58 Fun STEAM Art Projects for Kids of All Ages! (2024)

Disclosure:This “STEAM Art Projects” blog post contains affiliate links. As an affiliate and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Please read myfull disclosure policyfor more information.

I remember a common debate when I was in college studying Art Education; should we “enrich learning” by integrating other subjects (such as math, literacy, etc.) into art education? Or, should we teach art simply “for art’s sake?”

On the one hand, art in and of itself is valuable in our children’s education. But I have also seen how enriching it can be to integrate other subjects, too. I’m sure there’s value in both philosophies and a balance between the two is best anyway. Thankfully, I don’t have to stress about that debate anymore since I’m a work at home mama now. I can do whatever fun art activities I want with my kiddos. Yahoo!

Although, I must admit…I’m loving this new-ish trend of STEAM education, which adds art to STEM, making it: Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math!

So, I’ve gathered up some funSTEAM art projects for us to explore with the kids. Let’s check ’em out…

Feel free to click on the links under the table of contents below to jump to the branch of science or math that interests you.

Building and Engineering STEAM Activities

1. Marshmallow Sculptures Activity

Challenge the kids to build sculptures out of mini marshmallows, paper straws, and toothpicks for a STEAM art project that’s both fun and delicious!

2. Straws and Paper Towel Rolls Sculpture Project

Punch holes in paper towel rolls, then let the kids use straws to build structures with them. Add more learning by experimenting with how much weight they can hold.

3. Colorful DIY Kaleidoscope Project

Explore basic engineering concepts while building a working kaleidoscope out of cardboard and a petri dish!

4. Floating Sculpture Project

This clever STEAM engineering project uses toothpicks to connect foam pool noodle pieces for the creation of 3D floating sculptures.

5. Marshmallow Sculpture Activity

Or, use toothpicks to connect marshmallows and marshmallow Peeps for an easy and fun STEAM building activity.

Magnetism STEAM Art Projects

6. Magnet Painting Activity

Magnet wands and metal parts are used as painting tools in this open-ended STEAM art project for preschoolers.

7. DIY Magnetic Craft Stick Art Activity

Add magnets to colorful craft sticks to make a creative STEAM art activity toddlers and preschoolers can do right on the refrigerator!

8. Magnetic Sculpture Art Project

Let the kids explore the concept of magnetism while building sculptures out of magnets and metal parts.

9. DIY Magnet Maze Project

With just a paper plate and some creativity, kids can make their own magnet maze toy that’s perfect for exploring the properties of magnetism.

Electronics and Robotics STEAM Activities

10. Creative Dance Bot Project

Kids learn how to make a circuit while transforming a recycled plastic lid and corks into a cute dancing bot.

11. Motorized Coloring Machine Project

Help your kids turn toy motors and everyday plastic cups into their very own personal art bots!

12. Toy Car Marker Bot Project

Or, use an old toy car instead of a cup to make a neat marker-drawing robot on wheels!

13. Robot Toy Play Mat Art Project

Line the floor with some poster board, then have the kids design a giant maze for their favorite robotic toys.

14. Light Up Wand Craft

With some simple circuitry and electrical tape, kids turn a plain old stick into a magical light-up wand. Increase the creativity by decorating wands with patterned washi tape.

15. Light Up Unicorn Horn Sculpture Project

Invite your child to sculpt a unicorn out of air-dry clay. Then, help them wire an LED light into it to light up its horn!

16. Salty Circuits Art Activity

Help your child use basic circuitry to electrify their glue and salt painting designs. Then, watch their eyes will light up when their artwork lights up!

17. DIY Modern Art Steady Hand Game

Add some art history to your next STEM lesson with this fun Modern Art-inspired steady hand game project.

18. Circle Algorithm Drawing Coding Activity

Grab the free printable for this art activity that gets kids using basic coding skills to create cool circle art.

Physics STEAM Art Projects

19. “Magic” Drawing Activity

Kids love seeing their drawings magically morph as they experiment with light refraction during this STEAM art activity.

20. Watercolor Blow Art Monsters Project

Have kids explore the effects of force by blowing through straws to paint cute watercolor art monsters.

