the salt water. (Add more salt if they don’t.)
13. Sculpt an ocean floor relief map
Start by learning about Marie Tharp and her groundbreaking work mapping the ocean floor. (She proved plate tectonics with her meticulous work!) Then, use play dough, salt dough, or another medium to represent the depths of one or more of the world’s oceans. It’s an amazing world down there!
14. Put together an ocean animal notebook
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Turn a blank notebook into an ocean reference manual. Draw or paste a picture of an animal on each page, then write in interesting facts about them. This is an ocean activity that will appeal to kids of any age, since you can vary the level of details you include.
15. Discover how ocean acidification affects seashells
One consequence of climate change is the increasing acidification of the world’s oceans. Learn why this matters so much with a simple experiment using seashells and vinegar. Add a shell to a jar, then cover it completely with vinegar. Observe what happens—before long, you’ll see carbon dioxide bubbles form as the vinegar begins to dissolve the calcium in the shell. Leave it long enough and the shell will become fragile and eventually dissolve completely.
16. Dive into an ocean-themed sensory bin
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Make a bigger version of an ocean in a bottle so kids can splash around a bit. Round up shells, toy sea animals, and maybe even a boat or two, then drop them into a bin of water. Every kid will enjoy splashing around while they learn!
17. Simulate and clean up an oil spill
Oil spills at sea are major disasters, affecting life both in the water and on land. Learn about some of the more famous oil spoils in history, then try this experiment. Fill a shallow baking dish about halfway with water. Drop in some small toy fish and sea creatures. Then, add food coloring to some oil and “spill” it into the water. Now, experiment with different methods to clean up the oil. Is it even possible to fully restore the water to its pristine condition?
Ocean Crafts and Art Projects for Kids
18. Download free ocean coloring pages
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Our octopus, whale, and jellyfish coloring pages are perfect for when you need a quick and easy activity for kids. Keep them on hand for early finishers or use them as bell-ringer activities, or display a collection of them for a no-stress bulletin board.
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19. Create an ocean in an egg carton
Give each child an egg carton to paint blue like the ocean. After they’re dry, they can decorate the inside of the lid to look like a reef or sandy floor. Then, they can keep shells, rocks, or fish and marine animal toys in each compartment.
20. Upcycle an ocean zones container
For this ocean craft, you’ll need a tube-shaped container like an empty sanitizing-wipes tub or even a Pringles can. You’ll also need four shades of blue tissue or crepe paper: light, medium, dark, and midnight blue. Spread some glue on the container and wrap the crepe paper around it in an ombre effect, with the lightest blue at the top. Label each layer and add stickers representing the animals that live in each. Now you’ve got an upcycled storage container for your shells or ocean-themed toys.
21. Build LEGO sea creatures
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Pull out the tub of LEGO and set kids free to create. The whole class can work together to set up an ocean-themed diorama, using LEGO bricks to make coral, seaweed, fish, whales, jellyfish, and more.
22. Paint a coral reef with sponges
Here’s another surprisingly easy ocean craft for kids. Cut disposable sponges into coral shapes, then stamp an underwater scene onto blue paper. Use markers, paint, or stickers to add fish and other marine animals to complete the picture.
23. Illustrate inspirational ocean quotes
Have kids choose a quote they love from our big collection of ocean quotes, then turn that quote into a poster. These make perfect hallway displays that will educate and inspire other students!
Starfish, more properly known as “sea stars,” come in a wide variety of sizes and designs, but they all live in salt water. That makes salt dough the perfect medium for this ocean craft. To make it, just mix 2 cups of flour, 1 cup of salt, and 1 cup of water. Mix and knead until the dough is smooth, then store in an airtight container until you’re ready to use it.
25. Hang paper plate jellyfish
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Cut paper plates in half to create the bell-shaped body of a jellyfish, and let kids paint or color them any way they life. Then, show them how to use a hole punch to create a row of holes along the bottom flat part of the bell. Tie ribbon or yarn to each hole to create dangling tentacles, then hang your ocean crafts.
26. Make a cereal box aquarium diorama
The hardest part of this ocean craft is trimming one large side of the box to form a frame. After that, kids can use construction paper, paint, shells, rocks, and other art supplies to create their own undersea scene. They’ll love the creative aspect of this project.
27. Mix up ocean-themed slime
Use one of our foolproof recipes to show kids how to make their own slime. Then, provide mix-ins like glitter, sequins, and small fish or ocean animals to add to the fun. You know they’re going to love this ocean craft!
This easy ocean craft is a great way to use up old magazines. Kids choose a specific theme, like coral reefs, deep-water creatures, beaches, marine mammals, ocean pollution, and so on. Then, they cut out and paste pictures and words that match their theme. Making collages is a simple art activity that every kid loves.
Resources for Learning About the Ocean
29. Ocean Books for Kids
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Whether you’re looking for picture books or chapter books, fiction or nonfiction, our list of terrific ocean books has got you covered!
Our big list of reliably sourced facts will fascinate and amaze your students! You can even download a free set of Google Slides to share in the classroom.
Looking for online ocean activities? Try the Marine Life Encyclopedia. Kids will get in-depth information about all their favorite sea creatures, from sharks to otters and beyond.
Here’s another website full of online ocean activities. It simulates the thrill of joining actual underwater explorations, from coral reefs to deep-sea trenches.
Just as you’d expect from the Smithsonian, this website is full of information, photos, and more ocean activities. You’ll even find free lesson plans for teachers—score!
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has a whole page full of ocean activities, articles, and videos just for kids! There’s a lot here to explore, including plenty of hands-on experiments and exploration ideas.
A chill is in the air, costumes are filling the stores, and Halloween is right around the corner. That means spooky season is upon us! Celebrate the season with these fun and creative Halloween activities and games. You’ll find party games perfect for a class Halloween celebration as well as more educational finds like writing prompts and STEM and math challenges. There are enough Halloween activities on this list to do something different every day in October and then some!
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Quick and Easy Halloween Activities
Try these activities as part of morning meetings or bell ringers, or to fill in when you have a few extra minutes at the end of a class or day. They’re all simple to pull off, with minimal (or no) prep needed!
Tell Halloween jokes
What’s a witch’s favorite subject in school? Spelling, of course! Share some belly laughs with our favorite Halloween jokes for kids.
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Share Halloween quotes
Post a new quote daily to greet students (we’ve got 101 of them to choose from, with images that are all ready to display). Or ask students to choose their favorite quote and create an illustrated poster you can display in the classroom or hallway.
Snag our free printable word searches, with options for easy, medium, and hard. They’re perfect for early finishers and extra credit!
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Pose Halloween trivia questions
Whether you set up a class competition or just use these trivia questions as bell ringers or morning meeting openers, they’re sure to challenge students of all ages.
Solving coded messages is fun, but it also teaches valuable skills like pattern-matching and logic. Grab our free worksheet to try it with your students.
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Watch a Halloween video
Check out our roundup of terrific educational Halloween videos. Get some math practice, learn about Halloween around the world, or try some spooky yoga. You’ll find options for every subject and grade level.
This crossword is just right for elementary students. Pair up younger kids to make it a little easier, or assign this as a fun seasonal homework or enrichment activity.
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Solve a Halloween word scramble
We scrambled 20 themed words for kids to unscramble. The worksheet is designed at an elementary school level, but it makes a fun timed challenge for middle or high school students too!
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Color Halloween coloring pages
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Let’s face it, Halloween is a tough day to teach, especially by the afternoon. It’s totally OK to give yourself a break and pass out these coloring pages to end the day!
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Halloween Books, Poems, and Read-Alouds
Use the seasonal picks in these roundups for story time, reading comprehension practice, book talks, reading groups, and more!
Best Halloween books for kids and teens
This collection includes all the classics (Room on the Broom or Bunnicula, anyone?) as well as new reads to discover. Our list includes picture books, chapter books, and even middle grade and young adult options.
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Popular pumpkin books for kids
With both fiction and nonfiction options, this list gives you lots of choices for learning about Halloween’s unofficial mascot!
Whether you prefer the classics like Poe (“Once upon a midnight dreary …”) or are looking for cute new options to share with little ones, you’ll find the perfect poetry picks on our list for all grades.
Halloween isn’t just about ghosts and witches—it’s also time for monsters to shine! From silly to scary, this roundup is full of Halloween-ready tales to share with kids.
Pumpkins are round … right? Well, not always! The Spookley books are really popular with kids, and there are so many fun (and educational) ways to use them in the classroom. Check out our roundup and activity ideas to learn more.
When you don’t have time for a whole book, short stories are the way to go. In short fiction, writers have to make good use of every word to capture the mood and draw readers into the tale. That makes this format perfect for horror and suspense tales, like the ones in our roundup.
Looking for some ways to bring the spooky season to your ELA classroom? We’ve got you covered! These activities help kids learn and polish their reading and writing skills.
Hang a Halloween word wall
Add a new word to your wall every day, or spend the whole month using spelling and vocab words from our huge list (225+) of Halloween words.
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Give fairy tales a Halloween twist
How would the story have changed if Little Red Riding Hood were a werewolf, or it turned out that Cinderella’s Prince Charming was a vampire? Challenge your students to think outside the box and give new (spooky) life to old fairy tales.
Hold a Monster Adopt-athon
This is part art project, part writing practice, and totally fun! First, kids draw a picture of their very own monster, any way they like. Then, they write up a description of the monster, including its favorite things, where it was born, and the proper care and feeding to keep it healthy. Finally, kids present their monsters to the class, and other students choose the ones they’d like to “adopt”!
Hop on pumpkin letters
Use our free pumpkin templates to create a Pumpkin Hop course. Simply write a letter on each and tape them to the floor. You can add obstacles in between if you like, or simply have kids jump from letter to letter saying the name and sound it makes as they go. We love this for active learners!
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Free Pumpkin Templates
Create a Pumpkin Hop with our templates! Kids can jump from letter to letter, calling out names and sounds.
Who would win in a fight: a vampire or a werewolf? Are kids ever too old to go trick-or-treating? What’s the best design for a jack-o’-lantern? Divide kids into teams and let them prepare their arguments using our free printable organizers. Then, hold a face-to-face debate or fishbowl discussion and let them (civilly) argue it out!
A ghostwriter helps someone else put their story into words (though they don’t usually receive any credit as an author). Pair students up, then challenge one to come up with the detailed plot for a spooky story, while the other “ghost writes” the story itself, adding description and dialogue as needed. This is the perfect writing activity to use with our free ghost templates!
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Compose a Halloween poem
If your students groan when you ask them to write a poem, you need our poem-writing worksheet bundle! This free collection will walk students through writing seasonal poems like limericks, odes, haiku, couplets, blackout poetry, and more.
This quick and easy free printable activity is great for helping kids learn how to alphabetize. You can also use this list for spelling or vocab words.
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Inspire with Halloween writing prompts
What is your favorite Halloween costume and why? Would you spend a night in a graveyard for $100? Why or why not? We have 18 more Halloween writing prompt ideas plus free printable writing paper for students to use!
One of the best ways to work on writing clearly and concisely is by asking kids to create a set of instructions on how to do something correctly. Let them choose from seasonal topics like “How To Carve a Pumpkin,” “How To Trick-or-Treat,” or “How To Create a Haunted House.” Bonus tip: Choose one or two essays to read aloud in class, trying out the directions to see how well they work!
Assemble a Halloween acrostic
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In an acrostic, the first letter of each line spells out a word or message. These are a lot of fun for kids to create, and we’ve made the process easier with our free printable worksheets!
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Cook up cauldron sentences
You’ll need a large plastic cauldron for this activity (and if you like, a big mixing spoon and a witch’s hat!). Ask each student to write a Halloween-themed word or phrase on a piece of paper and toss it into your cauldron. Mix up all the “ingredients,” then draw them out one at a time and ask kids to use each one in a sentence. For more of a challenge, try to incorporate each sentence into a larger story.
Complete a Halloween vocab worksheet
Here’s another simple, no-fuss Halloween printable activity you can use anytime you need it. The vocab words are ideal for the elementary crowd.
Writing messages in code takes some patience and creativity, but it’s so much fun to receive and decode them. Use our free printables to help kids practice writing and cracking codes, then have them send messages to each other through a classroom post office box decorated with ghosts!
Picture prompts give writers a lot to work with: They can help set a plot in motion, create an atmosphere or mood, and inspire writers to include more details in their work. Take a look at our big collection of picture writing prompts to find some for the spooky season, or browse the web to find the perfect picks for your class.
Write a persuasive essay about the best Halloween candy
Kids have a LOT of opinions when it comes to this topic, and it makes a fun, low-stakes topic for learning how to write a persuasive essay. You can also have them make the case for their favorite scary movie or the best Halloween costume. Plus, we’ve got graphic organizers to help them get started!
Give your science and math lessons a bit of seasonal flair with these fun Halloween learning ideas.
Work on Halloween-themed math word problems
There are so many spooky situations that could easily be turned into math word problems. Our collection includes free slides you can share with your students. Try using them as problems of the day all throughout October.
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Sort flash cards into pumpkins
Pick up some plastic pumpkin buckets and label them with flash card answers. Then, see how quickly students can sort flash cards into the right ones!
Use candy corn for Halloween math activities
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Pick up a few bags of candy corn and grab our free printables, then engage your students in meaningful Halloween math activities, from matching to multiplication.
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Solve spider equations
Cut one large and one small circle from black construction paper to form a spider’s body and head. (Don’t forget the googly eyes for fun!). Then, cut and attach eight strips for legs. Use white crayons or chalk markers to write a target number in the middle of each spider. Finally, have kids brainstorm various equations that equal the target, and write them on the legs. For instance, if the target number is 8, kids could write 5 + 3, 4 x 2, 32 ÷ 4, etc. This is a fun way to work on fact families too.
Color Halloween math mystery pictures
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Solve the equations and color the pictures. We love this free printable worksheet as an enrichment activity or Halloween week homework assignment.
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Brew up some math potions
For this fun Halloween early math activity, you’ll need a plastic cauldron and “ingredients” like colorful pom-poms, plastic spiders, googly eyes, etc. Make up a set of “potion” cards with recipes like “3 spiders, 2 red pom-poms, 5 green pom-poms, and 5 eyes.” Little ones drop the correct ingredients into the cauldron and give it all a stir. This is such a fun way to practice counting!
Color in a Halloween coordinate grid picture
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Teach coordinate grids for math or geography. Use the given coordinates to color in the squares and reveal a Halloween picture. Kids can also create their own pictures and give coordinates to their classmates.
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Take a candy survey and graph the results
Survey your class to determine what their favorite trick-or-treat candies are. Then, use the results to make graphs: bar graphs, line graphs, pie charts, etc. This makes a fun homework assignment too: Ask kids to survey 20 people and create their own graph.
Tackle a Halloween STEM challenge or two
Our collection of free printable cards is perfect for grades 2 to 5, though older kids will enjoy them too. Challenges include options like “Build a spiderweb out of pipe cleaners,” “Make a brain with play dough,” and “Build a bone bridge with Q-tips.”
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Make ghosts “dance” with static electricity
This simple little demo is so much fun! Cut small ghosts from white tissue paper, and blow up an orange or black balloon. Show kids how to rub the balloon on the right type of surface to create static electricity, then hold it over the ghosts to draw them up and make them dance.
Explode a pumpkin volcano
Carve a jack-o’-lantern, then use baking soda and vinegar to make it overflow with “lava.” Kids never get tired of this one! Get all the directions you need in our video.
Put a Halloween spin on this traditional STEM project. Give kids wood craft sticks, rubber bands, plastic bottle caps, and some glue. Then, challenge them to build a catapult that will launch candy pumpkins into a target.
Mix up some Halloween slime
Kids LOVE slime. Fortunately, it makes a really fun science experiment, and you can give it a Halloween twist with food coloring and mix-ins like googly eyes or pumpkin mini-erasers. Get four different slime recipes plus worksheets for the classroom at the link.
Ask kids to do some research about bats, and make a list of their favorite facts. Then, cut out bats from black construction paper and use white crayons or chalk markers to write in the facts. Turn one of your bulletin boards into a cave with some gray paper, and hang your bats for a truly fun and educational Halloween display!
Explore the pumpkin life cycle
Pumpkins take a long time to grow, and it’s not really practical to try this in a classroom (unless you’ve got a school garden, of course). Instead, watch our free video on the pumpkin life cycle to help kids learn more about it. And if you’ve got a strong stomach, you can try leaving a carved pumpkin out in the elements to watch it decompose!
Use the same principles and method from our dancing popcorn video to see gummi worms twitch and writhe instead! Mix baking soda with water and drop in some candy worms. Then, slowly pour in vinegar and watch as the carbon dioxide bubbles make the candy rise and fall. Creepy and cool!
Here’s one more baking soda and vinegar experiment you can easily turn into a Halloween science activity. Follow the instructions in the video. Use orange balloons, and before you attach them to the bottle, use a black permanent marker to draw a jack-o’-lantern face on them. It’s so exciting to watch the pumpkin balloons expand like magic (except it’s science, which is even better)!
These games make terrific choices for a class Halloween party, and they’re fun to play at home too!
Halloween Bingo
Everybody knows it, everybody loves it! Use our free printable Halloween bingo boards for a class-wide game. Each kid gets to cut out the cards and place them anywhere they like on their card, so no two boards will be the same!
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Ghost and pumpkin bowling
Collect 10 empty plastic bottles and paint them white, then add ghostly faces. Line them up as pins. Use an orange ball (you can use a black permanent marker to add a jack-o’-lantern face if you like) to knock them down!
Freeze Dance, Halloween style
Start the music and dance, dance, dance! When the music stops, freeze in place. Anyone still moving is out for that round. Play until just one dancer is left standing. Our spooky Halloween playlist has all the tunes you’ll need!
Give this challenge a seasonal spin by adding ghosts faces to white paper cups. Give each player 10 cups in a stack, and ask them to stack them into a pyramid and then back down into a stack as fast as they can. If the pyramid falls over, they have to start again. This one is always a crowd favorite!
Pin the spider on the web
Draw a spiderweb on your whiteboard, and give each student a paper spider with tape or a magnet on the back. One at a time, blindfold the players, start them about 10 feet from the board, and spin them around three times. Their goal is to make their way to the board and get the spider as close to the middle of the spiderweb as possible.
Witch hat ring toss
Grab some small plastic cones from the dollar store. Paint them black and add some silver or gold buckles with a paint pen, so they look like witch’s hats. Line them up and see if kids can toss rings around them to win a prize.
