Pure Mathematics STEM Activities for Kids (12 results)

Wikipedia defines mathematics as "the study of quantity, structure, space and change." With a definition like that, it's easy to see why math is often called "the language of science." Math is essential for analyzing and communicating scientific results, and for stating scientific theories in a way that is clear, succinct, and testable.

Puzzle Fun with a Perimeter Magic Triangle

STEM Activity

33 reviews

Do you ever use math as a tool to solve interesting problems? In the 1970s math was often taught with simple worksheets. One teacher developed an exciting way to learn math and logic; he developed what is now known as the perimeter magic triangle puzzles. Try them out—and have some fun as you start thinking about counting in a whole new way! Read more

What Are the Chances?

STEM Activity

17 reviews

Have you ever heard anyone say the chance of something happening is "50-50"? What does that actually mean? This phrase has something to do with probability. Probability tells you how likely it is that an event will occur. This means that for certain events you can actually calculate how likely it is that they will happen. In this activity, you will do these calculations and then test if your calculations hold true for reality! Read more

Statistical Science: M&M Math

STEM Activity

9 reviews

Have you ever wondered weather the outcome of a certain activity is predictable? For example, if you’re randomly picking a chocolate out of a box of mixed chocolates, can you predict how likely it is that you’d end up with a specific type of chocolate, such as a caramel-filled chocolate? To investigate this tasty topic, in this activity you’ll determine the frequency of different colored M&M’s in a package of M&M candies. M&M’s are… Read more

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Make String from Algae

STEM Activity

60 reviews

Did you know that the seaweed you've seen in the ocean or even eaten as a snack is inspiring innovators to imagine new materials? Large brown algae, like kelp, contains polymers—long chains of molecules—that are more environmentally friendly than the ones in most plastics. These natural polymers (alginates) could eventually be used to create sustainable everyday objects. Try your hand at using a bit of chemistry to turn biodegradable polymers from algae into your own custom… Read more

Circular Reasoning: Finding Pi

STEM Activity

35 reviews

Mathematicians look at the world around them in terms of numbers and formulas, and now, you can discover the formula for Pi too! In this science activity you will examine circular objects and see what you can discover about their sizes. As you explore, you might be surprised at how useful the results can be—maybe it will inspire you to save up for a bike with bigger wheels! Read more

Balancing Challenges

STEM Activity

5 reviews

Did you ever come across a challenge that looked almost too straightforward to try, but turned out to be shockingly tricky, if not impossible? This activity challenges you in a fun way. Something as simple as picking up a piece of candy can be way harder than it looks. Find out why some movements are harder than you’d expect, then trick your friends into trying them. Astonish them with your stunning knowledge of the laws of physics; and most of all, have fun! Read more

Half-Life with Coins

STEM Activity

4 reviews

You may have read about nuclear disasters at sites like Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and Fukushima in the news or in a history lesson. Disasters like these can take years or even decades to clean up, and make it unsafe for humans to live nearby for even longer. Why does the contamination last so long? In this (perfectly safe!) activity, you will learn about radioactive decay using coins. Read more

Juice Box Geometry

STEM Activity

Juice boxes sure are convenient—just poke a straw in and sip away! But have you ever noticed that some juice boxes don't seem to have as much juice as others, even when they have a lot of packaging? You might be amazed how much thought goes into designing a juice box. Each manufacturer has carefully calculated how big each side of the box needs to be to hold a certain amount of juice inside and how altering the box's dimensions affects its overall appearance and… Read more

Mesmerizing Fractals

STEM Activity

Do you ever wonder what mathematicians study, and why? Most of what they do is complex and inaccessible to laymen, but fractal art might give us a glimpse. While mathematicians study fractals formally, they are used in many branches of science and technology, and we, as laymen, are struck by their beauty. Are you eager to create one? In this activity, you will get to take out some finger paint to make artwork and discover how common fractals are. Read more

M&M Geometry

STEM Activity

3 reviews

Has an adult ever caught you munching on candy and asked, "How much candy have you eaten?" Instead of saying, "I don't know," and possibly receiving a scolding, wouldn't you rather respond, "I ate precisely 10.7 cubic centimeters of candy"? In this activity, you will investigate which mathematical formula is most accurate for estimating the volume of an M&M. Figure this out and the next time you are discovered while snacking on sweets, you might make a… Read more

Pick a Card, Any Card

STEM Activity

1 review

Have you ever been playing cards and wished you could use psychic powers to draw the card you wanted? You may not be psychic, but you can still have the power of probability on your side. In this activity you'll investigate the probabilities of drawing specific types of cards from a deck. You'll discover how math can help you avoid the dreaded phrase, "Go fish!" Read more

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