Does your child love cars, trains, planes, and all things that go?! I’ve rounded up 17 of the Best STEM Transportation Activities for kids—just for you!

Let’s Go! Transportation Family Unit Study

Before we get into all of the fun STEM activities, I have a newly released Unit Study that you’ll LOVE: Let’s GO! Transportation! This unit study introduces your child to different forms of land, air, and water transportation through fun, hands-on activities. You’ll also be guided in creating your very own invented mode of transportation for the future!

What is a Family Unit Study?

If you’re new here, let me explain. This unit study, like all of our ever-growing library of unit studies, takes one big topic—Transportation—and breaks it down into ten manageable, bite-sized learning topics. This format gives you the freedom to dive into learning at a pace that works for your family.

Each of the ten topics included with a unit study contains everything you need for that topic, including:

• a curated YouTube video,
• suggested information to read,
• a “what’s happening” section,
• an interesting fact,
• a discussion questions
• literacy and math extension questions,
• and an ultimate-can’t-be-beat hands-on activity!

Perhaps you do one topic per day, perhaps one per week. Whatever suits your fancy! You can learn about music and instruments and explore a topic from start to finish in about 1-2 hours.

Take a peek and check out a sample from Let’s Go! Transportation right here: https://shop.howweelearn.com/products/family-unit-study-lets-go-transportation

I also invite you to download this FREE DIY Magnetic Racetrack Printable! Using the included components, kids can design their own racetrack on a paper plate or a piece of cardboard and race their cars around the track with the power of magnets! After you enter your email, the printable will be emailed to you, and you’ll be brought to the How Wee Learn shop, where you can check out a sample from the Let’s Go! Transportation Family Unit Study.

Now, get ready to drive, race, fly, and float with these fun STEM Transportation Activities for Kids!

STEM Transportation Activities with Cars

Toilet Paper Roll Balloon Car by Left Brain Craft Train – With just a few supplies, you can make this super fun balloon-powered car. Your child will be learning all about wheels and axles, air power, and even Newton’s Third Law of Motion—and, of course, having lots of FUN!

Magnet Powered Car by Science Kiddo – This activity is wonderful to present as a STEM Challenge: Can you make your car go in the right direction without touching it? Kids will love “pushing and pulling” their cars around the track using the power of magnetism!

Exploring Ramps, Angles, and Friction by Pre-K Pages – Explore ramps, angles, and friction with just a few simple materials!

Clothespin Car by Crafts by Amanda – Okay, these clothespin cars are absolutely adorable. You could even use these cars to explore friction with the previous Exploring Ramps, Angles, and Friction activity!

STEM Transportation Activities with Trains

Train Wheel Science by Science Buddies – How does a train stay on its tracks? This STEM activity will teach your child about different wheel shapes and how train wheels are designed to stay on the track.

Train Chain Reactions by Teach Beside Me – What a fun way to learn about chain reactions! Simply set up some dominoes on the tracks and let that train go!

Build a Simple Electromagnetic Train by Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls – How cool is this!? Explore electricity and magnetism to build a simple electromagnetic train!

Boat STEM Activities

Nature Boat STEM Challenge – If there is one thing I like more than a good STEM challenge, it’s a STEM challenge in nature! Can you make a boat that floats out of nature items? What about one that holds three rocks?

Baking Soda & Vinegar Powered Boat by Tiny Beans – You’ve heard of a baking soda and vinegar volcano, but have you heard of a baking soda and volcano boat?! Learn about chemical reactions and how they can really make things GO!

DIY Paddle Boat for Kids by Rookie Parenting – You just need two pencils, some rubber bands, and little foam shapes to make this DIY Paddle Boat!

Air Travel STEM Activities

Flying Egg Carton Helicopter – We had so much fun creating this egg carton helicopter that I included it as one of the hands-on activities in the Let’s Go! Transportation Family Unit Study!

How to Make a Paper Parachute Toy Based on Nature by Babble Dabble Do – This brilliant activity starts with investigating how seeds travel and disperse, and then using that knowledge to design a parachute!

Amazing Airplanes by Teachers are Terrific – Who doesn’t love a good paper plane!? This blog post shows you how to incorporate an epic multi-day paper airplane event in your classroom (or homeschool!).

Bernoulli Principle Experiment by 123 Homeschool 4 Me – Do you know what the Bernoulli Principle is? This simple activity will show children how faster air means less pressure, allowing an object to fly!

Balloon Rocket Experiment for Kids by Preschool Play & Learn – It’s race time! Whether you race your balloon rockets indoors or out, little ones can experiment with how to make their balloon rockets travel the fastest and furthest.

And Even More Fun STEM Transportation Activities!

Egg Drop STEM Challenge by Buggy and Buddy – I fondly remember my entire school competing in an egg drop challenge when I was a kid! Kids will have so much fun experimenting and coming up with creative ideas to keep their egg safe!

Paper Plate Roller Coaster by Steamsational – Maybe a roller coaster isn’t a “traditional” form of transportation, but it definitely goes! With some plastic cups, paper plates, tape, and a pair of scissors, you can design a twisting and twirling roller coaster while learning all about forces and motion.

So what do you think!? Did you find some fun ideas you’re itching to try? I hope so!

And if you’re ready to have everything planned for you—step-by-step and full of learning and hands-on fun—I invite you to check out the Let’s Go! Transportation Family Unit Study:

Let’s Go! Transportation Family Unit Study

https://shop.howweelearn.com/products/family-unit-study-lets-go-transportation

Thank you so much for reading, sweet friend,

xo
Sarah