40 Fun Summer Projects for Kids to Try This Year

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. The Power of Edible STEM Projects
3. Gardening and Nature-Based Projects
4. Creative Arts and Crafts for Sunny Days
5. Rainy Day Indoor Adventures
6. Engineering and Physics Projects
7. Social and Community-Based Projects
8. Educational Games and Brain Teasers
9. Making the Most of Your Summer Projects
10. Why "Edutainment" Matters
11. Conclusion
12. Frequently Asked Questions

Introduction

When the school year ends, the "summer slide" can often lead to a loss of academic progress. We want our children to enjoy their break while keeping their minds sharp and hands busy with screen-free alternatives. At I’m the Chef Too!, we believe summer is the perfect season for "edutainment"—blending food, STEM, and the arts into experiences that spark curiosity and creativity.

This guide is designed to be your go-to resource for fun summer projects for kids that keep them learning, creative, and off screens. We’ll cover how to transform your kitchen into a laboratory, your garden into an art studio, and your living room into a world of discovery, fostering a love for learning and building confidence in your little ones.

Quick Summary:

• Edible STEM: Mouth-watering experiments like solar ovens and rock candy.
• Nature & Gardening: Outdoor activities to explore the environment and biology.
• Arts & Crafts: Creative projects using sunlight and recycled materials.
• Rainy Day Fun: Indoor engineering and imaginative play.
• Physics & Engineering: Hands-on challenges with aerodynamics and gravity.
• Community & Games: Social projects and brain teasers to stay sharp.

The Power of Edible STEM Projects

One of the most effective ways to engage a child’s mind is through their stomach. When children participate in cooking-based STEM projects, they aren't just making a snack; they are observing chemical reactions, practicing mathematical measurements, and learning about biology in a tangible way.

For example, a parent looking for a screen-free weekend activity for their 7-year-old could explore the stars by creating their own edible solar system with our Galaxy Donut Kit. It’s an adventure that combines the wonder of space with the delicious science of baking.

Ready for a new adventure every month? Join The Chef's Club and enjoy free shipping on every box.

1. Homemade Ice Cream in a Bag

This classic summer project teaches kids about the freezing point of water and how salt affects ice.

• The Science: Salt lowers the freezing point of ice, allowing the cream mixture to get cold enough to freeze.
• The Activity: Mix cream, sugar, and vanilla in a small zip-top bag. Place that bag inside a larger bag filled with ice and rock salt. Shake for 10-15 minutes for a workout and a science lesson in one!

2. Solar Oven S’mores

Harness the power of the summer sun to create a treat while learning about solar energy and insulation.

• The Activity: Use a pizza box, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, and black construction paper to build a solar oven. Place graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows inside and let the sun do the work.

3. Bread in a Bag

Baking bread is a fantastic way to introduce children to the biology of yeast.

• The Science: Yeast is a living organism that eats sugar and releases carbon dioxide gas, which causes the dough to rise.
• The Activity: Let your kids "knead" the dough inside a sturdy plastic bag to see the bubbles forming as the yeast goes to work.

4. Edible Slime (Marshmallow Edition)

While traditional slime is fun, edible slime adds an extra layer of sensory play.

• The Activity: Melt marshmallows with coconut oil and mix in cornstarch until it reaches a stretchy, non-sticky consistency. Use this to discuss polymers and non-Newtonian fluids.

5. Rock Candy Crystals

This project requires patience, but the results are mesmerizing.

• The Science: This is a lesson in supersaturated solutions and crystallization.
• The Activity: Dissolve as much sugar as possible in boiling water (adult supervision required!), then hang a string or a wooden skewer in the jar. Over a week, watch the molecules form edible crystals.

Give the gift of learning that lasts all year with a 12-month subscription to our STEM cooking adventures.

Gardening and Nature-Based Projects

Nature projects encourage observation skills and respect for the environment. These activities bring science to life right in your backyard.

6. Build a Backyard Volcano

Geology is fascinating when it involves an eruption! Build a volcano out of dirt and use baking soda and vinegar for the "lava."

• Pro Tip: You can also experience a chemical reaction that makes our Erupting Volcano Cakes bubble over with deliciousness.

7. DIY Bird Feeders

Help local feathered friends while practicing fine motor skills.

• The Activity: Use pinecones, peanut butter (or seed butter), and birdseed. Coat the pinecone in butter, roll it in seed, and hang it in a tree. Use a notebook to track which birds visit.

8. Nature Dioramas in a Shoebox

Collect "treasures" like interesting rocks, fallen leaves, twigs, and acorns on a nature walk.

• The Activity: Use these items to create a 3D scene inside a shoebox to explore textures and colors in nature.

9. Pressed Flower Art

Preserve the beauty of summer blooms with this simple craft.

• The Activity: Place flowers between parchment paper inside a heavy book. After a week, glue the flattened flowers to cardstock to make bookmarks or cards.

10. The "Pizza" Garden

Even without a huge backyard, you can grow a "pizza garden" in containers.

• The Activity: Plant cherry tomatoes, basil, and oregano. Kids can take responsibility for watering and watching them grow, learning where their food comes from.

