5 Simple STEM-Inspired Halloween Crafts

When the crisp fall days begin to appear and Halloween excitement fills the air, bringing creative ideas to life is half the fun! From handmade decorations to DIY costumes, simple, festive crafts can help young creators spark their imagination, build important skills and make new discoveries as they enjoy the process of creating something uniquely their own.

Read on to find simple and spook-tacular Halloween crafts that feature a STEM twist!

Spider Web Plates

This clever craft has a magical surprise! Create a "crayon resist" spider web plate to demonstrate polarity – the science that takes place between water and wax. Simply use a white crayon to draw a spider web on a paper plate, then paint over it with watercolors to reveal your unique design.

Cotton Ball Ghosts

This kid-favorite craft is a perfect opportunity for young learners to strengthen fine motor skills as they build friendly (or spooky) cotton ghosts! With just a few supplies —  construction paper, glue, cotton balls and googly eyes — kids can create their own fluffy, ghost-inspired masterpiece. Simply glue the cotton balls onto the paper in the shape of a ghost and add a face with googly eyes and a paper smile.

Foaming Pumpkin Monsters

Put a twist on a Halloween tradition with chemistry! After carving a monster-themed jack-o’-lantern, combine baking soda and your choice of food coloring in a cup before pouring the mixture into the base of your hollowed pumpkin. Next, add one tablespoon of vinegar at a time to the mixture inside the pumpkin and watch the satisfying reaction!

DIY Mummy

Create your own DIY mummy in just a few simple steps! On a piece of cardboard, either freehand draw a mummy or trace a gingerbread cookie cutter to create a mummy figure. Then cut out your classic Halloween character with scissors. After using glue or tape to secure a long piece of yarn on the backside of your figure, explore different strategies for wrapping the yarn around your mummy figure until it’s completely covered.

Extra Special X-ray Costume

Take DIY costumes to the next level with an X-ray costume! Start by selecting a box that’s big enough to fit over your child’s chest. Cut holes in the box for their head and arms, then use paint or duct tape to make the box black. Next, use construction or printer paper to create an X-ray of a ribcage and glue it on the box. We recommend glow-in-the-dark puffy paint for a special effect.

Incorporate an extra STEM bonus to this craft by reading about National Inventors Hall of Fame^® Inductee William D. Coolidge, inventor of the X-ray tube!

Keep Creating

Are you ready to create your next STEM-inspired work of art?  Continue exploring our blog for more hands-on fun!