21. Simple Straw Mobile Project

Even preschoolers can string beads and straws to make this simple art mobile that teaches kids about the center of gravity as it blows in the wind.

22. Colored Sand Pendulum Painting Activity

Painting doesn’t get much more fun than doing so with a giant pendulum! Kids explore gravity and motion while making giant sand art.

23. Homemade Zoom Ball Project

Build a classic zoom ball game (also known as zip ball) out of recycled plastic bottles and string. Make sure the kids decorate it before playing.

24. DIY Spin Art Spinners Activity

Help the kids turn recycled CDs into spinning art tools. Then, use them to explore the action-packed effects of motion and force on paint.

25. Bicycle Wheel Spin Art Activity

Or, take spin art up a notch (or ten) by using your child’s bicycle wheel as the spinner instead!

26. DIY Spinning Paper Tops

Use the free printable to make these paper tops. Then, decorate them before spinning to see how the designs change!

Chemistry STEAM Art Activities

27. Crystalized Watercolor Painting Activity

Even preschool children can do this simple STEM art activity using a mixture of epsom salt, table salt, and watercolor paints (or food coloring).

28. Simple Salt Painting Project

Kids love watching paint colors “run” along the salted glue lines while doing this fun STEAM art project.

29. Simple Magic Mystery Painting Project

Use a white crayon to create a mystery drawing or write secret messages for your child to discover when they paint with watercolors. Then, explore the science behind the magic!

30. Recycled Plastic Flowers Art Project

Help the kids turn recycled plastic into pretty flowers, and explore the chemistry of polymers at the same time.

31. Abstract Evaporation Art Activity

This open-ended STEAM art activity gets kids exploring the properties of water and evaporation while creating abstract art.

32. Open-Ended Viscosity Art Activity

Even toddlers can do this easy STEM activity that explores viscosity. If you want physical artwork too, take photos of their colorful creations along the way.

33. Marker Chromatography Art Project

After doing this marker chromatography science experiment, kids can use their colorful results to make paper flowers or other crafts.

34. Easy Metal Art Project

Help kids explore chemical reactions and oxidation with this neat metal art project that’s easy enough for kids to do!

35. Sharpie Marker Tie Dye Project

For this clever STEAM project, kids explore solubility while using permanent markers to create a tie-dye designs on a t-shirt.

Nature Study STEAM Projects

36. Simple Chalk Pastel Leaf Rubbing Activity

Invite your child to look a little closer at the anatomy of leaves using chalk pastels and a classic leaf rubbing technique.

37. Pressed Leaves Suncatcher Craft

Or, help your child press leaves between two layers of waxed paper to make suncatchers that are perfect for observing their attributes.

38. Orange PrintingArt Activity

Toddler and preschoolers can explorefresh oranges in a new way with this fun open-ended art STEAM activity.

39. Insect Habitat Building Challenge

Free printable insect challenge cards inspire kids to create paper habitats using simple cutting and folding techniques.

40. Mushroom Spore Print Car Painting

Encourage the kids to explore the characteristics of mushrooms while using them to print wheels on their cute car paintings.

41. 3D Flower Model Project

Challenge your child to recreate the anatomy of a rose using just some air dry clay, a drinking straw, and construction paper!

42. Touch Tank Drawing Prompt Activity

This free printable “touch tank” themed drawing prompt pairs perfectly with a lesson on aquatic life or a family trip to an aquarium.

Weather STEAM Activities

43. Easy Pinwheel Craft Project

Add extra creativity to STEAM craft by having kids decorate the paper before constructing their pinwheels. Then, have them use their pinwheels to explore the power of wind!

44. Printed Windsock Craft Project

For this fun art STEM project, kids use basic printmaking to add patterns to posterboard before using it to make a pretty windsock.

45. Action Painted Umbrella Project

Have the kids use Jackson Pollock-inspired action painting to paint an umbrella. Then, after the paint dries, take it outside to explore the weather on a rainy day!

46. Paper Snowflake Art Quilt Project

Explore the science of winter and snowflakes with your kids while making colorful paper snowflake quilts.