Halloween Make-a-Word
This one is fun and simple: How many words can you make using the letters in HALLOWEEN? Grab our free printable to make this game even easier.
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Wrap the Mummy race
Break kids into pairs, and give each pair a roll of toilet paper. At the word “Go,” one player wraps the other in toilet paper as fast as they can, turning the player into a “mummy.” When they’re fully wrapped, the mummy races for the finish line.
Ghost and pumpkin hunt
Print and cut out ghosts and pumpkins from our free printables, then hide them around the room. Divide players into two teams, Ghosts and Pumpkins. Each team works together to try to find all of their ghosts or pumpkins first.
It’s a snap to give these classic games a Halloween twist when you use our free printable Halloween word lists! Whether kids want to act it out or draw it, we’ve got hundreds of words you can use for these games.
Make or buy orange beanbags, and draw jack-o’-lantern faces on them with permanent marker or a paint pen. Line up some buckets (pumpkin trick-or-treat containers or plastic witch’s cauldrons make this extra fun), then give each player a chance to toss as many as they can into the targets. Tip: Add different point totals to the buckets to give the game a bit of a strategic element.
Pro-tip: Use our free templates to make the most impressive pumpkin carvings for your classroom. If you’d like to carve pumpkins with students as a class activity, consider using artificial mess-free craft pumpkins for a keepsake kids can display for years to come.
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Draw a pumpkin
Use our free video to teach students how to draw a pumpkin. Once kids have this skill down, they can include pumpkins in all their Halloween art projects! Try having students draw their own pumpkin patches, adding their own creative flair.
Draw a monster, but let the dice make the hard decisions! Roll a single die or pair of dice to determine how many of each of these body parts to include: head, arm, leg, eye, ear, mouth, nose, finger, and toe. This is a clever way to sneak some counting practice into art time.
Beaded pipe cleaner pumpkins
You’ll need orange and green pipe cleaners and pony beads for this Halloween craft. Take four orange pipe cleaners and twist them together in the middle, then fan them out so you have eight “spokes” of a wheel. String orange beads onto each spoke, then curve them up to meet in the middle, forming a pumpkin shape. Twist the ends to hold them in place, then add a green pipe cleaner with beads for a stem, and some green curlicues if you like.
Jack-o’-lantern lacing plates
This cute craft also provides excellent fine motor skills practice. Use a hole punch to punch even-spaced holes around the edges of orange plastic disposable plates. Cut out jack-o’-lantern faces from black construction paper and glue them in the middle. Give kids orange yarn and show them how to lace the yarn in and out of the holes.
Halloween painted rocks
You’ll need river rocks, craft paint, and brushes (or paint markers) for this creative Halloween activity. Decorate rocks to look like ghosts or jack-o’-lanterns, or paint them with spooky messages and pictures of witches, monsters, vampires, and more.
Drinking-straw skeletons
Cut white paper drinking straws into smaller pieces for “bones.” Give each student a handful, along with some black construction paper and glue. Ask them to create a skeleton in any pose they like, gluing it in place. For a fun expansion on this project, skip the construction paper and glue and use pipe cleaners instead. Kids string the “bones” onto the pipe cleaners, putting them together to form poseable skeletons.
Cotton ball ghosts
Try this cute activity with younger classes. Print and cut out our free ghost templates using white card stock. Spread the ghosts with a thin layer of glue, then have kids glue cotton balls in place to fill in the shape. When they’re finished, attach ghost faces made of construction paper.
Lite Brite pumpkins
Raid an old Lite Brite set for the colorful plastic pegs. Use a skewer to poke holes in a hollowed-out pumpkin (for a mess-free option, use craft pumpkins instead), and drop a battery-operated light inside. Push the pegs into the holes to create all sorts of spooky designs.
Yarn tassel ghosts
These ghosts are so easy to make! Cut a piece of cardboard about 5 inches wide, and wrap white yarn around it at least 20 times. Use a small piece of yarn to tie the top loops of yarn together, then slide the yarn off the cardboard. Tie a second small piece of yarn about an inch below the top to form the head. Finally, cut the yarn loops apart at the bottom and trim them if needed. Glue on small black beads for eyes and mouth, then hang your spooky creations!
More Halloween Activities for the Classroom
Rock your own Halloween costume
Courtesy of Gabriella S.
Need some creative ideas for Halloween costumes? Check out our roundups for inspiration from real We Are Teachers readers!
Watch Halloween movies
These kid-friendly picks are the perfect way to finish out Halloween in your classroom. Everything here is a no more than a little bit spooky or scary, but you’ll definitely want to watch in advance to make sure your choice is appropriate for your audience.
Set up an artificial “campfire” in your classroom using orange and yellow streamers attached to a box fan lying flat on the floor. Turn out the lights and give everyone flashlights instead, then gather around the “fire” and tell scary stories. Check out our free collection to get things started!
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Dig into Halloween sensory bins
Assemble sensory bins full of the sights, sounds, scents, and textures of Halloween. Include some of these: popcorn or rice dyed orange and black; black beans; slime; cooked spaghetti noodles; water dyed orange and black; cinnamon sticks; candy corn; candy pumpkins; letter beads or magnets spelling “Halloween;” mini-erasers of ghosts, pumpkins, etc.; plastic spider rings; large googly eyes; plastic skeletons; mini pumpkins or cauldrons for scooping; or Halloween-themed confetti.
Create a Halloween escape room
This one takes some dedication, but your students will absolutely love it! Our free printables will walk you through the process step-by-step. If you’re not up for crafting your own puzzles, buy a ready-made escape room game (there are plenty of them available), then add your own decorations to customize it for your class.
Young kids learn by doing, especially preschoolers! They are active, hands-on, and excited about learning. Here’s a collection of preschool math games and activities across many early math areas that tap into that action-oriented enthusiasm and their need to get hands-on. There is a lot of emphasis on the basics of early math learning in these preschool math games, especially patterns, numbers, colors, shapes, and counting. Everything else with math builds on these. So, have fun doing and learning together with these math games for preschool students.
Preschool Math Games
1. Pipe Cleaner Counters
Sarah Cason for We Are Teachers
Students will love this engaging colorful activity that helps them practice basic counting and one-to-one correspondence. Provide pipe cleaners and pony beads (these have wide holes). Have students use 10 pipe cleaners and put one bead on the first, two beads on the second, and continuing to 10 beads on the 10th pipe cleaner. Count these out loud together as kids touch the beads on their Pipe Cleaner Counters.
2. Digging for Numbers
Provide a plastic tub of sand with a pre-determined number of playing cards “buried” in the sand. Also have a sheet of paper with numbers matching the cards. A student will dig for and find a card, then place it next to the matching number on the sheet. Of course students can use their hands to dig, but plastic shovels, plastic spoons, or tongs might add to the fun.
3. Keep It Up
So simple but so fun! Who doesn’t love to play with balloons? Students will need a balloon and a die. Students roll the die and then bounce their balloon that number of times without letting it touch the ground.
4. Roll and Build
Sarah Cason for We Are Teachers
Getting hands-on with preschool math games and counting with cubes is a great way to get a “feel” for math. Give students a pair of dice and blocks, LEGO bricks, or Unifix Cubes. Students roll one die and build a tower with that number of blocks or cubes. They then roll the second die and add that number to the tower. Now count how many cubes or bricks in the tower. Compare towers. Ask questions that have students thinking and counting like, Which is tallest? How many cubes is it? Which is shortest? How many cubes in that one? Take towers apart and begin again.
5. Build a Bug
Kids love bugs, and with this activity, they get to make one. Cut out pieces of paper that create parts of two simple, identical bugs: 1 head, 2 antennae, 2 eyes, a body, 6 legs, a tail. Put all the pieces in the center. Give students a die. Students will play in pairs, rolling the die and taking that number of bug body parts and assembling them together. Keep rolling until the pair builds a complete bug.
6. Making Shapes With Sticks
This will take a bit of simple prep, but it will serve as a set of shapes that will last! Provide students with markers, wood craft sticks, and glue. Give directions to create shapes, like, “color three sticks green and put them together to make a triangle, color four sticks red for a square, color five sticks blue for a pentagon,” and so on. Students can follow a prepared mat with the colored shapes or just make the shapes with sticks without the guide mat. Try making one a day at the beginning, and then students can work independently.
7. Swat That Number
Sarah Cason for We Are Teachers
Most kids love to run around and hit things. You don’t get much chance to do that as a preschooler, but in this game you do! Write numbers 1 through 10 on the board or on cards that you place around the classroom. Give a student a fly swatter. Call out a number and the student must run to the correct number and swat that number. Everyone then says the number aloud. Pass the fly swatter on to the next person and continue until everyone gets a turn.
8. Time To Hibernate
This activity taps into imaginative play … and bears! Use six dark-colored plastic bowls as bear caves. Cut out a “cave opening” on the side of the bowls, turn the bowl/caves upside down, and put a number sticker from 1 to 6 on each cave. Provide counting bears and a die. Students will roll the die, count that many bears, and put them in the corresponding numbered cave. If that cave is already full, roll again.
9. Measuring Our Bears
Measuring with cubes is a good beginning for standardized measuring. Have students bring in a stuffed animal bear from home. In groups, have the students put the bears in order of height from shortest to tallest. Measure each bear using connecting blocks. Ask questions like: How tall was the shortest bear? The tallest? How many bears were the same height? Try this with different stuffed animals another day.
10. Park Your Vehicle
Provide some matchbox toy cars or similar. Tape a number on the roof of each vehicle. Put out a large piece of cardboard where you have drawn and numbered “parking spaces.” Kids can have some driving fun as they “park” their numbered small vehicles in their corresponding numbered parking spaces.
11. Domino Match-Up
Sarah Cason for We Are Teachers
Matching countable sets with a number is a good early math skill. Here’s one way to do it. Students will use dominoes to match the values of numbered cards laid out on the floor or table. There will be several different dominoes with different combinations that will match up with each number card. For example, a number card with 6 can be matched with dominoes that have 4/2, 3/3, or 5/1.
12. Ice Tray Mirror
Patterns are the foundation of a lot of mathematics, and kids begin to notice them early on. Make an arrangement/pattern of colored circles on a prepared guide sheet. Provide students with the same color cotton balls or pom-poms. Students will use their finger, or tongs or tweezers for even more fun, to mirror the arrangement or pattern set for them by placing them in an empty ice cube tray.
13. Animal Race to 10
Pair up students and give them an un-numbered 10-space grid. Also have them each pick a small plastic animal from a set you can easily find at the dollar store. Players roll a die and move their animal that many spaces on the grid. BUT to get to the 10th and last space, they must roll the exact number.
14. Hungry Monsters
This activity has kids sorting and then building. First, create the “monsters” by gathering four or five lunch-size paper bags. Use card stock in colors that will match the colors of the blocks, LEGO bricks, or cubes. Make “monster” faces with googly eyes, markers, pencils, and other craft materials. Attach the monster face onto the paper bags, then cut out a mouth of a size the blocks can fit through.
Now the kids will feed the monsters blocks by matching the block color to the monster face color. Once all the blocks have been fed to the monsters, the students will empty the “monster bag,” count the blocks, and build something of their choice with that color block.
15. City Skyline
Sarah Cason for We Are Teachers
Provide students with a set of cards with single-digit numbers on them and a set of building blocks. The students will lay out the cards in a row on the table and for each number make a tower using that corresponding number of blocks right next to the card. When introducing the activity, start with four or five cards, then after some experience, add more cards with even higher numbers.
16. Tube Tower Drop
Gather several paper towel and toilet tissue tubes. Stand them upright and write a number on each one. Students will drop small objects—counting bears, blocks, etc.—into the tubes according to the number on the tube. When finished, have a partner help check by counting together.
17. Musical Dot Stop
This activity focuses on comparisons using the math vocabulary words “more” and “less.” On paper plates, stamp or draw colored circles using two different colors. The number of circles should be easy for your students to count. Every student gets a paper plate. Then start the music. Students begin to walk or bop around the room until the teacher stops the music. Then students find someone nearby to pair up with. They compare their paper plates, counting dots and comparing which one has more and which one has less. The teacher asks each pair to verbalize what they found out, and then the music and march starts again.
18. Uno Number Match-Up
Sarah Cason for We Are Teachers
Learning to recognize numbers is a key early math objective. Here’s one of the simple preschool math games to practice that idea. Get a small number of Uno game cards—start with eight and put in matching pairs. Turn the cards face down and let pairs of students take turns flipping over two cards per turn hoping for a match. You can either play so that when they get a match, their turn is over, or when they get a match, they go again.
19. Shape Hunt
Draw the shapes you want your student to practice on separate sheets of card stock. You can also write the shape name. Spread these out on the floor. Have the students hunt in the room for items that are that shape, and put the items on or near that corresponding shape sheet.
20. I Can Hear the Patterns
You can see patterns, you can make patterns, and you can also hear patterns. Using clapping, tapping, and snapping fingers, the teacher/leader sounds out a pattern and the kids follow along and join in. For example, you might do three claps, two taps on the floor, three claps, two taps on the floor. After everyone joins in successfully, stop and ask someone to describe the pattern in words. Extend the patterns when the students seem ready for more complex ones. Then let students take a turn leading.
21. Shape Patterns
Discuss with students how a pattern always repeats. Red, blue is not a pattern until it repeats. On the whiteboard, draw a pattern using shapes. For example, you might draw square, square, square, circle, square, square, circle. Have students come up and draw the continuation of the pattern. Make the patterns more complex when students seem ready for more complex patterns.
This can also be done with colors (of the same shape). For example, draw dots on the board: blue, green, green, red; blue, green, green, red, and have students come up and continue the pattern.
22. Listen and Build Patterns
In this activity, students physically record a listening pattern with blocks. Gather the class in a circle. Explain that you will clap and snap a pattern and that students will make it in front of them using blocks. A blue block is a clap. A red block is a snap. If you make a pattern that is clap, snap, clap, snap, students would put out blue, red, blue, red. Put a pile of blocks in the center. Clap and snap a pattern while the students build it. When done, ask students to explain why they built the pattern they did. Try a few more and then let students take turns leading.
23. Empty Your Cup
Sarah Cason for We Are Teachers
This activity emphasizes counting but also lays the foundation for subtraction. Supplies needed are two same-size plastic cups (large blue or red are perfect), a single die, and the same number of small items (counting bears, building blocks, etc.) that will fit in each cup. Pairs of students take turns rolling the die and removing that many items from their cup. Whoever empties their cup first wins.
24. People Position Patterns
Give each student two sheets of paper. Have them draw two pictures, one of someone standing and one of someone sitting. Urge students to keep the drawings simple. Gather all the sheets and put them in a pile face down. Have a student turn over the top three sheets, and the class will form that pattern. For example, if the pictures show “stand, stand, sit,” students will form a line and the first two students will stand and the third will sit. Students 4 and 5 will stand and student 6 will sit. Continue the pattern with all the students.
25. Picture Frame Patterns
Provide each student with a large sheet of construction paper (the color doesn’t matter) and a glue stick. Put a large number of shapes cut from different colors of construction paper in the center of the table. Ask students to create a pattern around the edge of their sheet of construction paper with two colors or two shapes to form a frame. In the middle of the frame, draw a picture. If you work small, you can make several of these with different frame patterns.
26. Follow That Pattern
Give each student a prepared card or strip of card stock with a pattern on it. The pattern could be of shapes (all the same color) or the pattern could be only colors (all the same shape). Give students a whiteboard or other erasable surface to copy the pattern and continue it.
27. Numeral Writing
Draw a numeral several times on the board. Instruct very specifically exactly how the numeral is drawn. Students use their pointer finger to trace the number in the air, then trace it on their palm, and then on their desks, repeating the teacher’s specific instructions out loud. Then give each student a paper plate with rice, salt, or sand to trace in. Continue to practice. Allow students to take turns “giving the instructions” to the class on how to write the numeral.
28. Follow That Pattern With Blocks
Sarah Cason for We Are Teachers
Show the class a pattern you’ve made using different-colored connecting blocks. Give the students blocks and ask them to reproduce that pattern and continue it. Once they’ve shown mastery of this, have students create their own pattern using eight blocks. Collect these and put them in a box. Students take turns pulling these out of the box, bringing them to their seats, and using more blocks to continue the pattern.
29. More Numeral Writing
Pair students up. They’ll need two sets of cards, one with a numeral written on it and the other with a corresponding number of dots. They’ll also need a variety of ways to write the numerals, like chalk and blackboard, markers and whiteboard, salt/sand/rice trays, or shaving cream on the desk. (Students should be given some free exploratory time with the shaving cream. Then the rules and behavior for shaving cream will have to be explained because it is very easy to get distracted by but so motivating!) One student in the pair holds up either a numeral card or a dot card and the other student says the number and writes it the way the teacher has instructed. Students take turns going back and forth as number caller and “recorder.”
30. What’s in the Box? Sort
Give each student a box containing three different types of items like crayons, markers, pencils, sorting bears, Popsicle sticks, or erasers. Tell the students to make three groups, each group having the same type of item. The teacher or a partner checks, then puts the items back in the box and passes the box to the person on their right. Repeat this several times.
Learning names can be equally daunting for both students and teachers. It’s not just the act of associating names with faces that’s a challenge, but also accurately pronouncing and spelling names. It’s important to get student names right because kids are more likely to feel like they’re part of an inclusive environment when they hear their names pronounced correctly. While some names are more commonplace than others, all students deserve the same respect when it comes to learning names. In fact, it might be especially important to pronounce refugee or immigrant students’ names correctly. Name games are a fun way to help everyone learn together.
Whether you choose to use a song, a silly skit, or a prop, we have games on this list that will bring a smile to the faces of all students, from preschoolers all the way up to those sometimes-surly teens. Check out all of our favorite name games to try with your class this year.
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Name Games for Preschool and Elementary Kids
1. Teacher Test
Name games are not just for students! This is the perfect first-day-of-school activity to really get to know your students. Your kids will love getting to put their teacher to the test instead of the other way around. During the days leading up to the start of school, you will want to create name-tag “tents” from card stock for students to leave on their desks. Then, at the end of the first day, you will have them put their tents face down and time you on how quickly you can go around the room naming your class!
2. Johnny Plays the Drum Beat
This is a great way for music teachers to get to know their students, although any teacher who has access to even a basic drum can use this fun song in their class. Even the shyest kids will want to get their hands on that drum! Pay careful attention to pronouncing everyone’s names right since it is an important part of a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.
