STEAM at Home: DIY Projects for After School Activities

After a long school day, kids often need a break from textbooks—but that doesn’t mean the learning has to stop. In fact, after-school hours can be the perfect time to spark curiosity and build confidence with hands-on activities. That’s where STEAM at home comes in. Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math don’t have to live only in the classroom—they can also inspire wonder around the kitchen table or backyard.

The best part? These projects are fun, simple, and use materials you probably already have at home. Here are three step-by-step after-school activities that blend play with problem-solving, while showing kids the real-world connections behind STEAM.

Project 1: Alka-Seltzer Powered Boats (Science + Engineering)

This experiment brings together design, problem-solving, and chemistry—kids get to engineer their own boats and watch them race across water using fizzing power.

What You’ll Need:

• A shallow plastic container filled with water (or use the bathtub/sink)

• Alka-Seltzer tablets

• Small plastic containers or film canisters with lids (lightweight and boat-like)

• Tape, scissors, straws, cardboard, or foam (optional, for designing and decorating)

Steps:

1. Help your child design their boat. They can tape cardboard or foam to the container for sails, add straws for masts, or keep it simple with just the base.

2. Fill the boat with a small amount of water.

3. Break an Alka-Seltzer tablet into pieces. When ready, drop one piece into the boat and quickly place the lid on.

4. Place the boat into the water and watch it fizz its way forward!

STEAM Connection: This activity demonstrates how chemical reactions release gases. As the Alka-Seltzer reacts with water, carbon dioxide is created, which builds pressure inside the container and propels the boat forward. Kids can experiment with different designs, tablet sizes, or even race multiple boats to see how changes affect the outcome.

Project 2: Walking Water (Science + Art)

Part science experiment, part art project, this activity uses capillary action to “walk” water from one cup to another—while blending colors in the process.

What You’ll Need:

• 6 clear cups or jars

• Paper towels

• Food coloring (red, blue, yellow)

• Water

Steps:

1. Line up all six cups. Fill every other cup halfway with water, leaving the others empty.

2. Add a few drops of food coloring to each filled cup—red in one, blue in another, yellow in the last.

3. Fold paper towels into long strips and place one end in a cup with colored water and the other end in an empty cup next to it.

4. Over time, watch as the water “walks” up the paper towel and drips into the empty cups, eventually mixing to create new colors.

STEAM Connection: The paper towel acts like a straw, pulling water upward through tiny fibers by capillary action. Not only does this teach a fundamental science concept, but it also shows kids how colors blend to form new shades—making it a beautiful mix of science and art.

Project 3: Homemade Lava Lamps (Science + Creativity)

This project is visually stunning and always a kid favorite. By combining everyday ingredients, you’ll create a bubbling, glowing effect that mimics a lava lamp.

What You’ll Need:

• A clear plastic bottle or jar

• Water

• Vegetable oil

• Food coloring

• Alka-Seltzer tablets

Steps:

1. Fill the bottle about one-third full with water.

2. Add several drops of food coloring.

3. Pour in vegetable oil until the bottle is nearly full, leaving some space at the top. Wait for the oil and water to separate into layers.

4. Break an Alka-Seltzer tablet into smaller pieces and drop them in one at a time.

5. Turn off the lights and shine a flashlight through the bottom of the bottle to make it glow.

STEAM Connection: Oil and water don’t mix because of their different densities, and the Alka-Seltzer reacts with water to release carbon dioxide gas. The rising bubbles carry the colored water upward through the oil, then fall back down once the gas escapes—creating a mesmerizing cycle.

Why STEAM at Home Matters

After-school STEAM projects like these encourage kids to keep exploring, experimenting, and asking “what if?” outside of the classroom. They show that learning isn’t confined to school hours—it’s everywhere, waiting to be discovered. These small activities build confidence in problem-solving, spark creativity, and help kids see how science and engineering connect to the world around them.

Want to take STEAM learning even further? At E3 Encounters, we bring museum-quality, interactive STEAM programs directly to your school, library, or event. From dinosaurs to engineering challenges, our immersive experiences make science unforgettable—and inspire curiosity that lasts long after the show ends.

Ready to bring the excitement of STEAM to your students? Book an E3 Encounter today and watch curiosity ignite.