Best STEM Projects for Homeschooling

(Thanks to my cousin Jenn for the topic suggestion!)

When I was homeschooling my son for kindergarten, we did tons of simple STEM experiments: rolling different-shaped objects down ramps, making dyes with natural materials, testing chemical reactions (yes, of course there was a volcano!). But now that my kids are older, we can get into some more involved experiments. Here are some of the coolest ideas that we're thinking about experimenting with!

Electrolysis of Water: Make electricity by splitting apart water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen  in water using baking soda, salt, a lemon, and dishwashing liquid.

Build a Prosthetic Leg: Design a simple prosthetic leg from simple materials, keeping in mind both structure and comfort. Materials could include a toilet plunger, an old broomstick, a small baseball bat, a large sponge, an old bedsheet or other large piece of fabric, a small pillow, duct tape, twine. 

Chemical vs. Physical Changes: Start by watching the video, then download the DIY activity guide and try the experiment! The site includes lots of links with additional reading and background information. 

Build a Miniature Robot: You will need to order a few supplies that you probably don't have on hand: a 10mm cell phone or pager motor, a 3-volt coin battery, double-sided adhesive foam pads, and small LED lights. If you make multiple robots, you can also build them a battle arena - if not, try making an obstacle course!

Make a Working Heart Model: You need 3 water or soda bottles (at least 2 with caps), 4 bendy straws, water, food coloring, tape, modeling clay or play dough, and something sharp and pointy to pierce the caps (a sharp pencil or a large drill bit or awl will work). Start by talking about how the heart works and listening to each other's hearts (since you probably don't have a stethoscope on hand, a paper towel tube will work in a pinch).

Make a 3-D Hologram: Start by reading about how holograms work. Then just cut out 4 pieces of clear, thin plastic as shown in the video and place on a tablet or laptop screen. So cool - and easy!

Create Stop-Motion Animation: If you have a tablet computer and are willing to download a free animation app (Stop Motion Studio is one, but there are others out there), this is a fun project, especially if kids use their favorite dolls and figurines as the "actors". You can also paint your own backdrop, or just use a blank wall.

And let's not forget the experiment I did for my kids yesterday, illustrating capillary action!