3. Pig on Their Head
The Laurie Berkner Band is famous for their silly and catchy children’s songs, and this one is no exception! Little ones will have so much fun singing this song, they won’t even notice that they are also learning their classmates’ names! Bonus idea: Bring some stuffed animals since the lyrics, which you can search, include pigs, octopuses, and more being placed on their head.
4. Yoo-hoo!
Make up a song that includes lyrics like “Somebody’s hiding. I wonder who it could be.” Before singing the rest of the song, the child that is hiding sings, “Yoo-hoo … Yoo-hoo …,” from behind a desk or chair. The rest of the class then chants, “It’s (insert child’s name)!” Younger students will be so excited when it is their turn to hide.
5. Bumblebee Name Game
Some of the best name games utilize songs. Lyrics to this folk song are as follows:
“Hickety, Pickety, Bumblebee Won’t you say your name for me? (Designated child says their name.) Let’s all whisper it. (Everyone else whispers it.) Let’s all stomp it. (Everyone else stomps it.) Let’s all clap it. (Everyone else claps the syllables.) Let’s all shout it! (Everyone shouts it.)”
6. Who do we appreciate?
Get your class all revved up while learning each other’s names. Get in cheerleader mode and teach your students to chant “2-4-6-8, who do we appreciate?” The class responds with someone’s name in their loudest and happiest voices. This goes on until everyone’s name has been chanted.
7. Name Line/Favorite Thing
This one is so simple yet so fun and challenging. Have students form a line or circle and then have the first student say their name and a favorite thing. The next student in line must say their name, their favorite thing, and the favorite thing of the person who went before them. This continues down the line until the last person is naming all of their classmates’ favorite things!
8. Action Syllables
This game helps students remember one another’s names while also reinforcing an important lesson on syllables. Have students stand in a circle and then go around one by one telling each player to say their name out loud. For each syllable in their name, they must select an action to perform. For example, a child named Harper might stomp her feet when saying “Har” and clap her hands while saying “per.” Once Harper is done saying her name, the rest of the circle should repeat the name with the coinciding actions.
9. Banana Fanna Fo Fanna
This classic children’s song by Shirley Ellis has been a staple of childhood for generations because it’s both catchy and a good way to learn friends’ names. The only downside is that it will likely be stuck in your head for days! The name “Shirley” would sound something like this:
“Shirley, Shirley, bo birley, banana fana fo firley, fee fie mo mirley, Shirley.”
10. Name Toss
Before introducing a ball into the mix, simply go around the circle and have everyone introduce themselves with just their first name. Once everyone has introduced themselves, have them toss a ball to someone and use their name when throwing. The receiver then needs to say “thanks” and the thrower’s name.
11. Name Puzzles
Sarah Cason via We Are Teachers
Name puzzles can work equally well as a tool to get to know each other and as a way to learn to recognize and spell their own name. Before doing this activity with your students, you will need to take and print photos of each child. Then, you can write their names on the bottom of the photos or have them do it. Just cut them up to create puzzles and then have students assemble them. Finally, trade puzzles so friends get to know one another.
12. Name Acrostic Poems
Sarah Cason via We Are Teachers
This is a simple but creative way to help everyone get to know each other’s names. Have kids create name acrostic poems and then laminate them and either hang them on the front of their desks or on a wall in the classroom. An example would be FIAZ, with the F being friendly, the I being interesting, the A being awesome, and the Z being zealous.
13. Name Ring Toss
Sarah Cason via We Are Teachers
Before playing this game, you will need to purchase or ask for donations of red Solo cups and paper plates. To begin, have each child write each letter of their name on the bottom of the cups. Then, cut a hole in a paper plate that will serve as a flying disc to aim at the letters. Finally, have students practice spelling one another’s names and throwing the ring around each of the letters.
Name Games for Middle School
14. Snowball Fight
Have kids write their names on a piece of paper and one fact about themselves, then have them crumple the paper into a ball. Then kids will gently (key being gently) throw them at one another. Everyone picks up a piece of paper and reads it aloud.
15. Trading Cards
Sarah Cason via We Are Teachers
Since most kids love collecting trading cards (think Pokémon and baseball), they’ll love this fun name game. Have kids create their very own trading card that includes things like their name, a drawing or photo of themselves, and some fun facts about themselves. Then, trade cards with friends to get to know all about one another. Don’t forget to include a trading card for the teachers and other staff also!
16. Peek-a-Who
All you need to make this game happen is a blanket or tarp. Before getting started, divide kids into two equal groups. Then, have two students or adults hold a blanket or tarp between the two groups. One person from each team stands on either side of the “wall,” and the first to yell out the other one’s name when the blanket or tarp drops wins!
17. Introductions
The introductions game is simple but silly enough to be a lot of fun. One by one, students walk onto a pretend stage and introduce themselves with their name and one fact about themselves. The facts can be as silly or playful as they want. The audience must then break into uproarious laughter.
18. The Story of My Name
This one is so simple. Have each student share their name and whatever they know about why they were given that name. Students can share things like who they were named after or if there is a funny or interesting story surrounding their name.
19. Repeating Back
This one is a simple concept, but it’s a quick way for everyone to learn one another’s names. Have students sit or stand in a circle and then take turns having everyone say their name. Once someone has said their name, everyone in the circle repeats it back in unison. Although it can be nerve-racking to stand in front of everyone and speak, there is something validating about having everyone repeat your name!
20. Web of Names
Unlike some name games, this one involves a prop, so it gives students something to focus on other than their nerves. Sit in a circle and have one person start with a ball of string that they will then throw to anyone. That person must then introduce themselves. They hold on to a piece of the string while throwing the rest of the ball to another person for the game to continue.
21. Zombie Name Game
We especially love name games that get kids up and moving like this one. Before playing, have the kids stand in a circle and take turns saying their names. Then, designate one student as the zombie and have them stand in the middle of the circle. Once the zombie is ready, call out a student’s name. The zombie heads toward that student, who must call out another student’s name before the zombie can tag them.
22. Clapping Name Game
This name game incorporates music and motion while working on name recognition. Children sit in a circle. The first person taps their thighs twice and then claps their hands twice while saying, “My name is …” Children should repeat the clapping and phrase twice. Everyone in the circle should continuously be tapping and clapping. After everyone in the circle has gone through saying their name twice, you can go around again, but this time faster and with everyone only saying their name once.
23. Name Bingo
Sarah Cason via We Are Teachers
Create bingo cards with your students’ names on them. Instead of calling out names, however, have students walk around the room and cross off names as they find that student.
24. Name Word Search
Sarah Cason via We Are Teachers
Create a word search using all of your students’ names and then print enough copies for everyone. It is great for early finishers and reinforces new classmates’ names.
Name Games for High School
25. Sign Language
Have students learn how to sign their name and then a friend’s name. Eventually everyone can learn to sign one another’s names. It is a good way to learn names as well being introduced to sign language.
26. Group Juggle
This is a variation on name toss, but it’s better suited to older kids. Begin with everyone in a circle and then have them toss the ball to one another. Have them repeat it a second time but in the exact order as the first time. Make it harder each round by adding balls or even reversing the order.
27. Guess Who
Kids take turns wearing a blindfold and recognizing their fellow classmates’ names by voice only. Each kid says something simple like “hello” and the guesser has to say who is speaking.
28. Nameless Name Game
Some name games like this one work best with older students since it requires a lot of quick thinking. Students come up with an adjective that both begins with the first letter of their name and describes themselves. Then, they say their adjective and name and come up with a movement to go along with it. Finally, everyone goes around the circle adding to the list of names, adjectives, and movements.
29. Missing Name Card Game
Sarah Cason via We Are Teachers
Write everyone’s name down on cards and lay them down on a table. Then remove one card and see if the class can identify whose name is missing.
30. Shoe Mingle
Before playing, have each student (and you!) take off one shoe and place them in a pile in the middle of the room. Once that is done, have everyone grab a shoe from the pile (not their own). Then, have them find the owner of the shoe and learn their name and three fun facts about them. Play as many times as you want until everyone knows each other’s names!
31. Thumbs Up!
Many parents and teachers probably remember playing this game in school decades ago. Three students are selected as the taggers while the rest of the students sit with their heads down and their thumbs up. The taggers go around and each select a student to put their thumb down. Once that is done, the tagged students get one chance to guess who tagged them. If they are right, they get to trade places.
32. Name Impulse
Kids will get really into this name game since it aims to set a new world record! It is a surefire way for everyone to remember one another’s names. Begin sitting in a circle and then starting with the person to your left, ask them to say their name on your signal. Once the name has been said, the person to their left immediately calls out their name and so on around the circle. This continues until everyone has said their name. Repeat it, but this time, record how long it takes the group to complete it. Continue trying each time to beat their best time.
33. Letter Line-Up
This one is a bit more challenging, so it is perfect for older kids. Have them line up by how many letters are in their name. The name with the least amount of letters goes to the front and the longest goes to the back. Add an extra challenge by including middle or last names too!
34. Name Pictionary
Sarah Cason via We Are Teachers
Have each student create a drawing in which they draw a different object for each letter of their name. Then, have them trade with someone and see if they can figure out what name is spelled.
35. Memory
If you have a class of students who are mostly new to one another, begin by giving them a set amount of time to learn as many names as they can. For this portion, they can literally walk around and introduce themselves. Then have them return to their desks to write down as many names as they can remember. Bonus points if they learn last names.
LUGANO, SWITZERLAND – As part of its mission to make robotics fun and accessible for all, Arduino is launching a brand-new programmable robot – the Arduino Alvik. Catering to teachers, students, programmers and innovators alike, this versatile and robust platform provides boundless opportunities for hands-on learning and creativity.
Alvik stands out for its unprecedented ease of programming. Its integration of MicroPython – a simple-to-read programming language interpreter optimized for microcontrollers – means users can quickly bring their ideas to life from just a single line of code. Once the basics are mastered, they can then progress to more complex robotics projects that are tailored to their skill level and interests.
Alvik is designed to empower young learners and lower the entry barrier to the fascinating world of robotics. With the upcoming integration of block-based programming, it is positioned to support primary school education, making coding accessible and engaging for younger learners.
The robot’s compact and robust design hosts uncompromising functionality. Powered by the trusted Arduino Nano ESP32, the Alvikboasts an impressive array of high-quality sensorsand motion control systems that enable it to perceive and interact with its surroundings. With the additional sensor ports and connectors, these integrated sensors allow users to transform Alvik into a rover, bulldozer, delivery robot, or automated inspection robot for a variety of applications – both in classroom learning and DIY projects. And that’s just the start of the creative learning experience!
Fabio Violante, CEO of Arduino, shares his vision: “Alvik isn’t just a robot; it’s a bridge to advanced robotics. It’s meticulously crafted to ensure that anyone interested in robotics can start with the basics and advance to complex projects. We asked our engineers to make no compromises on technology, and they delivered a platform that will surprise many different categories of users. We envision and encourage any sort of hacks for this open robot.”
Key highlights of the Arduino Alvik include:
Start programming in no time: Alvik streamlines the learning curve in robotics with a comprehensive programming suite that includes MicroPython and the Arduino language. And Alvik soon plans to introduce block-based coding, further enhancing accessibility for younger students.
Unlock robotics potential with multiple integrated sensors: Alvik’s Time of Flight matrix distance sensors, RGB color and line-following array sensors, along with its six-axis gyroscope and accelerometer, allow users to tackle many innovative, real-world projects. From obstacle avoidance to smart warehouse automation, the possibilities are endless!
Enjoy advanced motor control: Alvik leverages motors with encoders, advanced motor drivers, and a dedicated MCU.
Customize and expand with Alvik’s extension capabilities: Alvik comes equipped with LEGO® Technic™ connectors, allowing users to personalize the robot and expand its capabilities. Additionally, it features M3 screw connectors for custom 3D or laser-cut designs.
Amplify Alvik’s flexibility for dynamic movement: The Servo, I2C Grove, and I2C Qwiic connectors allow users to expand Alvik’s potential and take robotics projects to a whole new level. Add motors for controlling movement and robotic arms, or integrate extra sensors for data collection and analysis – the choice is yours.
CSTA and NGSS-aligned curriculum for education: Teachers, students and self-learners have access to a free, easy-to-follow Explore Robotics and MicroPython course developed by Arduino to help them understand the core principles of robotics and MicroPython through project-based learning concepts.
For more information about this innovative new robot, visit the Alvik store page now.
About Arduino
Arduino is the leading open-source hardware and software company in the world. Born to provide an easy-to-use platform for anyone making interactive projects, Arduino has reached a growing community and adapted to new needs and challenges, branching out into products for IoT, wearables, 3D printing, and embedded environments. As of today, the Arduino community includes over 33 million active users.
With Arduino Education, Arduino supports educational institutions and educators around the world in bringing STEAM subjects to life in the classroom with hands-on kits and digital content that make learning engaging, for students at any age and stage.
eSchool Media staff cover education technology in all its aspects–from legislation and litigation, to best practices, to lessons learned and new products. First published in March of 1998 as a monthly print and digital newspaper, eSchool Media provides the news and information necessary to help K-20 decision-makers successfully use technology and innovation to transform schools and colleges and achieve their educational goals.
There was a time when Americans didn’t fully appreciate the game of soccer, but those days are over. Soccer is the world’s most popular sport for a reason. One of the best things about soccer is that all you really need to get better is a ball! In order to succeed, players need good footwork, passing, dribbling, and shooting skills. Teams also need to have good communication. Get your touches in with our favorite soccer drills to improve your young athletes’ game!
Soccer Passing Drills
1. Pass and Move
This drill encourages the oh-so important skill of moving after you pass. It also includes variations so kids can try wall passes and then one-touch passes once they’ve mastered the simple pass and run.
2. Triangle Passing
Set up four red cones about 10 yards apart, and then place a single blue cone in the center. The central player’s job is done once they’ve completed four triangle passes. This drill works on moving off the ball and getting into a support position.
3. Possession
Designate an area of the field as the playing area using either cones or preexisting lines on the field. Divide the players into two teams and give one of them pinnies so you can easily distinguish the two teams. During play, teams score points by stringing together a predetermined number of passes. Be sure to encourage players to find open space so they aren’t all chasing the ball and forming a clump. For a variation, add a player that will play with whatever team has the ball so the team with possession always has more players.
4. Two-Ball Passing
This drill encourages players to think quickly with the ball at their feet since three players work to keep two balls away from a single defender.
5. Receiving and Turning Drill
This drill runs through a series of movements where players receive a pass with different parts of the foot and practice turning. Players are the receivers for about a minute before rotating with one of the passers. This drill works on a number of things such as checking in and out, timing of the service pass, and communication between players.
Soccer Shooting Drills
6. Finishing Off a Cross
Soccer drills that mimic real-game scenarios are very effective. This drill allows players to practice making good crosses while teaching strikers to time their runs and get a piece of the ball. Encourage players to use different parts of their body to get the ball in the back of the net, but be mindful that heading isn’t allowed for younger players.
7. Four-Cone Shooting
This drill works on passing as well as shooting since it requires patterned passes to occur before a shot is taken. There are multiple different variations shown in this video.
8. Shooting Technique
Going over proper shooting technique is so important. This video covers the basics like leaning over the ball and shooting with your laces.
9. Lightning Shooting
Soccer drills that promote a healthy sense of competition while also being fun are always a hit with players. In this fast-paced shooting drill, players line up outside the penalty area while one player starts in net. The first player in line shoots, and if they make their shot, they get to head to the back of the line. If they miss their shot, they become the goalkeeper. Whether they save the shot will determine if they are out or get to rejoin the line. The last player in line is the winner!
Soccer Dribbling Drills
10. Technical Cone Maze
We love that this dribbling drill gets the player a lot of touches on the ball while working on changing directions and keeping the ball close. You’ll want to make sure you have a lot of cones on hand so the maze can be challenging.
11. Sharks and Minnows
Sharks and Minnows is one of those soccer drills that should be a staple of any good youth soccer practice. Set up cones so there is a starting line and an ending line, then have players line up along the starting line. The players (the Minnows) must get from one side of the ocean to the other without having their ball kicked away by the coach (the Shark). Once a player’s ball is knocked away, they become a Shark too!
12. Gates Dribbling
Before playing, set up cones in pairs to create gates all around a designated area of the field. Then, challenge players to see how many gates they can dribble through in a predetermined amount of time. Be sure to stress to players that they need to keep the ball close so they don’t shoot the ball through the cones.
13. Dribbling Drills for Older Players
This video shows a number of different dribbling series appropriate for older players using just a number of gates created from two closely placed cones. Players dribble normally up to a cone and then do a dribbling movement such as inside to inside, outside to outside, or rollover between the gate.
Soccer Practice Drills
14. Pinnie Snag Tag
This drill is definitely a crowd-pleaser. While it can be played as a warm-up without a ball as shown here, you can easily amend it for soccer by adding a ball at each player’s feet. Designate a playing area using cones, then have each player place a pinnie hanging out of their shorts. Players are out when either their ball is kicked out of the area or their pinnie is pulled out. The last player standing is declared the winner.
15. 1 v 1 With Odds and Evens
Before getting started, you will need to assign every player a number. Have odd-numbered players stand to the left of the goal while even-numbered players stand to the right. Then, have players sit on the ground with their backs facing away from the field. The coach stands around midfield with a large pile of balls.
Once ready to begin, the coach calls out an odd number and an even number at random and throws a ball out to them. The players fight to win possession and score a goal for their team. Remind the players that no one is designated as either offense or defense since there will be a tendency of younger players to want to clear the ball once they win it. Instead, encourage them to immediately head to goal. We especially love that this drill instills a no-quit attitude in players while also working on their listening skills.
16. Juggling Horse
Divide players into small groups, then challenge them to keep the ball in the air using their feet, thighs, or chest. If the ball hits the ground, the team receives a letter. Once a team has spelled H-O-R-S-E, they are out of the round.
Soccer Footwork Drills
17. Two-Cone Drill
It’s amazing how many different variations of foot skills can be done using just two cones as your base. We especially love that it forces players to use their non-dominant foot as well as different parts of their foot.
18. Touches, Touches, and More Touches
This video goes through a number of different types of touches including formations, rolling toe taps, L-turns, etc. For each different skill, it designates a set number of touches to aim for so kids can improve their footwork quickly.
19. Soccer Trainer
A soccer trainer like this one is perfect for solo training since it keeps the ball close even when practicing kicks. It also encourages a good first touch as the ball comes flying back at you.
