Halloween is fast approaching, so I thought it’d be fun to put together a collection of SPOOKYÂ Halloween STEM challenges. Build play dough brains, candy grabbers, or mini light-up Halloween houses, or try one of the super simple spooky STEM ideas in the FREE challenge sheet below.
All the ideas use materials you probably already have around the house and are simple enough for older children to try independently and suitable for younger children with adult help.
STEM challenges are great for improving problem solving and team working skills.
Halloween STEM Challenges
Print the challenge sheet, choose your favourite, grab some materials and get started!
Halloween Candy Grabber
This craft stick candy grabber is a brilliant hands-on engineering activity for Halloween and may come in handy for trick or treating, too!
The grabber is constructed from craft sticks and split pins, so is a fantastic, inexpensive design and technology challenge for Halloween.
Make a model brain
Create a brain using play dough. This is a great little challenge for learning about the lobes of the brain and their different functions.
Once you’ve made a play dough brain model, try Left Brain, Craft Brain’s brilliant brain surgery ideas.
Trick or Treat – Halloween STEM Activities
Challenge a group of friends to find out who can build the tallest creepy structure using Halloween candy. Lemon Lime Adventures used toothpicks and little candy pumpkins, but you could use straws, marshmallows or even plasticine.
Can anyone make it strong enough to balance a pumpkin on top?
If you’re lucky enough to have leftover candy, Halloween style candy chromatography, is always fun!
Blow up a pumpkin without touching it
Find out how to blow up a pumpkin balloon without touching it. This simple activity can be set up as an investigation by comparing the difference between balloons blown up with Alka-Seltzer and water, popping candy and water, or baking soda and vinegar.
Light up a Halloween House
This spooky electricity activity also makes a great pumpkin alternative. Imagine a row of these spooky Halloween houses on a windowsill. The little houses have a simple circuit inside with a lightbulb. As an extension task, children can experiment with circuits in series and parallel and build a switch into the circuit as well.
Drawing Robot
Another fun electricity activity is to make a spider drawing robot. You’ll need a battery, elastic band, motor and wires for this one.
The best thing about drawing robots is that they can be themed however you like. Pumpkins, witches, wizards and monsters all work well.
Witchy Potions
We set up an investigation to find out which witchy drink makes the best bubbles. We used green smoothies, purple grape juice, and chocolate milk. Next time, we’ll try some fizzy drinks and make cocktails.
Clean it up!
Make a witch’s potion using glitter and herbs in water, and then experiment to find a way to make the water clear again.
Hint – what could you use to filter the water?
Try a sieve, colander or even kitchen roll for your filter.
Ghost STEM Challenges
Can you find a way to make a flying ghost?
Try film canister rocket ghosts like Growing a Jewelled Rose, or how about making ghosts jump using static electricity?
We love these easy Halloween shooters from Red Ted Art. Kids can experiment to find the perfect combination of the weight of the end part and the length of the straw to make the shooters travel as far as possible.
Density – Halloween STEM Activity
Create a spooky density jar and find a creepy object to float on each layer. A very simple version of this uses just oil and water. The image below shows treacle, honey, red-coloured water and oil.
Make some noise
Experiment to discover many different eerie noises a simple spooky noise maker can make. Try to think of any other ways to make creepy noises.
The cup amplifies the sound, making it extra spooky!
Melting haunted hands
Find out how long it takes to melt a haunted hand. We love this simple but creepy idea from Happy Hooligans.
Make it an investigation by experimenting to find different methods of speeding up the melting process.
Spooky Shadow Puppets
Create a spooky shadow puppet and scare trick-or-treaters with the shadows. Bats, ghosts, and pumpkins work really well! Add some cellophane for an extra special effect. This is a great activity for learning about transparent and opaque materials and realising that light travels in straight lines!
FREE Printable Halloween STEM Challenges
These free printable Halloween STEM Challenges are perfect for a fun STEM afternoon at home or an alternative to a Halloween party.
Make a parachute for a spider, jumping ghosts, shadow puppets or toppling towers.
If you’re planning a Halloween party, I’ve got some great Halloween party ideas for kids, including potions, a spooky noise maker and pumpkin lava lamps!
If you’re looking for gross science ideas, my book Gross Science contains 60 icky, sticky and gruesome science experiments for kids and is available to order now!
Last Updated on October 17, 2024 by Emma Vanstone
