Thanksgiving STEM Activities

These Thanksgiving STEM activities mix hands-on science, engineering and math with the turkeys, pumpkins and corn of the season. You’ll find fizzy pumpkin experiments, building challenges and simple turkey science to try at home.

If you want even more holiday ideas, take a look at my bigger list of fun Thanksgiving activities for kids.

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What Will You Find in This List of Thanksgiving STEM Activities?

This list includes Thanksgiving science experiments, engineering challenges and math activities.

• Science experiments: A bubbling pumpkin, a fizzy pumpkin, a pumpkin density column and dancing corn.
• Engineering challenges: A turkey egg drop, LEGO turkeys, candy pumpkin structures and pumpkin catapults.
• Math and life science: A pumpkin geoboard, turkey life cycle worksheets and a parts of a turkey worksheet.
• Hands-on extras: A turkey baster relay and homemade old fashioned butter.

What Does STEM Mean for Kids?

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. STEM activities let kids ask questions, test ideas and build things with their hands.

A few terms will come up in this list:

• Chemical reaction: When substances mix and form something new. Baking soda and vinegar react to make carbon dioxide gas, which is what makes the bubbles and fizz.
• Density: How tightly packed the matter in something is. Liquids with different densities can stack in layers instead of mixing.
• Engineering: Designing and building something to solve a problem, like protecting an egg from cracking when it falls.

Thanksgiving is an easy time to try STEM because kids already see pumpkins, corn and turkeys everywhere.

Recommended Thanksgiving Books

These Thanksgiving books are an easy way to add a story to your STEM week.

Turkey TroubleLittle Critter: Just a Special ThanksgivingThanks for ThanksgivingThanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks! (Reading Railroad Books)T is for Turkey: A True Thanksgiving StoryHow to Catch a Turkey

 

Thanksgiving STEM Activities for Kids

Each activity below links to full directions. Many use supplies you already have in the kitchen.

Planning a turkey unit? The Junior Scientist Science Study: Turkey Life Cycle turns these turkey activities into a full science study for grades 1 to 3. For hands-on science all year, the Young Learners Science Club brings a new topic every month.

Keep the Learning Going

If your kids want more hands-on science, the Young Learners Science Club is a monthly science membership for homeschool families. Each month brings a new themed unit with hands-on investigations, STEAM challenges, crafts and games that use common household supplies.

For a Thanksgiving science study for grades 1 to 3, try the Junior Scientist Science Study: Turkey Life Cycle. For preschool and kindergarten, the Little Learners Print & Go Activity Kit: Thanksgiving is filled with Thanksgiving activities for little learners.

What Other Free Thanksgiving Activities Can You Try?

• Fun Thanksgiving activities for elementary students
• Turkey life cycle worksheets
• Fun turkey crafts for kids
• Thanksgiving books for kids
• Christmas STEM activities
• Reese’s Turkey Treats by Living Life as Moms
• Model Magic Turkey by 3 Dinosaurs

Frequently Asked Questions

Thanksgiving STEM activities turn the foods and symbols of the season into real science and engineering practice. Pick an experiment or building challenge from the list and see what your kids discover.