20. Technical Circle
This training drill focuses on a little bit of everything including throw-ins, juggling, and passing. It can be used as a warm-up or can be made into a competition between players.
Soccer Defense Drills
21. Clean Your Backyard
Before playing, divide the players into two even teams and give them an equal number of balls. Then, create a moat in the middle of the field between the two teams. The teams are challenged with “cleaning” their backyard by kicking the balls into the other team’s yard. Any balls that land in the moat must be removed by the coach. This drill is especially effective at teaching defenders how to clear the ball by leaning back and getting underneath the ball.
22. Defending Techniques
A good defensive stance is crucial to becoming an effective defender since lunging and other missteps increase the likelihood of getting beat.
23. 2 v 2 With Four Goals
Set up four small goals on the field with a goal in each of the field’s corners. Designate one of the teams as the defenders, then have the offensive team attempt to score in any one of the four goals. This drill works on good defensive techniques like getting low, making the field small, and making the steal.
24. Walk Through Goal Side, Ball Side
One of the most valuable skills to have as a defender (in soccer but also in many sports) is understanding the concept of goal side, ball side. While walking through real-game scenarios is not always fun for players, it is often necessary. Set your players up as shown in this video, then have the offense move to various spots on the field while the defenders position themselves between the the player and the goal.
25. Small-Group Defending
In this video, a professional soccer player demonstrates different ways of defending depending on the situation. He runs through 1 v 1, 2 v 2, and 3 v 2 drills. Concepts include taking away the passing lane and communication between the defenders.
Soccer Goalie Drills
26. Two-Cone Goalie Drill
First, set up two cones just to the right and left of the two goal posts about 10 yards out from the goal. Then, yell “left” or “right” to the goalkeeper, who must race to that cone before saving a rolling ball coming at them.
27. Diving
Diving is a necessary part of goalkeeping, but it can be intimidating for new goalkeepers. Try some of the basic drills in this video to introduce the safest and most effective ways to dive for the ball.
28. Catch and Release
Soccer drills should work on players’ reaction time, including goalkeepers. Set up one large goal for the keeper to stand in, then set up two smaller goals farther down the field on the left and right flanks. Finally, throw the keeper a variety of balls to practice catching and quickly throwing toward one of the smaller nets.
29. Footwork
This video gives a lot of good ideas for working on a goalkeeper’s footwork using just a ball, a partner, and some cones. Goalies run in and out of cones in various ways while catching balls that are tossed toward them.
30. Reaction Training
This video reviews ways in which a goalkeeper can take away an angle on a close shot such as from a through ball. It also shows goalies how to be in the best position possible to make a save.
Soccer Drills for U8 and Under
31. Musical Footballs (0:13 – 1:09)
Place all the players around a circle and then fill the circle with several soccer balls—one less than the number of players. Players then run into the middle and retrieve a ball. Whoever doesn’t get one is out. This continues until you have just one winner.
32. Bring It Home (1:12 – 1:49)
Before playing, you’ll want to set up with one large square with four smaller squares in the corners. Divide the kids into four teams, each with a home square. The goal is to get all of the balls into your team’s home base before time is up. And yes, players are allowed to steal from one another’s area.
33. Trick or Treat (1:52 – 2:03)
Have one large rectangle with cones on either side of the field. Have kids dribble back and forth retrieving cones (treats). The player with the most cones at the end of the game is declared the winner.
34. Traffic Light (0:04 – 0:34)
This is a simple game with four commands: green light, yellow light, red light, and gas station. On green light the players dribble forward quickly, on yellow light the players slow down or walk, on red light they stop, and on gas station they quickly jump and then sit on the ball.
35. Counting Touches
This drill is perfect for the toddler-to-preschool crowd who are new to soccer. While it starts with basic touches on top of the soccer ball while counting, it becomes increasingly more difficult as they become accustomed to each step.
What are your favorite soccer drills to play with your team? Come and share in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.
Fifth grade art students are starting to master more advanced skills and techniques, and the work they create is really something to be proud of. These project ideas will expose them to new artists and concepts and help them find the creative artist within!
In Art We Trust
1. Illustrate your name
This is a perfect project to kick off the school year. Kids illustrate their names with items that fit their style and personality. It will help you get to know them and assess their art skills at the same time.
We all know kids (and adults!) love LEGO. That’s what makes these portraits so cool! Kids draw themselves as minifigs, starting with basic shapes and adding details as they go.
This is one of those activities with such impressive results that you’ll be amazed it can be done by fifth grade art students! Take a look at Jasper Johns’ number paintings, then use stencils and rulers to create your own incredible designs.
The color wheel is a basic art concept your students have probably mastered by now, so take things a step further by crafting 3D color wheel spheres instead. This is an easy project that requires nothing more than paper plates, paint, and paper clips.
Picasso’s mind-bending works stimulate students to look at the world in a whole new way. This cardboard relief portrait is all about deconstructing and reassembling to find a new perspective.
Hokusai’s woodblock prints are the inspiration for these paper lanterns. Use watercolors to create soft images, then fold the paper into lanterns to hang from the ceiling.
It may look complicated, but this fifth grade art idea starts with basic concentric curved lines that any student can draw. The magic comes when you fill in with Sharpies, then shade with colored pencils.
The coiling method of ceramics is really accessible for everyone. Though it’s often used to make pots, we love how it works for these colorful coil sculptures too.
Explore the concepts of positive and negative space with this cool paper craft. Kids will have to be very careful as they cut so their reflections will be exact.
The watercolor resist method is an eternal art room favorite. It’s terrific for creating a snowy winter scene with dreamy watercolors and stark bare trees.
Zentangles have become popular in recent years as a way to relax and de-stress. Teach students how they work, building designs around the negative space of their initial.
This sculpture project requires your fifth grade art students to tap into their engineering skills too. They’ll have to figure out how to balance their letters in a way that’s pleasing to the eye but also stable enough to stay in place.
Grant Wood’s American Gothic is one of those iconic paintings everyone knows. That’s what makes this parody project a real hoot! Kids re-create the painting with a new pair of main characters, showing that art definitely has room for humor.
There are so many details in these cool bird nests that you’ll just want to stare at them for hours. Start with a painting, then add 3D elements like twigs and clay bird eggs.
This pop art project starts with a directed drawing lesson, as kids learn to create the various paintbrushes. Then they add color and paint speckles to bring the piece to life.
Review terms like horizon and background with these soft lighthouse landscapes. Use white crayon on black construction paper to add depth to the lighthouse itself.
Here’s another awesome blending activity, this time with oil pastels. Kids can draw sunflowers with true-to-life colors or use their imaginations to create any color scheme they like.
Start by mixing paint and paste to create a thick mixture to spread on paper. Then create patterns with your fingers, a fork, or any other object. Finish by cutting one page into strips and weaving it into the other.
Combine multiple art styles in one awesome project. In the center, students draw their subject realistically. On either side, they draw the same object in abstract and non-objective forms.
For kids who feel overwhelmed by drawing, try the grid method. Break a drawing into grid sections, copying each section one at a time. It makes a big project seem much more manageable.
This is part fifth grade art project, part writing project. Kids fold paper using a bookmaking technique called “squash books,” then write and illustrate the sections to tell all about themselves.
Banyan trees are works of art in themselves, so they’re sure to inspire your students to create beautiful pieces. They can show the trailing roots reflected in water or imagine them underground.
Keith Haring’s vivid graffiti style is instantly appealing to kids, so they’ll enjoy creating their own breakdancing scenes. All you really need is paper and markers for this quick project.
Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama made incredible art using only dots of different sizes. Challenge your students to do the same with these clever pumpkin prints mounted on stencil-rolled backgrounds.
Elements of art are stylistic features that are included within an art piece to help the artist communicate. This creative project demonstrates all seven.
By second grade, students have a better grasp of basic art concepts and will therefore love a chance to try out new techniques and materials. That’s why they’ll embrace these imaginative projects, which use a wide variety of media to create amazing results. Whether you want to introduce a famous artist like Monet to your students or a concept like 3D sculpture, there really is something for everyone on our list. And parents will be impressed by the beautiful masterpieces their kids bring home to display!
Picklebums
1. Design with yarn art
Looking for a way to use up yarn scraps? Try this cool idea! Use pieces of clear self-adhesive shelf paper, and this second grade art project is a breeze.
String-pull painting has become a trendy craft in recent years, and second grade art students will love getting to try it. The abstract designs they’ll create will definitely wow everyone.
First have kids draw landscapes, cityscapes, or seascapes on manila paper. Then show them how to tear construction paper into pieces to fit their designs and glue into place. Finally, mount the masterpieces on large pieces of construction paper.
This is the perfect second grade art project to do in a pinch since all you will need are crayons, tape, and paper. In addition to taping crayons together and coloring with them, you can have your students experiment with crayon etchings and mixing colors by overlaying them.
Once kids learn the trick to making these 3D hot-air balloons, they’ll weave them in no time. Then, they can spend time adding details to the background, like clouds, birds, or kites flying by!
Kids start by painting an abstract background. Then they add a photo of themselves with a collage of text strips about their favorite things, dreams, and wishes.
This would be the perfect craft to do around Thanksgiving, but we think it would work anytime. Bonus: If you have a toy kitchen in your classroom, this craft can double as a toy.
Mixing and contrasting colors are key concepts for young art students to learn. These cute umbrellas are a fun way to see the color wheel in action using liquid watercolors.
Start by having second grade art students paint an oblong cardboard box with terra-cotta paint and fill it with paper shreds for soil. Then, craft paper flowers and plant a fresh display of color!
Take inspiration from artists like Kandinsky and Frank Stella and make bold geometric art pieces. Kids can trace around lids or plates to make circles or try them freehand.
This is a second grade art project that will take multiple classes to complete, but the end result will totally be worth it. Be sure to really bring it in the supply department with different-colored straws, a variety of beads and pipe cleaners, and some jingle bells.
The best art provokes a reaction—in this case, surprise! Fold the paper and sketch your figure’s face, then open it to add a gaping mouth full of teeth.
Art is all about encouraging kids to see themselves in unique new ways. Underwater self-portraits allow kids to imagine themselves enjoying life under the sea!
These sailboats are easy to replicate with just sponges, wood skewers, card stock, and glue. You can even race them in a big tub of water by having students blow air into a straw to push their boat across the water.
Tissue paper art replicates the soft lines and translucent colors of Monet’s impressionist style. Use this technique to create your own peaceful lily pond.
The soft and colorful flowers in the background contrast sharply with the patterned lines of these friendly creatures. Take the pressure off kids by letting them trace the animal shapes so they can focus on adding texture instead.
One of the best things about this second grade art project is that you can really tailor it to the seasons. In addition to spring flowers, consider fall leaves and paper acorns, or holly leaves and poinsettia flowers.
Your students will definitely be excited to bring their favorite stuffed buddy to school. They will be even more excited when they realize it is going to be the subject of their next art project!
Watch trees blowing in the breeze on a windy day. Then take a look at the work of Gustav Klimt and emulate his style for the bendy trees in this project. Let your imagination take hold and add leaning buildings too!
This is a cool project to do if your students are also studying birds in science class, but they’ll enjoy it even if they’re not. Kids can try to re-create real birds, or let their imagination fly and dream up an entirely new species.
Before beginning this project, read the book Not a Box with your students. Be sure to set aside multiple class periods to work on these since your students will likely get carried away—in a good way!
Begin by learning about the importance of totems and totem poles to First Nations people of the northwest coast. Then have kids choose symbols that are meaningful to them to create their own paper totems.
Pick up some Model Magic, then grab your markers and paint and let your students’ imaginations run wild. They will definitely get a kick out of how realistic their ice cream sundaes look!
These collages may just look like random scraps of paper, but there are actually multiple art concepts in use here. Kids should be able to identify organic vs. geometric shapes and primary vs. secondary colors.
Origami whales with curling paper water spouts add dimension and texture to these compositions. Second grade art projects that use folding and cutting give kids a chance to improve their fine motor skills too.
Second graders might be a little young to understand the “fearful symmetry” of Blake’s Tyger, but they’ll enjoy using the paint-and-print technique to make these wild faces.
Kids will be fascinated to see how wetting the bottom half of the paper changes and mutes the paint colors. Use oil pastels to add lines and water effects.
Clay can feel a little intimidating, but it’s not too difficult to roll a long “snake” and coil it up. Add a body with eyestalks, and the sculpting is done!
The watercolor wash in the background is set off by the geometric-patterned lines of the vases in the foreground. The tissue paper flowers add another bit of texture to this mixed-media project.
These unique pumpkin patches are so fun to make. Ask your students to make the pumpkins as realistic as they can. Then, they can set their imaginations free and make the rest of the composition as unrealistic as they like!
These landscape paintings help kids understand the concepts of foreground, middle ground, and background. They’ll also use techniques like wax-crayon-resist and cardboard printing.
Take a trip to a tropical isle and learn art concepts like warm colors, silhouettes, and horizon line. Each piece will be unique, but they’ll all be masterpieces!
It will be fun to see how different each of your students’ paintings come out despite starting with the same premise. We love that this second grade art project teaches about perspective as parts of the snake’s body will be visible while other parts will be hidden.
These colorful creations are so simple and fun. Made from paper plates, these crafts get their vibrant color from liquid watercolors and crayons. Kids will love to fly these birds like paper airplanes or hang them as lively decorations.
We love how incredibly versatile and beautiful these are. Use rocks, leaves, flowers, and more to create lasting markings. Kids can be involved in every step of this project, including collecting materials from nature, which can be an endless source of inspiration.
As the school year draws to a close, it’s important to plan end-of-year activities that help bring closure to your time together with students. Talk with your students about what made this year special, recall the good memories, and reflect on all you’ve learned. After all, you’ve all put in a lot of work to get to this point. Have fun with these end-of-year activities and assignments, and let the countdown begin!
1. Hold a class family circle
Life Between Summers
A family circle is a great way to wrap up a terrific year. Prepare a set of reflection questions, then allow students to take the mic and ask a friend one of the questions. Continue around the circle until every student has had a chance to answer.
Awesome for building reading comprehension skills, whodunits are also a hoot for students to solve! Students must read the clues and collaborate to solve the mystery. Try this one: Who Freed the Fish? And pretty soon your students will be tapping into their inner Sherlock.
It’s amazing what beautiful poetry can come from just about any piece of writing. All you need is a photocopied article, essay, or book excerpt and a Sharpie marker.
Learn more: Blackout Poetry at Just Add Students via YouTube
4. Let students teach
Have your students sign up to teach their classmates a 20- to 30-minute mini-lesson about something they’re passionate about. Some examples include leading the class in a game, song, or other group activity.
Kids love a little friendly competition, especially when it’s quick and easy. Sneak in rounds between activities and hold the finals on the last day of school.
Split your class into two teams facing each other. Have each student write three things about themselves and wad it into a snowball, then let the snowball fight commence! Set a time for a few minutes of “fight” time, then have students each grab a snowball and read the items listed, guessing whose paper it is.
Here’s a sweet way to celebrate the end of the year! Make paper ice cream sundaes with a different memory on each scoop. You can have kids draw these themselves or buy a printable version at the link below.
Flip is one of our favorite classroom tools, especially when it comes to end-of-year activities. Post topics like “What did you learn this year?” or “Share your favorite memory from the past year.” Kids post their video responses and check out other students’ contributions too.
10. Create a collaborative puzzle
Top Teaching Tasks
Give each student a piece of the puzzle and let them get creative! Suggest a theme such as best memory or most important thing I learned or I’ll never forget, etc. Students can write on their puzzle pieces. Once the puzzle is done, you can take a picture and make sure every student gets a copy.
Songs are like smells—just hearing one can bring back all kinds of memories. Ask students (as a class or individually) to compile a list of songs that relate to the past school year and have them write about why each tune has a place on the list. Celebrate the last day of school by listening to songs from the playlist as you reflect on the year gone by. And while you’re at it, check out 85 Awesome Songs for Your End-of-the-Year Playlist.
Give each student a brown paper bag, then ask them to decorate the front and add some reflections about the year on the other three panels. Then, each student adds 10 items from the year to their bag, with notes about why each is important. Finish up by having each kid lay out their items on their desk. Have a gallery walk around the room for everyone to see one another’s selections.
Commencement speeches aren’t only for graduations! Finish out the year by reading or watching other great commencements speeches (the web is full of them). Then challenge students to write—and deliver, if you like—their own speeches for the year they’ve just finished.
What a great way to look back over what kids have learned! For each letter of the alphabet, have them write and illustrate something they learned or did throughout the year. Hit the link below to get a free printable template for this project. Learning virtually? Have students create a Google Slideshow instead.
This is a skill every kid should learn: writing and sending thank-you notes. So why not incorporate it into your lineup of end-of-year activities? Have kids write a note to someone who made their school year special, then seal them in envelopes, address them, and deliver them by hand or mail. And while you’re at it, why not write a thank-you note to your own class?
Ask your students to sum up their favorite school-year memory (Science fair? Field day? Creative class presentations?) in one snapshot. Younger kids can draw pictures of the event, while older kids are likely to have a photo on their phone they’d be willing to share. Assemble them on a bulletin board—real-world or digital—with a few words from each student about what made that moment so special.
Instead of counting down the days until the end, count up the days from the year behind you! Get students counting by having them use a calendar to figure out how many Mondays you’ve had this year, how many Fridays, how many P.E. days, and how many Jell-O-in-the-cafeteria days. Then work together to make a bar graph and hang it on the wall.
Take a break and let the students lead the class for a change. If you’re reviewing material for finals or another end-of-year test, have each student (or a group) lead the review session on a particular topic. You can also have your students create their own lesson on a topic they’re passionate about. Or have kids in one grade make and present lessons on what students in the grade below them can expect to learn the following year. There are a lot of options here, and all of them give you time to take a breather!
19. Talk behind each other’s backs (really!)
Have your students help tape a piece of lined paper to one another’s backs. Have each student get out a felt-tipped marker (not a Sharpie—it may bleed through). Set a timer and put on some favorite music. Let the students mix around the room and write a positive message on each student’s paper. For example, The best thing about you is …, What I appreciate most about you is …, I remember …, etc. After a set amount of time, have students stop, remove their papers from their backs, and enjoy reading the words of love from their classmates. (For a socially distanced spin, create a Google Slide or Padlet template for each student instead.)
