The Fourth of July marks two important occasions. The first is America’s independence. The second is for most parents: your kid’s summer vacation may be half over!
By now you may have exhausted your activity and celebration ideas. Don’t worry, we’ve got you!
Follow along for a few fun STEM activities to do with your child this Fourth of July Holiday.
A Jar Full of Fireworks
No, we aren’t going to suggest you light firecrackers and put them in a jar! This STEM project is fun and a great way to introduce your child to density and color-mixing principles.
Ingredients:
- Mason Jar
- Bowl
- Several different colors of food coloring
- Vegetable oil
Mix several tablespoons of the oil (4 – 6) in a bowl with 3 – 5 drops of different colors of food coloring. Red and blue are perfect for the Fourth of July. Stir vigorously.
Next, fill the Mason Jar about 3/4 full with warm water. Stir your food color and oil mixture one more time. Slowly pour it into the Mason Jar with the water.
Watch the fireworks display as the oil, food coloring, and water separate and mix. It will look like fireworks popping in the sky!
Patriots Slime
There’s nothing more American than good ole’ slime! This project allows you and your child to unleash your creativity and make a slime that’s uniquely yours. It is a popular STEM activity reinforcing chemical reactions and change.
Ingredients:
- A large bottle of glue
- Lens cleaner
- Baking soda
- Two large mixing bowls
- Spoon
- Food coloring (red and blue for a holiday)
Pour about one cup of white glue into each of your mixing bowl. Stir one tablespoon of baking soda into the glue in each bowl. Stir briskly. For a thicker slime consistency, you can add more glue.
Next, begin adding your food color to each bowl. Add and stir until you have the red and blue like the American flag. Add one tablespoon of lens cleaner to each bowl and knead the slime.
The lens cleaner will keep the slime from being too sticky. Once you have the right consistency and feel, braid the two slime colors, making a red, white, and blue braid or shape into a flag.
Your child will love the personalized slime you create together. Keep the slime in a plastic bag in the refrigerator and your child can play with it the next day.
Fizzy Flag Stars
This STEM Activity is great for summer because it involves ice! Here’s what you will need. For this activity, you will need two star-shaped ice cube trays. Many dollar stores carry them.
Ingredients:
- A few boxes of baking soda
- Vinegar or lemon juice
- Food coloring (red and blue)
- Two trays.
The first step is to mix baking soda with plain water. You want the consistency to be like a dough you can roll or mold. Next, pack the star trays with your baking soda mix.
Some parents sprinkle glitter on top for an extra pop! Place your baking soda dough stars in the freezer overnight so they can freeze. Once frozen, mix one color of blue or red food coloring with about a half to three-fourths cup of vinegar.
Add the food coloring to the vinegar until dark blue and red. You can use lemon juice if you don’t like the smell of vinegar. Place your iced baking soda stars onto two shallow trays.
Pour the blue vinegar or lemon juice into one tray and the red in the other. Watch what happens!
Happy 4th of July!
All these activities involve items you have around the house. They are easy, fun, safe, and age-appropriate for first to fifth-grade students. Be sure to have your child do all the measuring and mixing. It will help them understand Math concepts like measurement and number sense.
These STEM activities perfectly complement a hot, sunny Fourth of July. Have a safe and wonderful Fourth of July from your friends at Learn Bright!