Astronomy STEAM Art Projects

47. Paper Quilling Solar System Art Project

Kids use simple paper quilling techniques to create a one-of-a-kind model of the solar system.

48. Simple Watercolor Planets Art Project

Invite kids to explore watercolor painting techniques while creating works of art representing planets.

49. Oil Pastel and Watercolor Galaxy Painting Project

Or, use both oil pastels and watercolor paint to inspire your kids to explore the entire galaxy!

50. 3D Moon Texture Craft

Little ones add crater-like impressions and texture to styrofoam circles to make this neat textured moon craft.

Math STEAM Art Activities

51. Magic Mirrors Reflection Art Activity

With a free printable template, markers, and plastic mirrors, kids get fun hands-on math learning while exploring multiplication, geometry, angles, and more!

52. Painted Paper Chain Math Activity

Kids explore math and art in this STEAM activity that challenges them to find a way to “walk through” a single sheet of paper.

53. Graph Art Illustration Project

Have kids track data of their choice in a graph. Then, challenge them to turn their graph lines into a creative illustration.

54. Flower Tessellation Art Project

A free printable template makes this STEAM art project, which explores geometry, easy enough for preschool and Kindergarten kids.

55. Oil Resist Tessellation Art Project

This tessellation art project uses oil pastels for a neat oil-resist art technique your kids will love.

56. Sticky Note Fish Tessellations Project

Use everyday sticky notes to make the little fish template for this kid-friendly tessellation art project.

57. Tangram Printmaking Art Activity

Use foam pattern blocks for this preschool STEAM activity that combines hands-on geometry learning and open-ended art making!

58. Self-Portrait Geometry Art Project

Help kids explore the geometry and symmetry of the human face while creating a unique self-portrait on a cardboard egg crate.

STEAM Art Activity Books

If you’re looking for even more STEAM activity ideas, check out our favorite books full of STEAM art activities for toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary kids, too!

The Outdoor Toddler Activity Book: 100+ Fun Early Learning Activities for Outside PlayThe Rainy Day Toddler Activity Book: 100+ Fun Early Learning Activities for Inside PlaySTEAM Kids: 50+ Science / Technology / Engineering / Art / Math Hands-On Projects for KidsSTEAM Kids in the Kitchen: Hands-On Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, & Math Activities & Recipes for Kids100 Easy STEAM Activities: Awesome Hands-On Projects for Aspiring Artists and EngineersSTEAM Play & Learn: 20 fun step-by-step preschool projects about science, technology, engineering, art, and math!STEAM Lab for Kids: 52 Creative Hands-On Projects for Exploring Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and MathMath Art and Drawing Games for Kids: 40+ Fun Art Projects to Build Amazing Math Skills

STEAM Art Activity Kits

Or, it you’re not up for gathering materials for the STEM art activities above, check out our favorite STEAM art activity kits on Amazon. Check out some of our favorites…

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Flower & Herb Gardening Kit for KidsSpirograph Jr. with Jumbo Sized GearsSTEAM Powered Kids Crystal Science KitGreen Creativity Pressed Flower Art KitCreativity for Kids Grow ‘N Glow Terrarium KitSmartivity Music Machine Building KitWater Marbling Paint Kit for KidsNATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Kids Screen Printing Kit for KidsCrayola Paper Butterfly Science KitCrystal Flower Science Kit for KidsMade By Me Build & Paint Your Own Wooden Cars Kit

Find more of our favorite art and craft supplies inB-Inspired Mama’s Amazon Shop:Fun Finds for Creative Kids

Don’t forget to save these fun STEAM art ideas to come back to. And share them with friends! Simply use the buttons at the top or bottom of this post. Or, click here:Share on Facebook|Tweet It|Pin It|Email to a Friend

More Science and Art Activities from B-Inspired Mama:

• 10 Fun and Edible Food Science Experiments Your Kids Will Rave About!
• 47 Preschool Math Activities for Every Season
• STEAM Resources for Parents: hoopla Digital

Disclosure:This “STEAM Art Projects” blog post contains affiliate links. As an affiliate and Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Please read myfull disclosure policyfor more information.