Little ones especially have a hard time with the end of a school year. Next year lots of things will be different, and that can be a sad and even scary thought for some. Read-alouds are simple but powerful end-of-year activities. Check out these 11 End-of-Year Books To Bring Your Class Closure, like The Egg by M.P. Robertson, to spark conversations about what kids have learned and what lies ahead.
22. Dream about the summer ahead
Third Grade Love
Here’s an end-of-year assignment that includes both art and writing. Have kids draw a portrait of themselves, then use the template at the link below to cut out and decorate an enormous pair of sunglasses. On the glasses, have them write about their summer plans (or the things they’d like to do).
Students get a chance to practice public speaking in a very meaningful way with this end-of-year activity. Get a few liters of ginger ale and plastic champagne flutes from a party store, arrange your students in a circle, and have everyone say something—maybe a goal for the next school year, well-wishes for their peers, a favorite memory. After everyone has spoken, lift your glasses with a cheer and celebrate to end the school year.
24. Author a six-word memoir
Six-Word Memoirs Project
This project has taken the world by storm. In six words, can you capture the essence of your school year? Kids can spend a little or a lot of time on this one, refining their words and even illustrating them. Collect them all into a slideshow (anonymous, if kids prefer) to share on the last day.
This is one of the most exciting end-of-year activities for students. Take them to visit the classrooms they’ll be in next year. Arrange to spend some time with the teachers, talk to the students, and hear more about what they’ll be learning. This is a good way to allay fears many kids have about moving on from a classroom where they’ve been comfortable. (You can do this as a Zoom tour and meet-and-greet too.)
In this fun end-of-year activity that’s perfect for social studies, have your students design a “Great Seal” for their school. First, break them into groups to talk about what makes your school special and memorable for them. Then, have each kid (or group) create their own “seal” based on the ones used by states and cities. This project is especially meaningful for kids about to move on to another school like junior high.
Time magazine can’t have all the fun! Help your students compile a list of the “People of the Year” for your class. Include people important to your classroom (the custodian, the principal, everyone’s favorite “lunch lady”) along with classroom visitors and speakers from the year. Add in some people from current events and pop culture (the current president, a favorite musician) and even folks they studied throughout the year (Abraham Lincoln, Amelia Earhart). Try to take or draw portraits of each, and assign each student to write a brief bio of one of the people included.
28. Write letters or tips for next year’s class
Diary of a Public School Teacher
Who better to advise next year’s class on what they’ll need to succeed than the kids who’ve just finished doing it? They can write letters on their own or work together to create a master list of what it takes to make it in the next grade.
Ask your students to create a wall-worthy piece of art that reflects something they learned in science. Did you study plants? Maybe a watercolor of flowers. Or if you studied space, a cosmic-inspired number. Send their work home to help them remember, or collect them to create a bulletin board that will inspire next year’s class about what they’ll be learning.
30. Host an open-mic night
Teaching … the Art of Possibility
Encourage kids to share the writing they’ve done in (and out of) class with an open mic event. Set up a stage complete with microphone and stool—get great tips for this at the link below—then bring kids up to tell a story or recite a poem. Overcome stage fright with a cool casual vibe and plenty of snacks. Invite friends and family to attend or watch virtually via Zoom.
Write several story titles like “The Great Summer Adventure,” “How My Teacher Lost Her Mind,” or “My Teacher, My Hero” at the top of blank pages. Then, have each student start a story and, after five minutes, pass the story to a neighbor who will continue writing. (Do this digitally on Google Docs if you’re not able to share supplies from person to person.) Continue writing round-robin style until you have several stories to read aloud to the class.
32. Publish a year-end newspaper
Teaching With a Mountain View
You can do this one as a group or individually. Create a basic newspaper template and have the class fill in the front page news. Recap the year, offer advice, illustrate favorite memories, and more. Then, pass these on to the grade below to give them an idea of what lies ahead.
33. Perform a high school (or middle or elementary school) musical number
Break your students into groups and have them create (and perform) musical numbers commemorating the year. They can write new words to existing tunes, choreograph a lip-synch performance to an inspiring or memorable song, or even come up with something entirely new. Invite parents or other classes to a final-day performance, in person or online.
34. Assemble a Book Hall of Fame
Kerri Pierce via Pinterest
Have each student write (or draw) a reflection on the best book they read during the year. Then, save their reflections and post them on a bulletin board or Padlet so that next year’s students can glean reading ideas.
Looking for game-based end-of-year activities? Play charades! Have each student write out one memorable moment from the school year on a slip of paper. Collect all the slips in a bag, hat, or the like. Divide kids into teams and have them come up one team at a time, choose a slip, and act out the memory for the group. No need to keep score—the goal is just to relive all the happy memories from the year.
36. Start a school graffiti wall
The Literacy Leader
Choose a wall in your school or classroom and encourage kids to sign their names and date with a quote or other memory. Use permanent markers or small paintbrushes. Each year, photograph the wall and then paint over it to start anew. If you have enough space, these walls can last longer and only be painted over every so many years, creating much more enduring memories. No wall room? Try a bulletin board or large sheet of paper instead.
Take a day or a week to pass on important things you want your kids to know as they move on in life without you. Share poems, songs, TED Talks, quotes, books, and tips that you think will help them along the way. Don’t forget to include simple life lessons (registering and preparing to vote, protecting yourself online, how to behave on an elevator) that school usually doesn’t teach you. Learn more about this end-of-year activity here.
38. Print up a growing tree
Martin Koprowski via Pinterest
Capture each student’s fingerprint as a tree leaf. Label them with their names, then hang them in your room from year to year so kids can see who’s come before them.
Throughout the year, have students save their best work in a folder or box. At the end of the year, each student chooses their favorite items to display in a portfolio like a binder or display board. Invite parents and friends to come to view everyone’s achievements.
40. Put together time capsules
Mrs. Richardson’s Class
Time capsules are classic end-of-year activities. Students will have so much fun assembling time capsules to be opened someday in the future. These can be as simple as a plastic water bottle filled with written memories or a shoebox stuffed with items to represent what kids did and learned over the school year.
Classroom walls can start to look empty at the end of the year as you take things down to prepare for summer. Temporarily fill in the space with a long strip of butcher paper, then have kids create a timeline of the year. Break it down by month, then ask kids what they remember. Prompt their memories by having them look over their work (what a fun way to review!), and don’t forget to include events, speakers, and holiday celebrations.
42. Fill out an end-of-year roundup
Squarehead Teachers
Sometimes you just need a quick activity that doesn’t take a lot of prep, and that’s where this free printable comes in. Personalize it by taking and printing a photo of each student, or have them draw their own portrait in the space provided.
Build in time to celebrate the end of the year with some fun outdoor activities. Rotate teams for each activity so your students get a chance to mingle with all of their classmates. Here are 25 Clever Outdoor Games to choose from.
44. Put on a show
This is a fun end-of-year activity that could be presented to parents, a younger class, your whole school, or just for your own class. Students can perform skits, dramatic readings, act out a story, showcase a talent, or read a favorite piece from a book they read.
45. Create an end-of-year ABC book
Teaching With a Mountain View
You use them for novel studies, so why not create an ABC book for highlights of the school year? For each letter, students come up with one memorable event or lesson, write a few sentences, and draw a picture. Think of it as a literacy lesson/memory book activity.
One of our favorite end-of-year activities is a book museum walk. Students choose one of their favorite books and create a poster, diorama, trifold, or even dress up as a character. They can work on their projects at home or at school, and their project should provide a sneak peek or trailer of the book. When the students are ready to present, invite another class or grade level in to view the “museum.”
End-of-year activities can help wrap up subject matters like geography. For this fun assignment, have your students research different symbols that represent something unique about your state. Each symbol they discover will become an app for their homemade iPad. Have them draw the symbols on the outside of each app, and then write a brief summary about the symbols on the inside.
Traditionally, one of the classic school end-of-year activities was field trips. But sometimes budgets don’t cooperate, so why not take it virtual? They’re fun and easy, and no permission slips, chaperones, or packed lunches are needed! Check out our favorite Amazing Educational Virtual Field Trips.
49. Pump up the school spirit
We Are Teachers
From dress-up days and community-building activities to outreach and volunteer projects, Spirit Week activities are a great way to end the year on a high note. Check out our massive list of School Spirit Week Ideas.
50. Story writing
Have each student start a story and then leave it on their desk. At your signal, have students rotate to the next desk, and give them a minute to read the story there and then add to the story. Keep rotating, giving students the chance to add to as many stories as you have time for. Let students know when you’re on your last rotation so they can wrap the story up.
51. Make a wearable keepsake
Happiness Is Homemade
Mark your time together by making fun tie-dyed bandannas or decorating T-shirts with everyone’s signature or handprint. Or try making friendship bracelets or necklaces. Every time your students wear one of these items, they’ll fondly remember your year together.
Photo booths are a great way to start the school year, but they’re also terrific for the last days of the year. Help kids capture memories with their friends before they part for the summer.
Kids are already dreaming of how they’ll fill the summer hours, so this last-minute math activity will be pure fun! Give kids a budget (say, $2,500), then send them off to research whether their dream trip can be accomplished. Make sure they include airfare or gas money, lodgings, food, spending money, and all the incidentals that add up when you travel.
54. Host a book tasting
Teaching With a Mountain View
Expand your readers’ palates with a book tasting and set them up for summer reading. A book tasting gives students the opportunity to sample some juicy reads in a short period of time and come away with a wish list of titles.
Provide kids with lots of options, then have them compile their own bucket lists for the summer days ahead. In addition to fun items, encourage them to add ways to help others or learn something new too.
Add a Random Acts of Kindness Challenge to your lineup of end-of-year activities and make it all the way to the finish line with good vibes. To get started, check out Random Acts of Kindness: 30 Activities for Elementary Students from American Montessori Society
57. See who knows you best
@kinderandcactus via Instagram
Challenge your kiddos to show who knows you best. Record your students’ answers on chart paper with markers or use Google Slides. It’s amazing how much kids pick up on our likes and dislikes!
Earth Day is fast approaching (April 22), though there really is never a bad time to celebrate Mother Earth. It’s important to teach students the environmental benefits of recycling, like conserving energy and natural resources and reducing air and water pollution, all year long. While recycling breaks down old items in order to create something new, upcyling makes something new from an existing object in its current state. Challenge your students to create something unique and wonderful from preexisting items like magazines, plastic water bottles, tin cans, egg cartons, and more. Check out our list of the best recycled crafts for Earth Day or any day, and give some of them a try!
We Are Teachers
1. Make wildflower seed bombs
Give back to Mother Earth with these easy-to-make seed bombs. Blend together used scraps of construction paper, water, and wildflower seeds in a food processor, then form them into tiny muffins. Let them dry, then toss them in the ground. As the seed bombs receive sun and rain, the paper will eventually compost and the seeds will germinate.
Take your kids on a nature walk to gather interesting leaves, flowers, berries, and the like. To make the wreath forms, braid together strips of old T-shirts and form them into a circle. Then attach natural items into the crevices and secure with clear fishing line or hot glue. Attach a ribbon at the top to hang your wreath.
Create a cozy place for all the creepy-crawlies to hang out. Cut a two-liter plastic bottle into two cylinders, then stuff it with sticks, pine cones, bark, or any other natural material. Make sure to pack the organic material tightly. Then loop a piece of twine or yarn around the two cylinders and hang your bug hotel from a tree branch or fence.
Textiles make up a huge portion of municipal solid waste—over 16 million tons per year. Teach your kids to repurpose old material that would otherwise end up in the landfill by putting together a cozy quilt.
We love Earth Day crafts that result in a practical object you can use around the house. This project is best for older students who have the patience and dexterity necessary to carefully roll their magazine strips and glue them together.
Pay tribute to our lovely planet on Earth Day with these fuzzy moss balls. Kids who love getting their hands dirty will particularly love this craft. All you do is squish pre-soaked sphagnum moss into a tight ball, wrap it tightly with blue yarn or strips of discarded T-shirts, layer more moss and more yarn, etc., until you’ve created an Earth-shaped orb. Finish with a loop of yarn and hang it in a sunny window. To keep your moss ball healthy, simply spray it with water every couple of days.
Scraps of paper are the only supplies you need for this recycled-flower-garden activity and lesson. The measurement and math element is an added bonus.
Save those paper rolls so your class can customize their own binoculars! Have a variety of paints, stickers, and the like on hand so your students can really personalize their bird-watchers.
Aluminum beverage pop-tops become wearable jewelry thanks to some ninja ribbon work. Show this video on your interactive whiteboard to give your students the full 411, and then get crafting!
Go outside for a nature walk and gather sticks, weeds, and pickable blooms, then bring the treasures inside to be showcased in recycled jar lids. With some wax paper and string, your students can craft this surprisingly beautiful recycled wind chime.
Brown paper bags become eco-canvases for artwork and a perfect way to adorn fridges for Earth Day. Bonus points if you can source handled bags because the handles serve as built-in artwork hangers.
Take students outside to collect small rocks and pebbles. Have them arrange the rocks into a pattern of their choice. Get creative, and try for as many different designs as you can!
This isn’t just any recycled crayon—it’s a gorgeous Earth crayon! You can make these with your kids using a muffin tin. You just need to sort out the right colors.
Recycling projects that use objects you may have lying around your garage or shed are some of our favorites. Grab that old rope you’ve been saving and create these adorable rope worms/snakes with your students.
Herald spring with this easy crowd-pleaser: the large plastic bottle bird feeder. This short video will teach kids how to get started constructing their feeders.
Tin cans are easy to get your hands on, and they can go a long way in organizing supplies. Get your kids involved by having them help decorate the cans. They’ll really take ownership of this, which will hopefully inspire them to keep supplies more organized.
Cut off the bottoms of beverage bottles or reuse food containers and jazz them up with bright-colored paper scraps. Except for the glue, these papier-mâché planters are composed solely of recycled materials.
Kids can work together to create an aluminum-can recycling center. Watch the video to get the simple instructions and learn how your school can make recycling fun and rewarding.
Recycling projects like these are the best since kids love robots. Be sure to have an extra pair of adult hands around to help with the hot glue for these Earth Day crafts.
Are these the sweetest Earth Day crafts ever? Plastic bottles from home become homes for fairies, thanks to paint, scissors, glue, and real or faux greenery.
This is an amazing recycled wall masterpiece. You could set it up on a cardboard backing and then let students add to it, paint it, and create with it whenever they have free time throughout the day.
Use bottle caps in a game of tic-tac-toe. They can also be turned into checkers. This would be a great makerspace activity. Give your kids several upcycled items and challenge them to create games with them.
We love how this upcycled magazine cut-paper art project can be modified for primary students or used to inspire sophisticated art by high school students.
A bottle gets a second life as a museum-worthy terrarium as well as a home for an environmental science project. Be sure to add the activated charcoal and moss for plastic bottle terrariums that flourish.
Your classroom studies of plant life, photosynthesis, and water conservation will get a boost with this hands-on crafting of a self-watering planter. The base? A good ol’ large plastic bottle.
Old newspapers find their spirit animal when they become recycled newspaper owls. All you need are markers, watercolors, and paper scraps to make them come alive.
Water bottles come together, as do your kids, to make this water bottle recycling center. This project combines teamwork with respect for our environment, a double win.
Cardboard is one of the easiest, least expensive materials you can get your hands on. Grab a ton of it and challenge your kids to make awesome creations. You never know what they might come up with.
Do you have a bunch of CDs lying around that never get played anymore? How about a box or drawer of markers that barely write? If you answered yes to these questions, then this is the perfect project for you.
These little ladybugs are so cute and yet so, so simple. Grab some bottle caps, paint, googly eyes, and glue and get ready to make some adorable friends!
Simple to make and beautiful to display, these coffee filter Earths are a cinch. Simply color with blue and green markers, then squirt with a water bottle.
How creative is this egg carton craft for Earth Day? All you need is egg carton sections, pipe cleaners, scissors, and craft paint, and voilà! Superhero goggles.
Salt dough crafts are so much fun to celebrate Earth Day! Make these colorful medallions, then attach string. Your kids will wear their Earth Day pride for all to see.
Looking for creative plant life cycle activities? We have 33 fun and free teaching ideas including videos, hands-on experiments, printables, and more. Your students will love learning about the plant life cycle and how they can help plants grow and thrive.
1. Read The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
Eric Carle’s The Tiny Seed is one of the best plant life cycle references for little ones. Listen to it for story time, then use the book as a springboard for further activities.
2. Start with an anchor chart
First Grade Fanatic via Pinterest
Have your students help you create an anchor chart of the plant life cycle, then post it in your classroom for reference as you do some hands-on learning.
If you need a strong video to kick off a lesson about seeds or the plant life cycle, this video is a good place to start.
4. See it grow in slow-mo
Check out this time-lapse video that shows the fascinating details of how a plant’s root system grows quickly over the course of a few days. After this, kids will definitely want to see it happen for themselves!
5. Spin a plant life cycle wheel
We Are Teachers
Grab the free printables and watch this video to learn how to turn them into an interactive learning tool with paper plates.
This is one of those classic plant life cycle activities every kid should try. Grow a bean seed in wet paper towels up against the side of a glass jar. Students will be able to see the roots form, the sprout take off, and the seedling reach for the sky!
As your seeds begin to grow, sort and draw the various stages. Little ones can learn simple vocab like root, sprout, and seedling. Older students can tackle advanced terms like cotyledon, monocot, and dicot.
Using magnifying glasses and tweezers, students will dissect flowers or food plants to learn the different parts. Handy tip: You don’t need separate plants for every student. Bring in one plant and give each student a different part.
Can’t grow a plant yourself? Sculpt one from clay instead! Watch this Claymation video for inspiration, then pull out the Play-Doh and get to work!
14. Don’t forget about pollinators!
Around the Kampfire
Seed-bearing plants require pollination, often helped along by insects like bees and butterflies. This pipe cleaner activity shows little ones how pollination works.
Plants that rely on seeds as part of their life cycle need to ensure they spread far and wide. Some plants even have exploding seed pods that help the process along! Learn about them in this cool activity.
After reading a story about what botanists do, students head outside to do a little field work themselves. Not only will they learn a lot, they may help clean up the school grounds!
Using a piece of paper and a paper clip, students will make a model of a maple seed. After they launch their seeds, they can watch them spin to the ground like helicopters.
This plant life cycle diagram uses paper shreds for soil, a cupcake liner for the flower, and more smart little details that kids will really appreciate.
The different colors found in leaves are created by different chemicals—chlorophyll, flavonoids, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. In this experiment, students will see if they can get the pigments in the leaves to separate through chromatography so they can take a closer look at the colors found inside leaves.
