5 Cinco de Mayo STEM Activities for Early Learners

Celebrate with Hands-On Learning Using Everyday Items!

Cinco de Mayo is the perfect time to mix celebration with hands-on learning. These 5 simple STEM experiments are designed for early learners (ages 3–6), using household or classroom materials you already have. They’re quick to set up, easy to follow, and packed with real-world STEM career connections.

Each activity explores concepts from Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, helping children build critical thinking, creativity, and curiosity—all while having a blast.

🌮 1. Guacamole Slime (Science & Sensory Play)

Materials:

• White school glue

• Baking soda

• Green food coloring

• Contact lens solution

• Plastic bowl and spoon

Steps (Kid-Friendly):

1. Pour glue into a bowl.

2. Add green food coloring—this makes it look like guacamole!

3. Stir in baking soda.

4. Slowly add contact lens solution and mix until it turns into slime.

5. Stretch, pull, and squish!

What Kids Learn:

• Chemical reactions

• Measuring and mixing

• Fine motor skills

STEM Career Tie-In:
🧪 Chemists and cosmetic scientists mix ingredients to develop new products like slime, lotion, or toothpaste.

🌈 2. Salsa Color Mixing (Liquid Density)

Materials:

• Clear cup

• Water

• Red food coloring

• Oil

• Spoon

Steps:

1. Fill a clear cup halfway with water.

2. Stir in red food coloring.

3. Pour oil slowly into the cup.

4. Watch as the oil floats and doesn’t mix!

What Kids Learn:

• Liquid density

• Observing chemical properties

• Pouring and patience

STEM Career Tie-In:
🔬 Chemical engineers and environmental scientists work with liquids to develop safe products and protect the environment.

🌟 3. Mini Piñata Launcher (Engineering & Motion)

Materials:

• Popsicle sticks

• Plastic spoon

• Rubber bands

• Wrapped candy or pom-poms

Steps:

1. Stack 5 popsicle sticks and rubber band the ends.

2. Place one stick under the stack and another on top, like a sandwich.

3. Rubber band those together on one end.

4. Tape a spoon to the top stick.

5. Place a candy in the spoon, press down, and launch!

What Kids Learn:

• Force and motion

• Basic engineering

• Trial and error

STEM Career Tie-In:
🚀 Mechanical engineers design tools, machines, and systems using these same motion principles.

🪅 4. Paper Towel Painting (Capillary Action)

Materials:

• Paper towel

• Washable markers

• Cup of water

• Tray or plate

Steps:

1. Fold a paper towel and draw a colorful Cinco de Mayo design.

2. Place it gently in a shallow tray of water.

3. Watch as the colors spread and mix through the towel!

What Kids Learn:

• Capillary action

• Color mixing

• Fine motor creativity

STEM Career Tie-In:
🧫 Lab technicians and biologists use paper-based tools to test samples and study how liquids move.

🎈 5. Sombrero Balloon Zoom (Balloon Propulsion)

Materials:

• Balloon

• Paper plate (cut like a sombrero)

• Straw

• String

• Tape

Steps:

1. Decorate a sombrero from a paper plate.

2. Tape a straw to the back of the sombrero.

3. Thread a string through the straw and tie each end to chairs.

4. Blow up a balloon (don’t tie it), tape it to the straw, and let go!

5. Watch it fly!

What Kids Learn:

• Air pressure and propulsion

• Cause and effect

• Simple machine motion

STEM Career Tie-In:
✈️ Aerospace engineers use these principles to design airplanes and rockets!

🎯 Why It Matters

These activities aren't just fun—they help build STEM confidence at a young age and introduce real-world thinking that connects to future careers. Best of all, they’re perfect for early childhood classrooms, homeschool setups, or even family playtime.

📚 Looking for More STEM Fun?

Check out our growing library of hands-on lesson plans, experiments, and early educator tools.

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