Fun Halloween STEM Challenges To Do At Home
It may seem like Halloween is only about candy, costumes and carved pumpkins, but this doesn’t mean you pass up the opportunity to learn some lessons in science and math with the kids.
And no, we don’t mean boring ol’ printables. Instead, we have an amazing Halloween STEM Challenge with just the right amount of scare for the kids and clean-up for you!
We have categorized our STEM activities according to difficulty and clean-up so you can choose the level that suits your mood and workload.
So, if a messy kitchen scares you out of your wits, we highly recommend you try the Easy Challenge. But if you feel you are brave enough to whip up a few spooky experiments, the Intermediate Challenge may be more your style.
Think all this is child’s play? Then have your team try our Hardest Halloween STEM Challenge to earn the title of Halloween STEM Champions!
Ready? Let’s go!
1. Ghostly Glowing Marble Run
Create a marble run with glow-in-the-dark elements that teaches physics and problem solving through interactive and creative fun!
Level of Difficulty: Easy
Ages: 5+ years
Clean-up: A breeze! Less mess and no spills!
Supplies:
- Marble Run Set
- Glow in the Dark Marbles
- Spooky Sounds & Decorations
Instructions:
This is one project that doesn't have instructions! Use your imagination and set up the marble run set however you want! Create props to enhance the spookiness of your run! Spider webs, miniature head stones or construction paper monsters with glowing eyes are all inexpensive fun craft ideas that make your
Set it up and switch off the lights to watch the glass glow-in-the-dark marbles run around like eerie ghosts. Create an infinite loop and watch them haunt the room.
The Science:
Using marble runs is a fun and interactive way to teach kids about gravity, friction, and energy! At the start of the run the marble has potential energy (stored energy). As gravity pulls the marble down the run that energy becomes kinetic energy (in motion). The different elements of the marble run can create friction which slows down the marble.
Kids can experiment with different ways to set up the marble run to get the fastest time, or the slowest time! This activity creates the opportunity to work together and problem solve while exercising their creative minds!
Need more ideas? Install the Marble Genius app and follow instructions to create interesting layouts as well as ace some challenges.
Featured Products:
Our favorite for this project would be the Marble Genius Space Elevator Marble Run with Glass Glow Marbles. Already have a set but want the glow-in-the-dark fun? Check out these special Glow Marbles!
Marble Genius makes a variety of marble run sets, accessories, and games! Check out their Starter Sets, Glow Sets, and fun theme sets like SPACE or DINOSAUR!
The best part? It is compatible with all Marble Genius Sets and all standard marbles, so your team can keep the ball rolling (pun intended) with minimum supervision while you make dinner.
2. Spooky Glow-In-The-Dark Slime
If a mess doesn’t scare you and you think you are tough enough to get your hands sticky, then it’s time to gather the troops and make glow-in-the-dark slime! Also known as Oobleck (for those Dr. Suess fans out there), this kid-favorite substance is also a lesson in chemistry and physics!
There are lots of different versions and recipes for slime out there and each has its own properties that are fun to play with and study! This recipe we are sharing today is a very simple recipe that uses cornstarch and other materials you likely have in the kitchen or craft box!
Level of Difficulty: Intermediate
Ages: 3+ years
Clean-up: Requires some clean up and basic kitchen supplies
Supplies:
- 2 cups cornstarch
- 1 cup water
- 2 tbsp glow in the dark paint
- Measuring Spoons and Bowls
Instructions:
- Measure 2 cups of cornstarch into a bowl.
- Add 1 cup of water and mix with a spoon or your hands until it reaches the consistency of the slime you prefer.
- Add 2 tbsp of glow-in-the-dark paint and mix.
And that’s it! You have now created your very own non-Newtonian fluid! Run your fingers through the mixture and it feels and acts like a liquid, but when you knead it or crush it in your fist by applying pressure, it acts like a solid!
Your slime is ready to spook out the neighbors. Play around with colors to create different kinds of oobleck slime! Add glitter, or spooky halloween spiders! Dressing up as a zombie? Make some red slime and you’ve got yourself some ‘yummy brains!’
The Science:
This specific type of slime is known as a non-Newtonian fluid, which means that this fluid's viscosity changes when it is under stress! A fun hands-on (literally!) activity that teaches kids about physics, fluid dynamics, and states of matter.
For more details on the science behind this amazing substance, check out this article by Live Science.
To kick up the project another notch check out this Halloween Oobleck Party Game by Steam Powered Family
Featured Products:
We love this project because it can be made with supplies you have around your house already! But, if you're looking for something special to keep in your kitchen for your little ones, Curious Chef makes high-quality kitchen tools (real tools, not toys!) for kids! They are made to fit their hands and are engineered for safety for learning life-long lessons in the kitchen!
We love the 17-Piece Measure & Prep Set that comes with Measuring cups and spoons, a mixing spoon, prep bowls, and more
To make your slime even more fun you can add in glitter or mica powder to make it shimmer! Original Stationery's Mica Powder Set has 12 different Pearl and Metallic colors for under $10! Buy on Amazon!
