Celebrate the Fourth of July With STEM

As we celebrate everything red, white and blue this Fourth of July, you can jump into the wonder of STEM with hands-on activities that will add a special spark of fun to your holiday! Gather your siblings, neighborhood besties or family friends to join in on fascinating experiments and challenges under the sun. Whether you are curious about how things work or have an eye for design, we invite you to check out these festive, hands-on STEM activities to light up your Independence Day with joy and action-packed exploration.

Bottle Rockets

Let science take flight and enjoy the thrill of launching homemade bottle rockets. This experiment ignites creativity, physics and engineering. There are many different iterations of this experiment to try out. Check out these young scientists in action!

Confetti Poppers

Nothing says “celebration” like confetti! This STEM challenge is all about being resourceful as you make confetti poppers out of everyday materials. To make your very own DIY confetti popper, follow these simple steps.

Supplies:

Adhesive (hot glue or duct tape)
Balloon
Paper
Scissors
Upcycled Paper Roll

1. Tie a knot at the bottom of a deflated balloon and cut the top half off. Think of the knot as your anchor!
    
2. Attach the open side of the balloon to the interior of your paper roll with tape or adhesive. We recommend using hot glue with adult supervision.
    
3. Cut paper into fun, tiny shapes. You also can use a hole puncher for perfectly symmetrical circles. Next, add your homemade confetti into the tube.
    
4. When you gently pull the balloon’s knot, your DIY popper will sprinkle your red, white and blue confetti in the air!
    
5. Customize and decorate your popper to showcase your unique Fourth of July design!

Elephant Toothpaste

Do you love foam? Get ready for an epic chemical reaction. Elephant toothpaste creates a giant foaming reaction with just a few simple ingredients. When you add the right catalyst to hydrogen peroxide, the reaction looks just like giant toothpaste being squeezed from the tube!

Flip-Flop Drop

This summer challenge is filled with momentum! Did you know chain reactions help us explore energy? Similar to dominoes, you can create a chain reaction, or “domino run,” by standing multiple flip-flops on their sides. Once you push your first flip-flop, its potential energy is converted into kinetic energy, or energy in motion, and they all start to flop. Chain reactions can happen in chemistry, contraptions, gadgets and even ideas!

Salt Painted Fireworks

The sky doesn’t have to be the only thing filled with fireworks this summer! Let your creativity shine bright with this satisfying salt experiment. This hands-on craft combines learning and summertime fun.

Firecracker Sound Lab

Unlock your senses and explore how to make firework and firecracker sounds. You can start by finding recyclable materials like bubble wrap, balloons, plastic water bottles, packing peanuts and paper bags that mimic the crackles of firecrackers. How can you combine these noises to make a loud sound?

Tie-Dye T-Shirts

Calling all artists! Create your own tie-dye pattern for a one-of-a-kind, Fourth of July inspired T-shirt. You can incorporate red, white or blue colors in your design by using different methods of twisting and tying your T-shirt. As you explore the science of color and the tie-dye process, observe the instant chemical reaction taking place between the dye and the cotton shirt. When the dye bonds with the cotton, your T-shirt will take on a whole new look!

Keep Celebrating With STEM

We hope you have a great Fourth of July with a fun STEM twist. Excited to find more ways to celebrate holidays with STEM? There’s so much more to discover! Keep exploring our blog for more brilliant STEM activity ideas.