Integrate art into your plant life cycle activities! In this activity, students learn the importance of chlorophyll and its role in how a plant makes its own food.
Learning online? This free digital activity includes a printable version for kids to complete at home, but it can also be completed virtually to save paper.
Plants need many things to grow, including sunlight, water, and food. In this experiment, students will see which plant grows better, one in plain soil or one in fertilized soil.
Make 3D sunflowers with fold-out leaves that teach the life cycle of the sunflower. Then, try growing your own!
30. Do a plant-life-cycle book study
What I Have Learned
Break your students into small groups and have each group read one of these stories, then share what they learned with the class. From how plants grow and where our food comes from to the amazing power of seeds, your students will eat up these interesting stories.
This easy-to-follow and fun-to-watch video teaches kids all about germination—the process of the growth of a seed into a plant.
32. Keep a plant journal
Chalkboard Chatterbox
What better way to learn about the plant life cycle than with careful observation? Every few days after you plant your seeds, students will draw and label the changes that they see in their growing plant.
What are the steps of the scientific method, and what questions are important to ask at every stage? Our free scientific method posters answer these questions and more. Walk through the six steps with your students to help them understand the process real scientists go through, step by step.
Ways To Use the Scientific Method Posters:
Make large prints to brighten up your walls.
Create stations around the room featuring each poster for students to walk around and learn each step of the process.
Hand out individual copies of our one-pager featuring all six steps for students to add to their lab notebooks.
To get the entire full-size poster set, just submit your email on the form on this page.
Step 1: Ask questions
Good questions are at the heart of scientific learning.
Step 2: Research
Students will have to go beyond Google for this step!
Step 3: Hypothesize
What do students think will happen?
Step 4: Experiment
Testing, testing, one, two, three …
Step 5: Analyze
Time to crunch the numbers.
Step 6: Share
As scientists, we all learn from one another.
Plus, a student one-pager
The poster set includes a hand-out that students can add to their notebooks to help them learn all six steps.
How To Use the Scientific Method in Your Classroom
Students all the way from kindergarten through grade 12 can benefit from experimenting! It encourages critical thinking and curiosity while also practicing those valuable science skills. Start with a simple science experiment, lab, or demonstration as a class. Then, ask students to complete the steps of the scientific method as outlined on the posters to practice this process that real-life scientists use every day. Dive deeper into the scientific method with experiment ideas for kids of all ages and a full breakdown here.
Climate change can feel like an insurmountable problem to many students. How can they have a meaningful impact on this global issue? The right resources can make all the difference in helping young people see how they can take action in their own community to make a real difference. This climate action resource kit from World Wildlife Fund’s Wild Classroom contains an informative slideshow as well as several lesson plans that are a perfect place to start.
One common refrain you might hear is, “It snowed 20 inches today, so explain how global warming is real.” That’s when it’s time to tackle the difference between weather (the current conditions) and climate (the average of those conditions over time in a particular region). Make an anchor chart like this one from Hayley Taylor on Pinterest. Then try a sorting activity to help kids understand the difference between the two. You can make your own cards, or find them on sites like Teachers Pay Teachers.
4. Measure temperatures to learn about the greenhouse effect
Kid Minds
Global warming is a key component of climate change, and it’s caused in part by an enhanced greenhouse effect. Climate change activities like this one show kids just what that term means. Place two thermometers side by side in a sunny spot. Put one inside a covered glass jar, and leave the other one outside. Observe the temperatures after about 20 minutes to see which is higher. Learn more about this activity at Kid Minds.
5. Meet the greenhouse gases
NASA
Now that kids have seen the greenhouse effect in action, introduce them to the gases that make it happen. These fun trading cards of the six major atmospheric gases teach students what they are and where they come from. Each card has two sides, showing the positive and negative effects of that gas. Get the free printable cards from NASA here.
6. Make edible greenhouse gas models
Science Sparks
Dive deeper into the chemistry of greenhouse gases by making edible models from toothpicks and gumdrops. Science Sparks has all the details.
7. Do a climate change word search
Woo Jr.
Try this free printable word search to reinforce the terms kids are learning during climate change activities. It’s part of this larger free lesson plan from Woo Jr.
8. Eat some Earth toast
Left Brain Craft Brain
Show kids how too much heat can make things (like deserts and other inland areas) hotter and drier with this fun edible experiment. Kids use milk paint to create “Earth” from bread, then bake it in a toaster oven to see what happens. Learn more from Left Brain Craft Brain.
9. Learn about conditions affecting ice melt
Science Learning Hub
The accelerated melting of the polar ice caps and glaciers is of huge concern to climate change scientists. This simple experiment shows how ice in water melts faster than ice on land. Find out more from Science Learning Hub.
10. Explore how melting ice affects sea levels
Science Buddies
The North Polar Ice Cap sits on water, while the South Polar Ice Cap is on land. Learn which of these two can cause sea levels to rise with this experiment, perfect for a science fair project. Get the how-to from Science Buddies.
11. Simulate melting polar ice caps and icebergs
National Geographic
Ice-melting experiments are very helpful climate change activities for seeing sea level rise in action, so here’s another one to try. If you’re unable to perform this one in person, show National Geographic’s video instead.
12. Discover how melting sea ice affects animals too
Kitchen Counter Chronicle
Humans aren’t the only ones affected by global warming and sea ice melt. In this experiment, kids try to help model polar bears stay afloat as the ice around them starts to melt. Learn more from Kitchen Counter Chronicle.
13. Trap particles to learn about air pollution
Education.com
Particulates in the air are another cause of global warming and climate change. This experiment uses Vaseline and index cards to capture visible particulates from indoor and outdoor spaces, so students can compare them. Get the details at Education.com.
14. Water plants with acid solutions
Education.com
Acid rain isn’t in the news as much these days, thanks to the incredible effectiveness of the EPA’s Acid Rain Program. It’s still good for kids to learn about, though, since when unchecked, it can do real damage to plants and the environment. Try this experiment, in which kids water plants with regular water and a lemon juice–water solution, to see the effects. Learn how it works from Education.com.
15. Play the Carbon Cycle Game
COSEE
Carbon is another big contributor to global warming and climate change. Learn how the natural carbon cycle works, and how too much carbon throws the cycle off, with this free printable game from COSEE.
16. Track your carbon footprint
Kitchen Counter Chronicle
Good climate change activities should include action items kids and their families can take. Explore the term “carbon footprint” and then brainstorm ways to reduce it with this cute idea from Kitchen Counter Chronicle.
Setting up a school science lab and maintaining it throughout the year can take a lot of time, effort, and funds. That’s why it’s important to know who offers the best science lab equipment for schools and classrooms. Teachers need sturdy apparatus that can hold up to lots of use, as well as affordable supplies like chemicals and specimens. The science lab equipment suppliers here are trusted names in the business, and many cater directly to schools. You’re sure to find what you need at these sites (and more!).
Amazon
As you might expect from a site that offers just about everything, Amazon can be a great source for affordable science lab equipment and supplies. When you know exactly what you need, check Amazon for the best prices and shipping times. This is especially convenient if your school has an Amazon account, as it can make purchase orders and other requirements a whole lot easier.
Top science lab picks from Amazon:
Arbor Scientific
Physics teachers: This is your lab supplier! Arbor specializes in physics and physical science equipment and supplies, including their popular car kits for teaching concepts like acceleration, solar energy, and more. Note that the website can be a little difficult to browse—it works best if you have a specific item in mind from reviewing their catalog first.
Top picks from Arbor Scientific:
Carolina Biological Supply
Don’t let the name fool you: This company offers an incredibly wide array of science lab supplies and equipment for all STEM subjects. This is probably the best site for biological and organic specimens, including living and preserved organisms. But you’ll also find chemistry supplies, lab furniture, physics equipment, and even e-learning resources. Fun fact: Carolina got its start more than 90 years ago, when a college professor made money by selling extra specimens he had collected in the field for his own classroom!
Top picks from Carolina Biological Supply:
Home Science Tools
Homeschool families are the target audience for Home Science Tools products, with smaller quantities and complete kits geared toward learning at home. Their items cover chemistry, biology, earth science, space, physics, and engineering, with equipment and kits for all ages, pre-K to 12. Frequent shoppers can join their Rewards program, which offers 2% to 6% back every time you shop.
Top picks from Home Science Tools:
Fisher Scientific
This science lab equipment powerhouse supplies professional-grade labs, making them a great place to find more specialized chemicals and lab instruments. Start on their Classroom Science Equipment and Instruments page to find items best for schools and students. They also offer helpful tools like a Microscopes Buying Guide and their Headline Discoveries newsletter, with clever tips and lesson ideas for science educators.
Top picks from Fisher Scientific:
Flinn Scientific
For many science teachers, Flinn is their top one-stop shop for equipment, supplies, and even curriculum needs. Their lab safety courses are a perennial favorite, providing top-notch training for students with minimal teacher stress. They also offer everything from dissection supplies, chemicals and other consumables, STEM kits, lab furniture, and beyond. If you can’t find it here, your classroom science lab probably doesn’t need it!
Top picks from Flinn Scientific:
PASCO Scientific
PASCO’s specialty is STEM technology made specifically for classrooms and students. Though they offer a range of lab instruments and supplies, this company is better known for cool products for physics labs like projectile launchers and sensor equipment. PASCO also offers curriculum and textbooks for K-12 students, plus science kits and bundles to make shopping easier.
Top picks from PASCO Scientific:
School Outfitters
This company supplies furnishings for every kind of classroom, including a wide selection for science labs. This is a terrific place to find furniture like lab tables and workstations, along with must-haves like fume hoods, safety equipment, and chemical storage. If you’re setting up a whole new science classroom, start here for school-centered solutions and ideas.
Top picks from School Outfitters:
School Specialty
Many schools use this company for their various supply needs, and their selection of science equipment covers all the basic subjects. We especially like School Specialty for their Makerspace section, which helps educators stock on up STEAM supplies that inspire kids to create. You can also find supplies made with elementary students in mind, which not all science lab suppliers offer.
The cool thing about high school science fair projects is that kids are old enough to tackle some pretty amazing concepts. Some science experiments for high school are just advanced versions of simpler projects they did when they were younger, with detailed calculations or fewer instructions. Other projects involve fire, chemicals, or other materials they couldn’t use before.
Note: Some of these projects were written as classroom labs, but can be adapted to become science fair projects too. Just consider variables that you can change up, like materials or other parameters. That changes a classroom activity into a true scientific method experiment!
To make it easier to find the right high school science fair project idea for you, we’ve rated all the projects by difficulty and the materials needed:
Difficulty:
Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much anytime
Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time or effort
Materials:
Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete
Jump to:
Biology and Life Science High School Science Fair Projects
Explore the living world with these biology science project ideas, learning more about plants, animals, the environment, and much more.
Extract DNA from an onion
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
You don’t need a lot of supplies to perform this experiment, but it’s impressive nonetheless. Turn this into a science fair project by trying it with other fruits and vegetables too.
Re-create Mendel’s pea plant experiment
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Gregor Mendel’s pea plant experiments were some of the first to explore inherited traits and genetics. Try your own cross-pollination experiments with fast-growing plants like peas or beans.
Make plants move with light
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
By this age, kids know that many plants move toward sunlight, a process known as phototropism. So high school science fair projects on this topic need to introduce variables into the process, like covering seedling parts with different materials to see the effects.
Test the five-second rule
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
We’d all like to know the answer to this one: Is it really safe to eat food you’ve dropped on the floor? Design and conduct an experiment to find out (although we think we might already know the answer).
Find out if color affects taste
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Just how interlinked are all our senses? Does the sight of food affect how it tastes? Find out with a fun food science fair project like this one!
See the effects of antibiotics on bacteria
Home Science Tools
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
Bacteria can be divided into two groups: gram-positive and gram-negative. In this experiment, students first determine the two groups, then try the effects of various antibiotics on them. You can get a gram stain kit, bacillus cereus and rodospirillum rubrum cultures, and antibiotic discs from Home Science Tools.
Experiment with the effects of light on the carbon cycle. Make this science fair project even more interesting by adding some small aquatic animals like snails or fish into the mix!
Learn more: Carbon Cycle at Science Lessons That Rock
Look for cell mitosis in an onion
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
Cell mitosis (division) is actually easy to see in action when you look at onion root tips under a microscope. Students will be amazed to see science theory become science reality right before their eyes. Adapt this lab into a high school science fair project by applying the process to other organisms too.
Test the effects of disinfectants
Amy Brown Science
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
Grow bacteria in a petri dish along with paper disks soaked in various antiseptics and disinfectants. You’ll be able to see which ones effectively inhibit bacteria growth.
Growing vegetables without soil (hydroponics) is a popular trend, allowing people to garden just about anywhere.
More Life Sciences and Biology Science Fair Projects for High School
Use these questions and ideas to design your own experiment:
Explore ways to prevent soil erosion.
What are the most accurate methods of predicting various weather patterns?
Try out various fertilization methods to find the best and safest way to increase crop yield.
What’s the best way to prevent mold growth on food for long-term storage?
Does exposure to smoke or other air pollutants affect plant growth?
Compare the chemical and/or bacterial content of various water sources (bottled, tap, spring, well water) etc.
Explore ways to clean up after an oil spill on land or water.
Conduct a wildlife field survey in a given area and compare it to results from previous surveys.
Find a new use for plastic bottles or bags to keep them out of landfills.
Devise a way to desalinate sea water and make it safe to drink.
Chemistry High School Science Fair Projects
Bunsen burners, beakers and test tubes, and the possibility of (controlled) explosions? No wonder chemistry is such a popular topic for high school science fair projects!
Break apart covalent bonds
Teaching Without Chairs
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Break the covalent bond of H2O into H and O with this simple experiment. You only need simple supplies for this one. Turn it into a science fair project by changing up the variables—does the temperature of the water matter? What happens if you try this with other liquids?
Are the calorie counts on your favorite snacks accurate? Build your own calorimeter and find out! This kit from Home Science Tools has all the supplies you’ll need.
Detect latent fingerprints
Hub Pages
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Forensic science is engrossing and can lead to important career opportunities too. Explore the chemistry needed to detect latent (invisible) fingerprints, just like they do for crime scenes!
Tweak this basic concept to create a variety of high school chemistry science fair projects. Change the temperature, surface area, pressure, and more to see how reaction rates change.
Determine whether sports drinks provide more electrolytes than OJ
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
Are those pricey sports drinks really worth it? Try this experiment to find out. You’ll need some special equipment for this one; buy a complete kit at Home Science Tools.
Turn flames into a rainbow
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
You’ll need to get your hands on a few different chemicals for this experiment, but the wow factor will make it worth the effort! Make it a science project by seeing if different materials, air temperature, or other factors change the results.
Discover the size of a mole
Amy Brown Science
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
The mole is a key concept in chemistry, so it’s important to ensure students really understand it. This experiment uses simple materials like salt and chalk to make an abstract concept more concrete. Make it a project by applying the same procedure to a variety of substances, or determining whether outside variables have an effect on the results.
Cook up candy to learn mole and molecule calculations
Dunigan Science on TpT
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
This edible experiment lets students make their own peppermint hard candy while they calculate mass, moles, molecules, and formula weights. Tweak the formulas to create different types of candy and make this into a sweet science fair project!
Take a closer look at an everyday item: soap! Use oils and other ingredients to make your own soap, learning about esters and saponification. Tinker with the formula to find one that fits a particular set of parameters.
Learn more: Saponification at Chemistry Solutions on TpT
Uncover the secrets of evaporation
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Explore the factors that affect evaporation, then come up with ways to slow them down or speed them up for a simple science fair project.
More Chemistry Science Fair Projects for High School
These questions and ideas can spark ideas for a unique experiment:
Compare the properties of sugar and artificial sweeteners.
Explore the impact of temperature, concentration, and seeding on crystal growth.
Test various antacids on the market to find the most effective product.
What is the optimum temperature for yeast production when baking bread from scratch?
Compare the vitamin C content of various fruits and vegetables.
How does temperature affect enzyme-catalyzed reactions?
Investigate the effects of pH on an acid-base chemical reaction.
Devise a new natural way to test pH levels (such as cabbage leaves).
What’s the best way to slow down metal oxidation (the form of rust)?
How do changes in ingredients and method affect the results of a baking recipe?
Physics High School Science Fair Projects
When you think of physics science projects for high school, the first thing that comes to mind is probably the classic build-a-bridge. But there are plenty of other ways for teens to get hands-on with physics concepts. Here are some to try.
Remove the air in a DIY vacuum chamber
Instructables
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
You can use a vacuum chamber to do lots of cool high school science fair projects, but a ready-made one can be expensive. Try this project to make your own with basic supplies.
Looking for a simple but showy high school science fair project? Build your own mini Tesla coil and wow the crowd!
Boil water in a paper cup
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Logic tells us we shouldn’t set a paper cup over a heat source, right? Yet it’s actually possible to boil water in a paper cup without burning the cup up! Learn about heat transfer and thermal conductivity with this experiment. Go deeper by trying other liquids like honey to see what happens.
Build a better lightbulb
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Emulate Edison and build your own simple light bulb! You can turn this into a science fair project by experimenting with different types of materials for filaments.
Measure the speed of light—with your microwave
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Grab an egg and head to your microwave for this surprisingly simple experiment! By measuring the distance between cooked portions of egg whites, you’ll be able to calculate the wavelength of the microwaves in your oven, and in turn, the speed of light.
Generate a Lichtenberg figure
Science Notes
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
See electricity in action when you generate and capture a Lichtenberg figure with polyethylene sheets, wood, or even acrylic and toner. Change the electrical intensity and materials to see what types of patterns you can create.
Explore the power of friction with sticky note pads
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic
Ever try to pull a piece of paper out of the middle of a big stack? It’s harder than you think it would be! That’s due to the power of friction. In this experiment, students interleave the sheets of two sticky note pads, then measure how much weight it takes to pull them apart. The results are astonishing!
Build a cloud chamber to prove background radiation
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
Ready to dip your toe into particle physics? Learn about background radiation and build a cloud chamber to prove the existence of muons.
Measure the effect of temperature on resistance
Science Project
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
This is a popular and classic science fair experiment in physics. You’ll need a few specialized supplies, but they’re pretty easy to find.
A basic bottle rocket is pretty easy to build, but it opens the door to lots of different science fair projects. Design a powerful launcher, alter the rocket so it flies higher or farther, or use only recycled materials for your flyer.
