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Challenge: Cabin Fever

5 Easy STEM Activities to Combat Cabin Fever

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Winter can be rough for parents. It's dark. It's cold. You are trapped in the house for days on end due to non-stop sickness or never-ending snow days. Let's face it; You might need survival strategies.

So, here are some ideas for those long days where you feel like you might scream. Next time your kids are saying, "I'm bored!" or "What should I do?" try these! Each video contains an idea for a fun activity that kids can do with a few supplies that most of us have around the house.

The best part is that each activity has a secret STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math) learning objective. So, not only will the kids be busy for a little while, they may also learn some math or science while thinking they are just doing something fun. It's a win-win!

Magic Milk Kaleidoscope

Trying to figure out what to do with all of that left over red dye 40 food coloring from Valentine's Day? Watch colors swirl like a kaleidoscope when you combine milk, food coloring, and dish soap. Kids will begin to learn about surface tension and polar and non-polar molecules.


Gooey Glitter Slime

Are your kids as crazy for slime as mine are? This experiment is better for older elementary and middle school kids as it requires the use of a detergent called Borax. In this lesson, kids learn about polymers while creating their own glitter slime. The best part is, the glitter stays stuck INSIDE the slime!

Frozen Bubbles

Do your kids have cabin fever after a long snow day inside but you don't really feel like bundling up for sledding or making a snow man? Try frozen bubbles! You can even make them inside in the freezer. Kids will be amazed to see ice crystals form making the bubbles look like little snow globes that deflate like plastic when they pop! In this lesson, kids learn the science behind how bubbles form.


Subitizing Bracelets

Do your kids love to make jewelry? Try this fun activity where kids will learn about subitizing or the ability to quickly recognize a group of numbers without counting. They can also use the bracelets to develop number sense skills.


Super Stacker Towers

Do you have a future engineer? This activity is perfect for a kid who likes to build but may not be quite so enthusiastic about completing their homework. Write items that need to be learned or studied on cups, stack them up, and turn learning into a game!


We hope that these activites put an end to your winter blues by giving your kids something to do on those long winter days! Check out our page for more ideas and new videos each week.

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