We’ve been very busy over the last few weeks testing lots of fun Christmas Science Experiments. You might spot some old favourites, but we’ve got lots of new ideas as well, including a collection of Elf STEM Challenges, which have entertained us for hours!
Remember to check out our FREE Christmas Science Ebook, which contains 12 printable Christmas-themed experiments and our fantastic DIY science kit ideas!
We also have a science advent calendar to help you count down to Christmas.
Christmas Science Experiments
Christmas Science in the Kitchen
Spiced Apple Cider STEM Challenge
Learn about filtering with our gorgeous apple cider recipe. This is also a great activity for thinking about the different smells and tastes of Christmas.
Minty Melting Leaves
We had lots of fun making mint flavoured chocolate leaves while learning about changes of state at the same time.
Chocolate is melted and painted on mint leaves, where it returns to a solid.
Festive Hot Chocolate
Try a hot chocolate science experiment. We usually make two or three different temperature hot chocolate drinks and place marshmallows on top to investigate where they melt the fasted.
Gingerbread House Festive STEM Challenge
Design and build a gingerbread house or lots of small gingerbread houses and test how strong they are.
Children can experiment with different sticky materials and design sizes and shapes.
Build a Marshmallow Snowman
Test different thicknesses of icing sugar and create marshmallow snowmen as part of a fun and festive design and technology STEM challenge.
Princess Pinky Girl has a brilliant bowl made from peppermint sweets which is another great way to learn about changes of state.
How about some yummy peppermint creams? These would be great as little gifts for friends.
We also made a Christmas peppermint lolly by growing sugar crystals. This is a bit messy and sticky, but if you can get it to work, the end result looks and tastes great.
Try to dissolve a candy cane using different liquids. We used hot and cold water and vinegar.
Christmas Chemistry Experiments
Fizzy Elf Lab
A fizzy elf lab is ALWAYS fun! I usually put baking soda, dish soap ( washing up liquid ), red or green food colouring and water in a test tube. Then the children add the vinegar and watch the mixture fizz and flow out of the test tube.
A fizzing Christmas tree or gingerbread man is another festive baking soda activity idea. We made ours using the same method as these fizzing rocks.
Our Grinch slime is prefect for little scientists. Squish it, pull it and squeeze it!
In the playroom
Make jumping snowmen or Christmas trees using static electricity.
Design and build a Christmas themed magnet or marble maze.
Festive shadow puppets are a brilliant and simple craft and science activity. We made ours Christmas tree shaped, but an elf shape, Santa or reindeer also work well.
Learn about magnetism with a magnetic Christmas tree or Olaf.
Design a pulley to help the elves lift a heavy load. This a brilliant design and technology Christmas activity.
How about a Christmas themed cartesian diver? When the bottle is squeezed, the elf drops and rises as the pressure is released.
Christmas Craft Creations
These tinkering trees are adorable from Left Brain Craft Brain.
How about making some symmetrical Christmas trees?
This magnetic present trail was also fun. We put paper clips inside a matchbox and wrapped it up before using the magnet wand to move the present around the board. A giant version of this would be great fun, too.
Make a Christmas themed optical illusion. This activity now comes with a FREE printable template to make it as easy as possible.
Christmas Activities Outside
Ice Ornaments
Red Ted Art has some wonderful ice ornaments. One idea for investigating these is to leave them outdoors and observe how they change with the weather.
Make Frost with Ice and Salt
Make your own frost ( you can do this inside ) using the power of ice and salt. We made our frosty tin can look like a snowman, but you can theme yours however you want.
Explore pine trees with this fun activity from Inspiration Laboratories.
Find out how to work out how tall your Christmas Tree is without measuring it.
Christmas STEM Challenges
Build and test Christmas themed boats to investigate whether they sink or float.
Investigate to find the strongest paper chain materials.
We’ve also got a great collection of Santa STEM Challenges, including helping Santa find the North Star, catapult presents up a tree and fixing broken toys.
For younger children
For younger children, a Christmas sensory box is a lovely idea.
Practice fine motor skills by rescuing the elf’s jingle bells from the snow.
Investigate sinking and floating with Christmas decorations.
Sparkly ice is a lovely sensory science idea. Let it melt a little before playing, as cold ice can be sticky.
How about a game of match the Christmas smell to the Christmas spice using play dough?
Christmas Gifts and Cards
We love this walk through a holiday card trick from Babble Dabble Do.
Use transpiration to make a teacher or family member a gift of lovely Christmas flowers coloured red or green.
Or, how about making a fun science kit as a gift for a curious child?
We’ve also got a selection of great Christmas Gift Ideas and STEM Stocking filler ideas if you’re looking for more traditional gifts.
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If you enjoyed these science activities, check out more of our easy Science Experiments for Kids.
Last Updated on November 15, 2024 by Emma Vanstone
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