More Physics Science Fair Projects for High School
Design your own experiment in response to these questions and prompts.
Determine the most efficient solar panel design and placement.
What’s the best way to eliminate friction between two objects?
Explore the best methods of insulating an object against heat loss.
What effect does temperature have on batteries when stored for long periods of time?
Test the effects of magnets or electromagnetic fields on plants or other living organisms.
Determine the best angle and speed of a bat swing in baseball.
What’s the best way to soundproof an area or reduce noise produced by an item?
Explore methods for reducing air resistance in automotive design.
Use the concepts of torque and rotation to perfect a golf swing.
Compare the strength and durability of various building materials.
Engineering High School STEM Fair Projects
Many schools are changing up their science fairs to STEM fairs, to encourage students with an interest in engineering to participate. Many great engineering science fair projects start with a STEM challenge, like those shown here. Use these ideas to spark a full-blown project to build something new and amazing!
Solve a current environmental issue
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
A science fair project can also be an entry to the Slingshot Challenge. Produce a 1-minute video by February 1, 2024, with a solution to a current environmental problem (think: uniting creative waste reducers on social media or rehabilitating forests affected by fire) for the chance to receive up to $10,000 in funding.
Construct a model maglev train
Supermagnete
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Maglev trains may just be the future of mass transportation. Build a model at home, and explore ways to implement the technology on a wider basis.
Wind energy is renewable, making it a good solution for the fossil fuel problem. For a smart science fair project, experiment to find the most efficient wind turbine design for a given situation.
Re-create Da Vinci’s flying machine
Student Savvy
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Da Vinci sketched several models of “flying machines” and hoped to soar through the sky. Do some research into his models and try to reconstruct one of your own.
Smartwatches are ubiquitous these days, so pretty much anyone can wear a heart-rate monitor on their wrist. But do they work any better than one you can build yourself? Get the specialized items you need like the Arduino LilyPad Board on Amazon.
Race 3D printed cars
Instructables
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Advanced
3D printers are a marvel of the modern era, and budding engineers should definitely learn to use them. Use Tinkercad or a similar program to design and print race cars that can support a defined weight, then see which can roll the fastest! (No 3D printer in your STEM lab? Check the local library. Many of them have 3D printers available for patrons to use.)
Hydroponics is the gardening wave of the future, making it easy to grow plants anywhere with minimal soil required. For a science fair STEM engineering challenge, design and construct your own hydroponic garden capable of growing vegetables to feed a family. This model is just one possible option.
Delve into robotics with this engineering project! This kit includes all the materials you need, with complete video instructions. Once you’ve built the basic structure, tinker around with the design to improve its strength, accuracy, or other traits.
Return to the good old days and build a radio from scratch! This makes a cool science fair project if you experiment with different types of materials for the antenna. It takes some specialized equipment, but fortunately, Home Science Tools has an all-in-one kit for this project.
The challenge? Set up a system to alert you when someone has broken into your house or classroom. This can take any form students can dream up, and you can customize this STEM high school science experiment for multiple skill levels. Keep it simple with an alarm that makes a sound that can be heard from a specified distance. Or kick it up a notch and require the alarm system to send a notification to a cell phone, like the project at the link.
Balsa wood bridges are OK, but this plastic bottle bridge is really impressive! In fact, students can build all sorts of structures using the concept detailed at the link. It’s the ultimate upcycled STEM challenge!
Sixth grade science covers a wide variety of topics and varies depending on the curriculum. We’ve rounded up the best 6th grade science fair projects to inspire kids, as well as classroom science demos and activities that will grab their attention.
To make it easier to find what you’re looking for, we’ve rated all the projects and activities by difficulty and the materials needed:
Difficulty:
Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much anytime
Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time or effort
Materials:
Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete
Jump to:
Biology and Earth Science 6th Grade Science Fair Projects
For students interested in anatomy, animals, geology, ecology, and more, these are the science fair projects they need!
Find the fastest way to ripen fruit
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Need to ripen those bananas or peaches in a hurry? Do some research and then experiment to find the fastest way to safely ripen fruit without sacrificing flavor.
Clean up an oil spill
Kitchen Counter Chronicle
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Learn why an oil spill is so devastating for wildlife and the ecosystem with this hands-on activity. Kids experiment to find the best way to clean up oil floating on water and rescue the animals affected by the spill.
Basic water-filtration systems are pretty simple, but they make terrific science fair projects. Experiment with different setups, and find a way to make safe drinking water for people who need it.
Shake it up with earthquake science
Love To Know
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Build simple model structures, then experiment to see how the actions of earthquakes affect them. Do research into what engineers and architects build in earthquake zones, then perform an experiment to see if you can improve on their findings.
Hydroponics is the hot new gardening trend, but is it really a better way to garden? Find out with a DIY hydroponics gardening setup, comparing the results with traditional container gardening.
Find out if chewing gum really helps improve test scores
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
One of the more popular 6th grade science fair projects answers the question: Does chewing gum affect test scores? You’ll be surprised by the results!
Create top-notch compost in a cup
The Happy Housewife
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
This is an easy science activity, and you can turn it into a science fair project by experimenting with different mixtures, layering, and conditions for your compost cups.
Do you really need to use poisons to keep ants out of your home? Explore other possible solutions in this science project idea.
Simulate a tsunami and find ways to protect people
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Build a model to simulate a tsunami, then come up with potential ways to minimize the damage future waves may cause.
Design a squirrel-proof bird feeder
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Squirrels can be real pests at backyard bird feeders, and people are always trying to come up with new solutions to the issue. Can you be the one who finally solves this pesky problem?
Chemistry 6th Grade Science Fair Projects
Students who love to mix up chemicals and explore the results will enjoy these 6th grade chemistry science fair ideas.
Compare baking powder and baking soda
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Baking powder and baking soda have similar names, but do they behave the same when used in a baking recipe? Bake up a few cakes and find out!
Devise a formula for creating the biggest soap bubbles
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Soap bubble formulas vary, and some allow you to make bigger bubbles than others. What does it take to make the biggest bubble of them all?
Learn if tea and cola damage teeth
Education.com
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium
Use eggshells to explore how various beverages can stain teeth in this classic 6th grade science fair project. (It also teaches important lessons about dental hygiene!)
The human body needs iron to be healthy, and many breakfast cereal boxes boast that they contain it. Conduct a 6th grade science fair project to find out if cereals really contain all the iron they say they do.
Find the best way to clean up old coins
Gally Kids
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Use common household items to make old oxidized coins clean and shiny again in this simple chemistry experiment. Form a hypothesis about which method will work best, then do some research to explain the results.
Which do you think has more sugar, a glass of Pepsi or one of orange juice? Boil away the water to find out in this 6th grade chemistry experiment.
Explore the properties of plastic made from milk
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Making milk from plastic is actually pretty simple. Turn it into a science fair project by learning more about its strength, durability, and flexibility, and proposing a practical use for it.
Determine which type of juice has the most vitamin C
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Vitamin C might not immediately cure your cold, but it definitely has health benefits. Does orange juice really have the most vitamin C? Conduct an experiment using an iodine titration method to learn the answer.
Physics and Engineering 6th Grade Science Fair Projects
Calling all tinkerers! Build, create, and engineer a science fair project using physics principals.
Build a powerful paper-plane launcher
Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Here’s a cool 6th grade science fair project. Design and build a paper-airplane launcher that can fly a plane farther than anyone else’s.
Adding ice to a glass of soda cools it off, but it also waters it down. See if you can find a fast way to cool down soda while it’s still in the can or bottle instead.
Launch a bottle rocket higher or more accurately
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
A basic water-powered rocket isn’t that hard to assemble, but you can turn it into a bona fide 6th grade science fair project by playing around with the design. Figure out how to launch it higher, or change the trajectory to hit a certain target.
Identify the best insulating material
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium
Insulating an item can prevent it from losing heat, like an insulated beverage bottle. What materials are the most effective insulators? How can you find out?
Drop parachutes to test air resistance
Education.com
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Use the scientific method to test different types of material and see which makes the most effective parachute. This is an easy project that’s perfect for kids interested in design and engineering.
Here’s one of those classic science fair projects that you can really customize to make your own. Try testing out a variety of fruits and veggies, or playing around with connecting several types of produce to see what happens. This inexpensive kit has all the supplies you need.
Engineer the strongest craft stick bridge
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic
This is a classic science activity for the classroom, but it works well for 6th grade science fair projects too. Form a hypothesis about the strongest type of bridge design, then build your own models to test it out.
Assemble the best simple motor
Home Science Tools
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Looking for an idea that’s impressive but not too complicated? Build your own simple motor! You only need a few special supplies, including insulated copper wire and neodymium magnets. Turn it into a true 6th grade science fair project by altering the variables to see if you can increase the speed, reduce the noise, or make other improvements.
Learn if room temperature affects candle burn rate
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
This is a simple experiment to conduct, and it’s inexpensive too. Burn birthday candles in a variety of temperatures to see if they burn faster in higher temps.
Determine how much money energy vampires are wasting in your home
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
So-called “energy vampires” use up energy even when they’re not in active use. And energy costs money. Determine how much energy is being wasted by energy vampires in your home, and figure out how much money you can save on an annual electric bill by getting rid of them.
6th Grade Science Classroom Demos and Hands-On Activities
Engage students with a live demonstration showing the concepts they’re studying. Even better, give them a chance to get hands-on and do the science themselves!
Assemble motorized tiny dancers
Babble Dabble Do
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Build a homopolar motor to make little spinning wire dancers. It takes a little practice to get it right, but it’s a really fun way to learn about motors and energy.
No Bluetooth speaker? No problem! Build your own from paper cups and a toilet paper tube. This is a 6th grade STEM challenge that’s sure to amaze kids.
This is a neat way to talk about our genes. Have each student add pony beads to their bracelet to represent different traits. Then they can compare their differences and similarities. It’s likely that no two students will have the same bracelets!
Students dissolve the calcium carbonate eggshell in vinegar and discover the membranes beneath that hold the egg together. It’s a unique and intriguing way to learn about acid-base reactions.
Learn more: Naked Egg at Making Memories With Your Kids
Experiment with naked eggs
Exploratorium
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Now, submerge those naked eggs in corn syrup and water to learn about osmosis. The eggs shrink or grow depending on the liquid they’re placed in. So cool!
Explore the properties of cohesion and adhesion with this simple experiment using only water and cotton string. Expand the learning by trying the same experiment with different materials and liquids.
The rockets used for space flight generally have more than one stage to give them the extra boost they need. This experiment uses balloons to model a two-stage rocket launch, teaching kids about the laws of motion.
Change the color of a liquid in an instant
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Want to see your kids gasp in amazement? Perform the iodine clock reaction. You only need a few drugstore chemicals to change the solution from clear to dark blue faster than students can blink.
Levitate a Ping-Pong ball
Buggy and Buddy
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic
Kids will get a kick out of this experiment, which is really all about Bernoulli’s principle. You only need plastic bottles, bendy straws, and Ping-Pong balls to make the science magic happen.
Build model lungs using a plastic water bottle and some balloons to learn more about the respiratory system. You can modify the experiment to demonstrate the effects of smoking too.
Learn more: Lungs Model at Surviving a Teacher’s Salary
Dissect an owl pellet
Gift of Curiosity
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium
Dig into an owl’s regurgitated meals (it’s not as gross as it sounds!) to discover what their diet consists of. Owl pellets are readily available online, and kids will be intrigued by what they find.
All you need is steel wool and a 9-volt battery to perform this science demo that’s bound to make their eyes light up! Kids learn about chain reactions, chemical changes, and more.
There are lots of cell model projects out there, but this might be one of the cutest ones we’ve seen! And it’s easier to assemble than you might think.
It’s surprisingly easy to pull a strand of DNA from this sweet fruit. Teach your kids about genetics and DNA with this 6th grade science project that uses only basic household supplies.
Design a biodome
Teach Engineering
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
There’s so much to learn in this 6th grade science project. Kids build a scale-model biodome to learn more about different environments and ecosystems, decomposition, the food web, and more.
This is another classic science demo that never fails to delight. Use the power of air pressure to suck a hard-boiled egg into a jar—no hands required.
Who knew such a simple material could be used to determine a substance’s acidity or alkalinity? Your students can explore acids and bases with this simple experiment.
Nothing gets kids more excited for science than hands-on experiments! Watch your 4th grade science students’ eyes light up when they try some of these activities. You’ll find physics, biology, engineering, chemistry, and more. These projects are easy to set up and really help drive the learning home. Get ready for some science fun!
To help you find the right 4th grade science projects and activities, we’ve rated them all based on difficulty and materials:
Difficulty:
Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much any time
Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time or effort
Materials:
Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete
Jump to:
4th Grade Science Fair Projects
These 4th grade experiments also work well as science fair projects. Try changing up the variables to turn it into a real experiment, then form a hypothesis and find out what happens.
Blow unpoppable bubbles
Learning Resources
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium
A soap bubble you can hold in your hand? It’s true! A little glycerin makes the soap bubble layers stronger, so you can even toss them gently from person to person.
No list of 4th grade science projects would be complete without crystals! Kids of all ages love growing crystals, making this an ideal way to learn about supersaturated solutions. The classic experiment gets a new twist when you have kids shape pipe cleaners into their own names first.
Your students will truly feel like scientists when they perform this classic experiment. They’ll prep the dishes with agar, swab different surfaces, and see what bacteria they grow. It’s gross science, but it’s also easy and impressive.
Early chemistry experiments with acids and bases are always a lot of fun. This one uses the natural acids of lemon juice and adds a little food coloring to up the wow factor.
Adding items like salt or sugar to water changes its density, as does the temperature itself. Turn this into a 4th grade science fair project by experimenting with different solutions and forming hypotheses about the results.
Colorful, simple, and impressive: It’s the trifecta of 4th grade science experiments! Wow your students by layering colored sugar water as you learn about density, adhesion, and cohesion.
Transform milk into plastic
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic
Plastic seems incredibly modern, but people have been making casein plastic from milk for centuries. In this 4th grade science project, students experiment to create the formula for the best milk plastic. They’ll be amazed at the results!
Simulate an earthquake
Teaching Science
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic
The ground under our feet may feel solid, but an earthquake changes that pretty quickly. Use Jell-O to simulate the Earth’s crust, then see if you can build an earthquake-proof structure for a practical and fascinating 4th grade science fair project.
Kids will really get into this project, indulging their creativity as they invent a plant or animal that’s never been seen before. They’ll need to be able to explain the biology behind it all, though, making this an in-depth project you can tailor to any class.
Yup, it’s gross … so kids will love it! Seal food items in a plastic bag and experiment to see what factors affect their decomposition, helped along by a heaping dose of mold.
With just a few supplies including balloons and a plastic bottle, you can make an impressive working model of human lungs. This makes a very cool 4th grade science fair project.
Explore the causes of tooth decay
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium
They hear it from their parents all the time, but this experiment will prove to your students once and for all what can happen to their teeth when exposed to different drinks such as soda and milk. This is one of those classic 4th grade science fair projects every kid should try.
4th Grade STEM Challenge Science Projects
For students who love to tinker, STEM challenges can spark incredible 4th grade science fair projects. Here are some of our favorites for this age group.
Who knew electricity could be so adorable? Explore the science behind batteries and motors by creating a simple “wigglebot.” Experiment with weights to throw the motor off balance and create fun designs.
You’ll only need a few supplies to guide your students in building their own LED flashlights. They’ll learn how electricity travels and the way circuits work. The slideshow available through the link makes this lesson a breeze for teachers too.
It’s not exactly the same model the military uses, but this simple hovercraft is a lot easier to build. An old CD and a balloon help demonstrate air pressure and friction in this fun 4th grade science experiment.
No projector in your classroom yet? No problem! Have your students help you construct one for your smartphone using a cardboard box and large magnifying glass. They’ll learn about convex lenses and how the brain processes images too.
Engineering activities make for amazing hands-on learning. Challenge your 4th grade students to build an elevator that can safely lift a certain amount of weight.
Make a model seismometer
Science Sparks
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic
Explore the science of seismology and learn how scientists study earthquakes and their effects. This model seismometer is easy to build and fun to experiment with.
Here’s one more classic to add to our list of 4th grade science experiments: the egg drop! The great thing about this project is that kids can do it at any age, with different materials and heights to mix it up. Hit the link below to get an egg drop project designed just for 4th graders.
Demonstrate Newton’s laws of motion with balloon rockets
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Who doesn’t love balloon rockets?! Your students will have a blast(off) displaying Newton’s third law of motion while learning about physics.
4th Grade Motion and Energy Science Activities
Many 4th grade science standards include units on energy and motion. These energy science activities offer cool hands-on ways to spice up your classroom lessons.
Flick marbles to learn transfer of energy
Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
This experiment is a bit of a thinker: What will happen when one moving marble hits several stationary marbles sitting in a row? Flick the first marble and find out!
Place a tennis ball on top of a basketball and bounce them together to see how energy transfers from one object to another. This one is very easy, and kids will love seeing how high they can get the balls to bounce!
Go an on energy scavenger hunt
The Science Penguin
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Emphasize the fact that energy is all around us in one form or another with this easy, free printable energy science activity. For a more advanced version, help students identify each kind of energy (kinetic, stored, heat, etc.) they find.
See a heat-powered windmill demonstrate convection
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic
Heat rises, and its interaction with cooler air creates convection currents. Find out how we can put convection to work for us with this 4th grade science craft project.
Capture waves in a bottle
What I Have Learned Teaching
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Here’s a quick and easy way to show wave action in a no-mess way. You don’t need to add a little ship to the bottle, but it does make it more fun!
Turn this one into a class cooperative activity, or try it as a science fair project idea. Either way, it’s an incredibly fascinating way to demonstrate the energy science of waves.
Use a Slinky to demonstrate types of waves
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium
A Slinky is more than just a toy—it’s also a terrific science manipulative! Use it to see waves in motion, both longitudinal and transverse.
Watch gravity beads prove Newton’s laws
Teach Beside Me
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium
You’ll need a loooooooong string of beads for this experiment. Make your own by taping dollar-store strings together, or buy a long bead garland. Pile them in a cup and get the beads going; it’s fascinating to watch inertia and gravity at work.
Glue together marbles in a variety of pyramidal patterns to form tops, then form hypotheses about which will spin best. Afterwards, kids will have fun new toys to play with!
Newton’s second law, concerning acceleration, force, and mass, can be a little hard to understand. This easy 4th grade science demo makes it a little easier to visualize.
