Grab Your Lab Coat: STEAM Activities for Kids| Highlights

One part of our mission at Highlights is help you raise curious kids. As we’re sure you’ve noticed, kids love to ask questions. You probably find yourself fielding a lot of “whys” “hows” and “what ifs.” Now Highlights@Home is here to help provide some answers with this collection of hands-on experiments and activities in the areas of science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM). We’re inviting you and your family to Grab Your Lab Coat! and join in the fun.

1. Grab Your Lab Coat!

Watch now for helpful tips on raising a curious kid.

2. Solve a Puzzle

This puzzle allows your kids to channel their inner engineers by arranging the train tracks at Grand Central Terminal. Then get out some paper and crayons and design a train together.

3. Read an Article

Just about every kid has asked the question “Why is the sky blue?” This article will give you a detailed explanation. The answer may surprise you!

4. Try an Experiment

Make a simple boat with a soap-powered “engine” and watch it sail around your bathtub.

5. Make a Paper Airplane

This plane is a little more complex than the classic paper airplane design, but it really soars!

6. Do Something for Others

We’d love to hear about your child’s favorite scientist or artist! Share it with us on Highlightskids.com.

7. Write, Draw, or Talk About It

Share your curious kids' answers with us, then ask them to tell us other questions about the universe at Highlightskids.com.

8. Play Tangram Puzzles

These three tangram activities mix art with geometry. Who says you can’t be an artist and a mathematician?

9. Search the Scene

These paleontologists have made an exciting dinosaur discovery! Find the hidden objects in the scene.

10. Make Pickled Veggies

Learn about the brining process with this delicious pickled veggie recipe.

11. Create Rock-Candy Ornaments

Make sparkly sugar-crystal ornaments for the holidays and learn about why these crystals form.

12. Find the Hidden Objects

Even tiny ants can have big dreams. Look for hidden objects as the “antronauts” explore a new planet.

13. Build a Pinhole Camera

Follow the steps to make a pinhole camera and learn how a film camera turns a big scene into a small picture.

14. Find Out What Makes Stickers Sticky

Read about the science behind stickers and other adhesives. Then have your children write to us with their own science questions!

Want to give your curious child more content like you see on this page?

Subscribe to Highlights for 12 months of similar stories, games, puzzles, riddles, science experiments, crafts, activities, and more!

Free puzzle games, stories, crafts, and printable activities for kids ages 4–12.