To skip (most of) the mess you can buy Slime Kits with everything you need all in one giftable package! Our favorite kits are by GirlZone and they are all available on Amazon!
Click here to Shop all GirlZone Slime Kits!
3. Frightful Frankenstein Balloon Chemistry
It's time to play Dr. Frankenstein and bring your balloon monsters to life! This fun experiment is a great lesson in chemistry while stretching imaginations!
Level of Difficulty: Intermediate
Ages: 5+ years
Clean-up: Requires some clean up and basic kitchen supplies
Supplies you need:
- 1 tsp Baking Soda (per balloon)
- 1/3 cup Vinegar (per balloon)
- Balloons: Green, white, orange
- Markers for drawing on balloons
- Empty plastic bottles with a small neck (12 or 16 oz works well)
- Measuring Cups
- Funnels
Instructions:
- Measure 1/3 cup vinegar and pour it into an empty bottle using a funnel.
- On the balloon, use a black marker to draw Frankenstein’s face. Don’t forget his scar! Or - draw any spooky character you want!
- Using a second funnel, add 1 teaspoon of baking soda into the balloon shaking it so the soda ends up at the bottom of the balloon.
- Carefully place the balloon over the mouth of the bottle. Make sure the baking soda doesn’t fall into the bottle.
- Once you have made sure it is secure, gently hold up the balloon. The baking soda should fall into the bottle and react with the vinegar.
Now watch your monster come to life! The chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar will blow up your balloon monster!
If the kids enjoy this Halloween Stem Challenge, let them decorate and design different colored balloons using the and then use them as Halloween décor.
The Science:
The chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar creates a gas called carbon dioxide. The gas expands the bottle and then into the balloon to inflate it. Carbon dioxide is the same gas we produce when we breathe out! Is it faster or slower to blow up a balloon with our breath?
Featured Products:
To add more design to your balloon monsters you can use chalk markers - just make sure to let them dry completely! Our favorite set of liquid chalk markers is this 11 piece set from Mila Markers that comes with classic, neon, and metallic colors as well as stencils, labels, and a free chalkboard!
These are great for projects all year-round!
4. Halloween Monster Bath Bombs
Mom, there are monsters in the bath! Learn some chemistry with these googly-eyed monster bath bombs.
Level of Difficulty: Hard
Ages: 5+ years
Clean-up: Can get messy!
Supplies:
- 2 cups Baking Soda
- 1 cup Citric Acid
- 1/2 cup Cornstarch
- 1/4 cup fine Epsom Salt
- 1/4 cup cream of tartar
- Essential oils (3 tsp or 10-20 drops)
- 1/3 cup Coconut oil or Baby Oil
- Water
- Food coloring
- Googly eyes, plastic spiders, or any small spooky accessory!
- Bath Bomb Molds
- Curious Chef Measure and Prep Set
- Bowl
Instructions:
- Measure 1 cup baking soda, ½ cup of Epsom salt and ½ cup cornstarch in to a bowl and mix.
- Add 3 tsp essential oil, 3 tbsp baby oil and 1 tbsp of water and your favorite monster colors in a bottle and shake till everything is mixed.
- Empty the contents of the bottle into the bowl.
- Add 1/2 cup of citric acid.
- Mix it with your hands until it feels like sand at the beach.
- Place googly eyes (or accessory of choice) into a bath bomb mold and fill it with this mixture.
- Press hard and then gently remove it from the mold and let it dry for a few hours.
Your little monsters can now fizzle with their DIY little monsters in the bath. Let the kids play around with colors and scents. Although clean-up may be a bit time-consuming for this challenge, these bath bombs do make bath times a breeze!
Plus, they are also great as treats for friends and family and make for the cutest Halloween bathroom décor.
The Science:
What makes the bath bombs fizzy?! When citric acid combines with baking soda, a chemical reaction occurs. This reaction creates carbon dioxide bubbles which is the fizzy, bubbly effect you see when you put the bath bomb in water!
Want to take this experience to the next level? Check out Sudsy Science: Creating Homemade Bath Bombs by the Science Buddies at Scientific American.
Featured Products:
Looking for a variety of fun things to put inside these bathbombs? This arts and crafts kit by EpiqueOne Crafts has over 1,000 pieces including googly eyes, sequins, and lots more!
Looking for everything you need to make homemade bath bombs in one convenient (and giftable) kit? Check out the bestselling Bath Bomb Making Kit by DIY Gift Kits. This has everything you need to make 12 "cupcake" bath bombs, spooky or otherwise! Click here to buy on Amazon!
What did you learn by completing these fun Halloween STEM Projects?
While each of these projects were probably really fun and easy to do with the family and friends, you were also teaching your kids (and perhaps yourself) about science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)!
In addition to these areas, projects like these also teach problem solving and group communication skills.
So, did you learn anything that surprised you? Did you change up any of the projects to make them your own? What was the result?
Post your projects on social media and tag us @creativeqt with hashtag #creativeSTEM
