Spring into STEM: 5 Easy, Hands-On Activities for Canadian Classrooms
Spring is here! Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and your students are buzzing with energy—so why not channel that excitement into some hands-on STEM fun? 🌱⚙️
Spring offers the perfect backdrop for science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) exploration. From investigating plant growth to building bird feeders, these activities will keep your students engaged while sneaking in some serious learning. Plus, I’ve included step-by-step instructions, so you’re not left Googling “How to make a rain gauge out of a coffee cup” five minutes before class.
Let’s dive in!
1. Grow a Bean in a Bag (Plant Growth Experiment)
🔬 Concepts: Biology, botany, scientific observation
What You’ll Need:
✔ Clear ziplock bags
✔ Paper towels
✔ Dried beans (lima, kidney, or black beans work best)
✔ Water
✔ Tape
Steps:
1. Dampen a paper towel (not soaking, just slightly wet) and fold it so it fits inside the ziplock bag.
2. Place 2-3 beans between the paper towel and the plastic so they’re visible.
3. Seal the bag and tape it to a sunny window.
4. Over the next 1-2 weeks, have students observe and record changes—roots will sprout first, followed by stems and leaves!
5. Once the plant is big enough, transfer it into a pot or garden.
💡 Teaching Tip: Use a science journal to track the growth! Students can sketch the plant’s progress and label parts like roots, stems, and leaves.
🔗 Resource: More plant experiments at Science Buddies
2. Make a DIY Rain Gauge
☔ Concepts: Weather patterns, measurement, data collection
What You’ll Need:
✔ A clear plastic bottle (2L soda bottle works well)
✔ Scissors
✔ Ruler
✔ Permanent marker
✔ Tape
✔ Pebbles or small rocks
Steps:
1. Cut the top off the plastic bottle (about one-third down).
2. Place a layer of pebbles at the bottom for stability.
3. Pour a little water into the bottle until it just covers the pebbles—this is your baseline.
4. Use the ruler and marker to draw measurement lines on the side of the bottle (every 0.5 cm).
5. Flip the top part of the bottle upside down and nest it inside the base (like a funnel). Tape it in place.
6. Put the gauge outside in an open area and check the water level daily!
💡 Teaching Tip: Graph the rainfall over a week and compare different areas (e.g., schoolyard vs. home).
🔗 Resource: Find more weather science projects at Teach Engineering
3. Engineer a Bird Feeder (Recycled Materials Challenge)
🐦 Concepts: Engineering, ecology, sustainability
What You’ll Need:
✔ Empty milk cartons, toilet paper rolls, or plastic bottles
✔ Scissors
✔ String or twine
✔ Birdseed
✔ Peanut butter (for TP roll method)
✔ Paint or markers (optional for decoration)
Steps:
1. Milk Carton Feeder: Cut a window out of the side of the carton, leaving a small ledge. Punch a hole at the top, attach string, and hang it up. Fill with birdseed!
2. Toilet Paper Roll Feeder: Spread peanut butter over the outside of a TP roll and roll it in birdseed. Slide it onto a branch.
3. Plastic Bottle Feeder: Cut a small hole near the base and insert a pencil as a perch. Cut a slightly larger hole above the perch and fill the bottle with birdseed. Hang it up!
💡 Teaching Tip: Set up a class bird-watching station and have students identify local bird species.
🔗 Resource: Learn about bird migrations with Birds Canada
4. The Great Egg Drop Challenge
💡 Concepts: Physics, gravity, engineering design process
What You’ll Need:
✔ Eggs (hard-boiled if you want less mess!)
✔ Various materials (cotton balls, straws, cardboard, bubble wrap, tape, string, etc.)
✔ A high drop zone (staircase, balcony, or playground structure)
Steps:
1. Challenge: Students must design a protective container to keep an egg from breaking when dropped.
2. Plan: Discuss ideas and sketch designs.
3. Build: Let students construct their egg protectors using available materials.
4. Test: Drop eggs from a high place and see which survive!
5. Reflect: Have students analyze what worked and what didn’t.
💡 Teaching Tip: Tie this into a discussion about real-world engineering challenges, like designing airbags or space capsules.
🔗 Resource: More physics fun at Science Sparks
5. Floating Flowers: A Water Absorption Experiment
🌸 Concepts: Capillary action, absorption, water transport in plants
What You’ll Need:
✔ White flowers (carnations or daisies work well)
✔ Water
✔ Food coloring
✔ Clear cups or jars
Steps:
1. Fill each jar halfway with water.
2. Add a few drops of different food coloring to each jar.
3. Trim flower stems at an angle and place them in the colored water.
4. Over the next 24 hours, watch as the flowers change color as the water travels up the stems!
💡 Teaching Tip: Discuss how plants transport water and nutrients from roots to leaves using capillary action.
🔗 Resource: More plant experiments at Steve Spangler Science
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