March Break is the perfect time for kids to explore and learn through hands-on STEM activities! Whether they love science, technology, engineering, or math, these fun and interactive projects will keep young minds engaged while fostering creativity and problem-solving skills. Best of all, these activities use common household materials, making them easy for parents and kids to enjoy together.

1. Baking Soda & Vinegar Volcano 🌋

What You’ll Need:

• ½ cup baking soda
• 1 cup vinegar
• Dish soap (a few drops)
• Food colouring (optional)
• Empty plastic bottle or cup
• Tray or large plate (to catch spills)

Instructions:

1. Place the plastic bottle on the tray.
2. Add ½ cup of baking soda into the bottle.
3. Add a few drops of dish soap and food colouring.
4. Pour in 1 cup of vinegar and watch the “lava” erupt!

How It Works:
The vinegar (acid) reacts with baking soda (base), creating carbon dioxide gas, which causes the foamy eruption!

2. Balloon-Powered Car 🚗

What You’ll Need:

• A plastic bottle
• 4 bottle caps (wheels)
• 2 straws
• 2 skewers or chopsticks
• A balloon
• Tape

Instructions:

1. Insert the skewers through two straws to make the car’s axles.
2. Attach bottle caps to the ends of each skewer to create wheels.
3. Tape the axles to the bottom of the plastic bottle.
4. Insert a straw into the balloon and secure it tightly with tape or a rubber band.
5. Tape the straw-and-balloon setup to the top of the car.
6. Blow up the balloon through the straw, hold the end closed, and then release to watch your car zoom!

How It Works:
The air escaping from the balloon pushes the car forward using Newton’s Third Law: “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

3. DIY Constellation Viewer 🔭

What You’ll Need:

• A black paper cup or toilet paper tube
• A flashlight
• A pin or needle
• White paper and a pencil

Instructions:

1. Draw a constellation on white paper and poke holes where the stars are.
2. Place the paper over the open end of the cup/tube and secure it with tape.
3. Turn off the lights, shine a flashlight through the other end, and project the constellation onto a wall!

How It Works:
Light passes through the holes, simulating how we see stars in the night sky.

4. Alka-Seltzer Rocket 🚀

What You’ll Need:

• A film canister with a snap-on lid
• Alka-Seltzer tablet
• Water

Instructions:

1. Fill the canister ⅓ full with water.
2. Drop in half of an Alka-Seltzer tablet.
3. Quickly snap the lid on, place the canister upside down on the ground, and step back!
4. In a few seconds, it will POP into the air like a rocket!

How It Works:
The reaction between Alka-Seltzer and water releases carbon dioxide gas, building pressure until the lid pops off, launching the rocket.

5. DIY Invisible Ink 📝

What You’ll Need:

• Lemon juice or baking soda mixed with water
• A cotton swab or paintbrush
• White paper
• A lamp or iron

Instructions:

1. Dip the cotton swab into the lemon juice (or baking soda mixture) and write on the paper.
2. Let the paper dry completely.
3. To reveal the hidden message, hold the paper close to a warm lamp or iron it on low heat (with adult supervision).

How It Works:
The acid in lemon juice (or the reaction of baking soda) makes the paper fibers weaken, and heat causes them to darken, revealing the message.

These fun, hands-on STEM activities are a great way to keep kids engaged and learning over March Break. Whether they’re launching rockets, building balloon-powered cars, or uncovering hidden messages, these experiments encourage creativity, critical thinking, and a love of science!