STEAM in the Kitchen
How to use: Try out you hat at being a Chef! Read the directions and ingredients list. Gather what you need. Make sure your work space is in easy reach for your child and safe. Follow the directions but try out different ideas, too. Take a picture or video showcasing your child’s end result.
Note: Look for links to the science behind the project within the site. Read these over and talk about the ideas during, after and while cleaning up.
STEM: An “I Wonder” Mindset
STEM is all about encouraging children—and adults—to observe and think about the world more intentionally. You don’t have to be a scientist or have all the answers to promote STEM thinking in your kids. Instead, encourage “I wonder” questions and try to find the answers. Here are a few questions from the kitchen to get you thinking:
I wonder why food spoils.
I wonder why water bubbles when it gets hot.
I wonder why the water turns to steam if it gets really hot.
I wonder what makes bread rise.
I wonder what makes food salty, sweet, bitter, or pungent.
I wonder why food changes when it’s cooked or combined with other foods.
In the course of making a simple meal, a variety of questions might come up if you’re observing and thinking with an “I wonder” mindset. State one of your questions out loud and see what your child has to say. With this sort of open-ended inquiry, one question often leads to multiple questions and discoveries.
Bright Horizons: How to Incorporate STEM in the Kitchen
All Ages
Helpful Example! Good model for how to use these kinds of resources.
Description: With just a few kitchen supplies and ingredients, plus some small plastic dinosaurs, create excitement with hatching baby dinosaurs!
Getting started: Read through the directions and supplies list. Shop for the 3-4 boxes of baking soda (one box per color), any vinegar, and food coloring. Wax paper and a plastic baggy with a small hole cut in a bottom corner can be used instead of parchment paper and droppers or plastic syringes. Note: plastic gloves are recommended to keep hands from being dyed.
Description: Classic STEM kitchen challenges include Rainbow in a Jar, Sparkle Volcano, Rock Candy, Wave Bottle, Inflating balloons with carbon dioxide, as well as a few surprises. Two agriculture related activities include making a sandwich bag compost and growing vegetables from food scraps in a jar.
Getting Started: Choose an experiment to start with that has supplies you have on hand. Try it out. If it doesn’t turn out the way you expected, that’s okay. Talk about what happened and why. Try it again to see what happens. Next, choose a new experiment.
Description: Starburst Rock Science, Edible Earth Soil Layers, Oreo Phases of the Moon, Solar Oven S’mores and Edible Candy “Glass” are all on this menu.
Getting started: Together, you and your child look over 2 ro 3 choices and decide which ones have the most reasonable supplies and supplies on hand. You can always plan for 2 or 3 more for the next grocery store trip. Be sure to take pictures and share them with family and friends!
Description: Ideas include building a model trampoline with a kitchen colander, Willie Wonka inspired candy investigations, traditional homemade ice cream in a large plastic bag and edible martian soil. [Google Space - Map of Mars to go with this one!]
Getting started: Choose your top two favorite interests or ideas right before heading out to the grocery store. You’ll want to do so many of these as soon as possible!
Description: Imaginative takes on tried and true experiments and many fun “science tricks.”
Getting started: Skim through the more than 60 ideas and activities. Most use things you will already have on hand in your kitchen. Try them out, then amaze your other family members.
PreK - Elementary
Description: Build geometrically shaped structures with your child using fruits, cheeses and pretzel sticks. Read along: Iggy Peck Architect with a YouTube video. (Suggested version - Auntie K and the Book Monsters 5:18)
Getting started: Adults only read through the directions and look at the suggested pictures. Add a few more items to the grocery list (like grapes, apples, block cheese, pretzel sticks and mini marshmallows). Pre cut small cheese and apple cubes. Set up the other building supplies in small amounts on a plate. Share the challenge after breakfast or lunch, show your child the supplies and encourage him/her to build something with the snacks before eating. Be sure to wash hands well. Try not to show him/her how to start or any examples. Let your child imagine and create on his/her own. Good questions to ask: “How could you make it taller?” “What could you add on top to make it taller?” “What other 2D or 3D shapes can you use?” Be sure to take a picture before the structure is eaten!