Kids love holidays and special occasions. Anything green or rainbow on St. Patrick’s Day seems to become more fun. From a green t-shirt to a granny smith apple there is just something special in the air on St. Patrick’s Day. Let kids in on the excitement of the day with this collection of 27 St Patricks Day STEM activities and STEAM activities.

One of my favorite things to plan for my classroom are STEM activities. STEM activities are challenges or hands-on activities that focus on one, or a combination, of Science Technology Engineering and Math skills. Make learning these skills even more fun by adding a St. Patrick’s Day theme to the activities this year.

STEM activities for kids encourage problem solving, critical thinking and thinking outside the box for new, creative, solutions. It also encourages a love for, and confidence in, these very important, but sometimes intimidating subject areas.

More recently art activities have been added to STEM activities, also known as STEAM activities. So, to balance this list of STEM activities, I have added some St. Patrick’s Day art activities, making the list below to include STEAM activities for kids.

Check out the collection of activities below, with a focus on science experiments first. St Patricks Day STEM activities for kids don’t need to be expensive. When looking through the activities, consider what materials you already have on hand to easily, quickly and inexpensively do the STEM activity.

St. Patrick’s Day Science Experiments

Have an explosive time on St. Patrick’s Day with this fizzing science experiment. Use a few simple household materials to create this science experiment that kids will love. There’s even a surprise treasure inside.

Hands-on learning is the best way to learn. With this salt crystal experiment, children will learn about how crystals form, saturation and dissolving while they create a beautiful shamrock.

This walking rainbow chromatography pots of gold activity is a super low-prep STEM activity that demonstrates capillary action, cohesion, and adhesion! Kids will love watching the rainbow ‘walk’ from one pot to another.

Bring on the rainbows! Create a foaming rainbow with this exploding science experiment. Make sure you have containers big enough to catch all of the foam!

Instead of gold inside, create a fizzing treasure pot with this exciting, and simple science experiment that kids will love to get their hands on!

St Patricks Day STEM Activities – Sensory Snow

Create an endothermic reaction with household materials and make Leprechaun Snow!

What kid doesn’t love slime? Add a St. Patrick’s Day theme with this rainbow slime recipe and instructions.

Help a leprechaun out this St. Patrick’s Day with this hands-on St. Patrick’s Day STEM challenge for kids. Free printable activity cards available!

All you need is a bag of candies and some warm water for this beautiful science experiment. Children will love watching as the rainbow emerges. Free tag available.

Who needs a leprechaun when you can grow your own pot of gold with science!

My students, and my own children, always love doing this experiment! Teach children about density and liquids as they watch in awe as the rainbow layers are formed.

Grow a crystal rainbow using Borax. These turn out beautifully and it is a great experiment for children to create and then check on every hour or so to observe the changes – just like a scientist.

I know a lot of kids who would LOVE making one of these! Use a few simple ingredients to create a bouncy ball that actually bounces.

Add rainbow beads to your St. Patrick’s Day slime to make a great sensory experience for kids. Instructions on how to make the slime and sensory ideas are included.

St Patricks Day STEM Activities for Kids – Walking Rainbow

Try the classic walking water experiment with a twist. Make the rainbow form an arch like an actual rainbow for some extra fun on St. Patrick’s Day.

My kids would love this! Add to the fun of making slime by making it edible.

St. Patricks Day STEM Activities – Technology

Computer programmers make a plan in order to think of problems that might appear and solutions for how they are going to deal with them. Think like a programmer and write an algorithm to help Paddy the Leprechaun collect the gold coins.

Coding is an important skill for children to learn. Work on math and technology skills this St. Patrick’s Day with these printable coding sequences.

St. Patricks Day STEM Activities for Kids – Engineering

Challenge children to create a leprechaun trap with this collection of ideas.

My kids would love to create and play with this! Children engineer a catapult with these clear step by step instructions. Once finished, children then use their catapult and experiment through trial and error to fly cereal through the air into a leprechaun pot.

Leprechaun traps are a common creation for kids on St. Patrick’s Day. Is this a leprechaun trap or a leprechaun garden? Either way how adorable is this example? Free printable rainbow and pot of gold templates available.

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by giving children choice. These STEM activity cards are the perfect way to fill your day with lots of St. Patrick’s Day themed activities.

If you are looking for more leprechaun trap ideas, click on the image below for more ideas and strategies for how to trap the leprechaun.

St. Patrick’s Day STEM Activities – Math

How cute are these shamrock bookmarks? Children practice basic math skills such as symmetry and angles when making this origami bookmark.

Gold coins are often found on St. Patrick’s Day and are a great way to attract leprechauns. Get creative by designing your own coins this St. Patrick’s Day. Decide on the value of your coin and think about the size by checking other coins and money.

STEAM Art Activities

Create a beautiful raised shamrock using salt and a few art materials. These are beautiful to watch as they are created and you are left with a special piece of art.

Use St. Patrick’s Day to prepare something fun for spring. Make a huge block of rainbow sidewalk chalk to use and create with once the sun is shining.

Add a bit of a challenge to your St. Patrick’s Day art with this shamrock doodle art project.

I hope that your St. Patrick’s Day is filled with fun, laughter and learning. STEM activities are great to do any time, but with a theme children are likely to be even more engaged. Use their excitement to create a love of learning and eagerness to learn about science, technology, engineering, art and math!

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More Hands-On Teaching Ideas

If you are looking for more hands-on activities to do with kids at home or in the classroom, below is a collection of my favorite and most popular learning activities.

If you like STEM activities check out the huge collection of STEM building challenges or another huge collection of hands-on science experiments to encourage a love of learning and science.