More 4th Grade Science Projects and Activities
Use these cool science experiments to encourage a love of science, at home or in the classroom!
Measure a magnet’s attraction force
Ashleigh’s Education Journey
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Fourth grade science students already know that magnets attract metal objects. In this experiment, they’ll measure to see how close a magnet needs to be to an object for the attraction to work. Mix things up with different sizes of magnets and objects of various weights.
This is another one of those mind-blowing science demos that kids will want to try over and over again. Draw on a shallow bowl or plate with dry-erase markers, then slowly add water. The marker (which is insoluble in water) will float to the top!
Paint with sunscreen
Team Cartwright
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Prove that sunscreen really does provide protection from harmful UV rays. Turn this into a full-blown experiment by trying different SPFs or comparing it to other creams or lotions without SPF.
Choose a sunny day and grab some sidewalk chalk—your students are about to become sundials! They’ll practice measuring skills and learn about the movement of the sun across the sky.
If you’re learning about mineral resources, this quick hands-on activity is an interesting way to explore the effects of mining. Kids have two minutes to find as many chocolate chips as they can in a cookie. Will they smash it up and destroy it entirely? Pick them out one by one? This experiment can lead to intriguing discussions.
Use licorice sticks, four different-colored candies or fruits, and toothpicks to build an edible strand of DNA. Learn about chemical bonds and the helix shape, then eat your creation!
Digging in the dirt is fun, but it’s even more fun when you can eat the dirt when you’re finished! Create edible soil-layer models, complete with gummy worms, for a simple earth science project. (Find more edible science projects here.)
Experiment with simple chemical reactions as you turn pennies green using vinegar. (Don’t forget to tell students that the Statue of Liberty is green for this very same reason!)
Seeing Boyle’s law (which relates pressure and volume of gasses) in action makes it a little easier to understand and remember. This simple 4th grade science experiment uses marshmallows to make a great visual.
Learn more: Boyle’s Law at Hojo’s Teaching Adventures
Form ocean currents
Life Over C’s
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Learning about oceanography? Demonstrate how ocean currents form using warm and cold water (and a few plastic sea creatures for extra fun!).
This is a neat Earth Day activity. Discuss the differences between renewable and non-renewable resources, then have your class form “companies” to “mine” non-renewable resources. As they compete, they’ll see how quickly the resources are used. It’s a great tie-in to energy conservation discussions.
Use simple kitchen supplies to create a jar full of “blood” that includes plasma, platelets, red blood cells, and white blood cells. (You can even snack on the blood cells along the way!)
Learn about diffusion in the sweetest way! Grab a bag of Skittles for this quick and easy 4th grade science project.
Wow them with glowing water
Cool Science Experiments Headquarters
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium
Your students will ooh and aah at the result of this exploratory way to show phosphors in action with a black light, different types of water, and a highlighter. The results of this experiment might surprise both you and your students!
Want to see your students’ eyes light up? Tell them they’re going to do an experiment! These 3rd grade science projects are easy enough for any classroom or kitchen, and they’re full of science concepts kids need to learn.
To make things even easier, we’ve rated every one of these 3rd grade science experiments based on difficulty and materials:
Difficulty:
Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much any time
Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time or effort
Materials:
Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete
Jump to:
3rd Grade Science Fair Projects
Use these ideas to build a 3rd grade science fair project. Form your own hypothesis, alter the variables, and see what happens!
Discover the chemistry of slime
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium
Kids adore slime, and it’s actually a terrific way to teach them about polymers. Learn the basics of slime chemistry, then experiment with the formula to make your own unique concoctions.
Make sun prints to display
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium
You’ll need special sun-print paper for this project, but it’s inexpensive and easy to find. Kids learn about chemical reactions as they use the power of the sun to create unique works of art.
Experiment with ice, salt, and water temperature
123 Homeschool 4 Me
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
This simple experiment requires only water, ice, salt, and a thermometer. Your 3rd grade science class can explore how ice and salt affect the temperature, a simple but effective lesson on heat transfer and freezing points.
Play around with colors, mix them together, and then use a little science magic to pull them apart again. This chromatography science project requires only simple supplies like coffee filters and markers.
Compare the effects of “rain” on hills of bare soil vs. those covered with grass. Have your 3rd grade science students predict which they think will stand up to erosion better and then test their hypotheses.
There’s never been a better time to learn about the way germs spread! Take samples from a variety of surfaces, then watch bacteria grow in petri dishes just like grown-up scientists.
Your students will love pulling their way across the floor as they discover more about friction and its effects on motion. Build your own “sled” or use a premade box or tray.
Craft fossils from glue
Education.com
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium
Create clay molds of natural objects, then fill them with school glue to make your own “fossil” casts. This is a great project to try before a trip to the natural history museum.
We talk a lot about recycling and sustainability these days, so show kids how it’s done! Recycle old worksheets or other papers using screen and picture frames.
Potatoes grow from tuberous roots, and under the right conditions, new shoots appear from those roots. This 3rd grade science experiment explores the biological science behind cloning.
Use flowers to learn about acid rain
Little Bins for Little Hands
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Have you ever wondered what happens to plants when they are exposed to acid rain? Your students can find out by conducting a simple acid rain experiment using flowers and vinegar!
Fizzy fantastic fun! Learn about chemical reactions by mixing water and effervescent antacid tablets to see what happens, comparing the time it takes for whole tablets and small pieces.
Drop objects to learn about gravity
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Do heavier objects fall faster than lighter ones? Try this hands-on gravity activity for 3rd graders to find out!
3rd Grade STEM Challenge Projects
Use these STEM challenges as the basis for science fair project ideas, or try them as in-class science activities your 3rd graders will love!
Design a candy-delivery machine
123 Homeschool 4 Me
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Learn about inclined planes with this fun simple-machines project. Kids can get creative and develop any kind of delivery system they like!
Crack open a pool noodle or two and create your own marble racetracks. Experiment with angles, force, and surface materials to find the fastest way to get the marble to the bottom. (Find more fun ways to use pool noodles in the classroom here.)
Challenge students to engineer the best possible umbrella from various household supplies. Encourage them to plan, draw blueprints, and test their creations, using the scientific method.
Fling some sweet treats in the name of science! All you need is an old tissue box, pencils, rubber bands, and a few other supplies to learn about trajectory, air resistance, gravity, and more.
With carefully placed scissor cuts on an index card, you can make a loop large enough to fit a (small) human body through! Kids will be wowed as they learn about surface area.
Sir Isaac Newton came up with rules about how things work in the world. One of these rules is called Newton’s third law. It says that “for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” Do an experiment with your 3rd graders to learn more about this rule!
Model the effect of air drag
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
To learn about the role of drag in flight, students can fold paper planes in different styles and observe how these changes affect the distance and flight pattern of the planes. Turn this 3rd grade science project into a fun competition to see which plane flies the farthest or stays in the air the longest.
Put together an anemometer
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Basic
This very simple weather instrument is easy enough for kids to build, allowing them to observe and think like a real meteorologist.
Magnet and Electricity Science Experiments for 3rd Grade
These shocking (OK, not literally!) electricity experiments will fit nicely into many 3rd grade science curriculum programs. Give them a try in the classroom, or encourage an interest in science at home.
Assemble a simple circuit
Science Projects
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
To test the conductivity of different materials, your students can use a simple electric circuit. Invest in a few of these inexpensive gadgets to allow for all kinds of 3rd grade science projects.
Looking for an even easier simple circuits project? This one requires only a few supplies you can grab at the hardware store and an ordinary everyday safety pin.
Investigate how liquids affect magnets
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium
Are magnets equally effective in water? What about oil or a thicker liquid like, say, a milkshake? This would make for an easy 3rd grade science fair project that’s fun too.
Ask a magnet to dance
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
This is so cool! Make a magnet dance without touching it in this activity that’s part STEM challenge, part magnet experiment, and 100% amazing.
Capture lightning in a bottle
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Well, it’s not quite that dramatic, but this cool electricity experiment for 3rd grade will still wow your students.
Separate salt and pepper with static electricity
Science Kiddo
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
When you mix up salt and pepper, you’d think it would be almost impossible to separate them again. But using a little static electricity and a plastic spoon, it’s surprisingly simple.
Your students have probably tried rubbing a balloon on their heads to create static electricity with their hair. This experiment is even cooler to see, as a mix of cornstarch and oil seems to leap off the spoon in front of their eyes!
This weather science experiment never fails to impress. Use a stopwatch to measure the difference between the flash and the sound of lightning and thunder, then calculate the distance between you and the strike.
Find your way with a DIY compass
STEAM Powered Family
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Here’s an old classic that never fails to impress. Magnetize a needle and float it on the water’s surface—it will always point north.
These science experiments for 3rd graders explore all sorts of concepts, from the laws of motion to earth and planetary science and beyond.
Flick pennies to learn about inertia
Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
This is one of those science experiments that kind of looks like magic, but it’s really all about the laws of motion. It might take a little practice to get the index card flick just right, but the results are always cool!
Learn more: Penny Inertia at Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls
See the temperature rise in a chemical reaction
123 Homeschool 4 Me
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
When iron meets oxygen, rust forms. Use vinegar to remove the protective coat from steel wool and watch the temperature rise from the chemical reaction.
Use a balloon to make an iceberg, then float it in a dish of water to learn how much you can see above and below the waterline. Try experimenting with salt water to see how the density changes things.
Learn more: Core Sampling at Line Upon Line Learning
Spin a disappearing color wheel
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Color a paper disk with the six primary and secondary colors. Then thread a string through the middle and make it spin. The colors will seem to disappear!
Crystallize some pretty fall leaves
STEAMsational
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium
Every kid loves making crystals. In this 3rd grade science project, learn about supersaturated solutions by crystallizing some colorful fall leaves. Then use them as fall classroom decor!
Have your 3rd grade science students put on gloves and watch the bubbles bounce! Then encourage them to experiment with their own bubble solution. Try different soaps, mixing up the ratios to make the strongest bubble possible.
Project the stars on your ceiling
Mystery Science
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Use the video lesson in the link below to teach 3rd grade science students why stars are only visible at night. Then create a DIY star projector to explore the concept hands-on.
If there’s a more fun 3rd grade science project about surface tension than bubbles, we haven’t found it yet! Create a soap solution by using dissolved sugar and discover more about elasticity and volume as you blow bubbles inside bubbles inside bubbles …
Use water balloons to explore buoyancy
123 Homeschool 4 Me
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Fill water balloons with different solutions (oil, salt water, plain water, etc.) and place the balloons in a large bucket of water to see if they sink or float. This is a cool project to do with your 3rd grade science class on the playground on a sunny day.
Looking for a simple, quick, and colorful science experiment? This one just requires some mason jars, hot and cold water, and food coloring. Kids will be amazed at the results!
Teach your 3rd grade science class about the differences between physical and chemical changes with this quick and easy experiment involving Styrofoam cups.
Get kids up and moving when they shake their way to ice cream, made from scratch using ice and plastic zipper bags! Talk about heating and cooling as well as condensation while you enjoy your snack.
Pine cones can sense changes in humidity and adjust their scales in response. Gather several pine cones, glass containers, tweezers, and both hot and cold water to conduct a fun experiment to discover what makes pine cones open and close.
Every day is chock-full of new discoveries when you are a kindergartner! These hands-on kindergarten science experiments and activities take advantage of kids’ boundless curiosity. They’ll learn about physics, biology, chemistry, and more basic science concepts, gearing them up to become lifelong learners.
To make things even easier, we’ve rated every one of these kindergarten science experiments based on difficulty and materials:
Difficulty:
Easy: Low or no-prep experiments you can do pretty much any time
Medium: These take a little more setup or a longer time to complete
Advanced: Experiments like these take a fairly big commitment of time or effort
Materials:
Basic: Simple items you probably already have around the house
Medium: Items that you might not already have but are easy to get your hands on
Advanced: These require specialized or more expensive supplies to complete
Jump to:
Food Science Experiments for Kindergarten
What better way to dive into the world of science than to play with your food? These food science experiments for kindergartners are sure to grab their interest.
Use apples to learn what science is all about
Preschool Play & Learn
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
This apple investigation is a great way to start. It encourages kids to examine an apple using a variety of techniques to learn its properties. Get a free printable worksheet for this activity at the link.
Layer a variety of foods to represent the soil layers, from bedrock on up. If candy doesn’t fit your school’s nutritional guidelines, use fruits, yogurt, granola, and other healthy options. Either way, the results are scrumptious!
Have students dry grapes in the sun over a period of days to see them turn into raisins. Then talk about the process of dehydration as a method of preserving food.
Just like real glass, this edible glass is made from tiny opaque grains, but in this case from sugar instead of sand. Cooked and then cooled, it becomes what’s known as an “amorphous solid.” So cool!
OK, little learners probably won’t remember the word “hygroscopic,” but they’ll enjoy watching the salt absorb and transfer colors in this neat kindergarten science experiment.
Sometimes science seems like magic! In this case, dish soap breaks down milk fats and causes a colorful swirling reaction that will mesmerize little learners.
Expand your exploration of buoyancy with this cool demo. Kids will be surprised to learn that even though an orange feels heavy, it floats. That is, until you peel off the skin!
Sound may be invisible to the naked eye, but you can see the waves in action with this demo. The plastic wrap–covered bowl is the perfect stand-in for an eardrum.
Engage your students in the steps of the scientific method to create these stunning lab-grown geodes. Compare the results using sea salt, kosher salt, and borax.
Water play is a kindergarten favorite, so use it to engage them in these projects and activities. They make science for kindergarten students to much fun!
Change the color of flowers
Fun Learning for Kids
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Medium
This is one of those classic kindergarten science activities everyone should try at least once. Learn how flowers “drink” water using capillary action, and create beautiful blooms while you’re at it!
Help your students make their very own lava lamp using simple household ingredients. Then personalize the lamps by adding a couple of drops of food coloring to each bottle.
Create a tower of instant ice
Only Passionate Curiosity
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Place a water bottle in the freezer for a couple of hours, but don’t let it freeze all the way through. Then, pour some of the water onto a couple of ice cubes perched on top of a ceramic bowl and watch a tower of ice form.
Learn more: Instant Ice at Only Passionate Curiosity
Watch colored water walk
Messy Little Monster
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Fill three small jars with red, yellow, and blue food coloring and some water. Then place empty jars in between each. Fold paper towel strips and place them in the jars as shown. Kids will be amazed as the paper towels pull the water from full jars to empty ones, mixing and creating new colors!
As you fill in the weather during daily calendar time, you might have a chance to talk about severe storms and tornadoes. Show your students how twisters form with this classic tornado jar experiment.
Lots of kindergarten science activities involve water, which is terrific because kids love to play in it! In this one, show your students how air pressure keeps water in a jar, even when it’s upside down.
Here’s an activity that always feels a bit like magic. Drop an Alka-Seltzer tablet into a glass of water with popcorn kernels, and watch as the bubbles cling to the kernels and make them rise and fall. So cool!
Kids learn about the property of buoyancy and get some practice making predictions and recording the results with this easy experiment. All you need is a container of water to get started.
Here’s another neat weather-related science experiment. Make shaving cream “clouds” on top of the water, then drop food coloring in to watch it “rain.”
Light refraction produces some incredible results. Your students will think it’s magic when the arrow on the paper changes direction … until you explain that it’s all due to the way water bends the light.
We’ve got even more ideas about teaching science to kindergarten students here, from plant and dirt science to static electricity and more.
Craft some recycled paper
The Craftaholic Witch
Difficulty: Medium / Materials: Medium
Teach your kindergartners how to transform something old into something new. Use scrap paper, old newspapers, and magazine pages to create beautiful handcrafted paper.
Kids love to play with balloons! Find out all about the properties of static electricity with these three fun and super-easy balloon experiments. (Get more fun balloon experiments here.)
Create a model of the human spine
Mombrite
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Kindergarten science students love to learn through play. Make this simple egg carton spine model to encourage your students’ interest in the human body and how it works.
Teach your students the magic of chemical reactions using a plastic bottle, vinegar, and baking soda to inflate a balloon. This classic experiment is a wonderful way to explore science for kindergarten kids.
Introduce little ones to the laws of motion with easy-to-make balloon rockets. When the air shoots out one end, the balloons will sail off in the other direction. Whee!
You’ll need helium balloons for this one, and kids are gonna love it. Ask them to guess (hypothesize) how many balloons it will take to lift various items in a bag attached to the strings.
There’s never been a better time to add a handwashing experiment to your list of kindergarten science activities. Use glitter as a stand-in for germs, and learn how important washing your hands with soap really is.
Explore the properties of mystery items
Raising Lifelong Learners
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
Mystery bags are always a hit with kids. Tuck a variety of objects inside, then encourage kids to feel, shake, smell, and explore as they try to determine what the items are without looking.
Learn more: Mystery Bags at Raising Lifelong Learners
Play with fizzing ice cubes
The Play-Based Mom
Difficulty: Easy / Materials: Basic
While kinders may not entirely understand the concept of acid-base reactions, they’ll still get a kick out of spraying these baking soda ice cubes with lemon juice and watching them fizz away!
Here’s another way to engage the senses. Drop essential oils onto cotton balls, then seal them inside spice bottles. Kids sniff the bottles and try to identify the smell.
Magnet play is one of our favorite kindergarten science activities. Place a variety of items into small bottles, and ask kids which ones they think will be attracted to the magnets. The answers may surprise them!
This experiment lets kindergartners try their hand at “waterproofing” a boot with a variety of materials. They use what they already know to predict which materials will protect the paper boot from water, then experiment to see if they’re right.
Perhaps no book leads so perfectly into a science lesson as Dr. Seuss’s Bartholomew and the Oobleck. Just what is oobleck? It’s a non-Newtonian fluid that looks like a liquid but takes on the properties of a solid when squeezed. Weird, messy … and so much fun!
No list of kindergarten science activities would be complete without a crystal project! Use pipe cleaners to make the letters of the alphabet (numbers are good too), then grow crystals on them using a supersaturated solution.
You don’t need a microscope to look at fingerprints up close! Instead, have each student make a print on a balloon, then blow it up to see the whorls and ridges in detail.
Tell kids they’re going to move a marble without actually touching it, and watch their eyes widen in surprise! They’ll have fun drawing mazes to guide a metal marble through with a magnet from underneath.
There’s something about seeing a seed develop roots and shoots with your very eyes that’s just so incredible. Sprout bean seeds in paper towels inside a glass jar to give it a try.