11. Butterfly Puddling Station

Butterflies need minerals from water to thrive.

• The Activity: Fill a shallow dish with sand and water. Place flat rocks on top for butterflies to land on and keep the station moist.

Creative Arts and Crafts for Sunny Days

When the sun is shining, move the art studio outdoors for projects that allow for more mess and creativity.

12. Sun-Activated Fabric Art

• The Activity: Use Sunprint paper or fabric paint that reacts to UV rays. Place objects like leaves or stencils on the material in the sun; the covered area will stay the original color while the rest changes.

13. Suncatchers with Tissue Paper

• The Activity: Use clear contact paper and colorful tissue paper bits to create patterns. When placed on a window, the summer sun creates a beautiful "stained glass" glow.

14. Pet Cactus Rocks

• The Activity: Paint smooth, oval rocks green. Add white "spines" and googly eyes. Nestled in a terra cotta pot with gravel, these are the perfect "no-water" plants.

15. Bleach Tie-Dye (Reverse Tie-Dye)

For older kids, reverse tie-dye is a fun twist on the classic craft.

• The Activity: Use a dark cotton t-shirt and a diluted bleach solution in a spray bottle. Tie the shirt with rubber bands and spray to create striking patterns. (Adult supervision is a must for this one!).

16. DIY Wind Chimes

• The Activity: Use an old tin can as a base and hang metal washers, keys, or beads from it using fishing line. This is a great project for discussing sound waves and vibration.

17. Salt Dough Shell Keepsakes

• The Activity: Make salt dough (flour, salt, water) and press beach shells into it to create imprints. Once baked and cooled, paint them as summer mementos.

Find the perfect theme for your little learner by browsing our complete collection of one-time kits.

Rainy Day Indoor Adventures

When the rain keeps you inside, these projects keep the energy high and the screens off.

18. DIY Putty and Slime Lab

• The Activity: Use school glue, contact lens solution, and baking soda to create custom slime. Discuss how ingredients bond to change from a liquid to a stretchy solid.

19. Indoor Camping and "S'mores" Dip

• The Activity: Build a blanket fort and use a flashlight as a "campfire." For a treat, bake a dip of chocolate chips and marshmallows in the oven, using graham crackers for dipping.

20. Cardboard Box Engineering

• The Activity: Challenge kids to turn a large box into a spaceship, castle, or grocery store to promote engineering skills and imaginative play.

21. Homemade Puzzles

• The Activity: Have your child draw a picture on cardboard, then cut it into various shapes. Trade puzzles with family members to see who can solve them first.

22. DIY "Magic" Nuudles

• The Activity: Plain, unsalted corn puffs can stick together if you dampen the ends. It's a great lesson in how starch acts as a natural adhesive.

23. Shadow Puppet Theater

• The Activity: Cut shapes from cardstock and tape them to skewers. Hang a white sheet in a doorway with a lamp behind it for kids to perform original scripts.

Even beloved animals can make learning fun, like when kids make Wild Turtle Whoopie Pies. This indoor activity combines baking with a lesson on marine life.

Engineering and Physics Projects

These projects focus on basic physics and engineering principles to keep kids moving and engaged.

24. Paper Bag Kites

• The Activity: Use a grocery bag, string, and streamers to explore the science of flight. It’s a great way to talk about air pressure and lift.

25. Pool Noodle Marble Races

• The Activity: Cut a pool noodle in half lengthwise to create tracks. Lean them against a chair and see whose marble reaches the finish line first, experimenting with angles and gravity.

26. Backyard Obstacle Course

• The Activity: Use hula hoops, jump ropes, and cones to create a course. Timing the runs encourages physical fitness and strategic thinking.

27. DIY Kaleidoscope

• The Activity: Line a cardboard tube with reflective silver cardstock and add colorful beads at the end to explore reflections and symmetry.

28. Straw Rockets

• The Activity: Roll paper around a pencil and tape it to create a tube. Slide it onto a drinking straw and blow hard to learn about aerodynamics and force.

29. Water "Blobs" or Mats

• The Activity: Use heavy-duty plastic sheeting and duct tape to create a large "pillow" filled with water and food coloring. Kids can explore how water moves under pressure.

Ready for a new adventure every month? Join The Chef's Club and enjoy free shipping on every box.

Social and Community-Based Projects

Summer is a great time to teach kids about the importance of community and sharing skills.

30. Host a Neighborhood "Art Show"

• The Activity: Set up a gallery in your driveway for neighborhood kids to display their work. Serve lemonade and cookies to visiting neighbors.

31. Snail Mail Pen Pals

• The Activity: Help your child write to a friend or relative. They can decorate envelopes and include small crafts like friendship bracelets.

32. Kindness Rocks

• The Activity: Paint smooth stones with bright colors and messages like "You are awesome," then hide them in local parks for others to find.

33. Lemonade Stand for a Cause

• The Activity: Set up a stand and donate a portion of the proceeds to a local charity. This teaches math, marketing, and the joy of giving back.

34. Family Cook-Off

• The Activity: Give each family member a "secret ingredient" to build teamwork and kitchen confidence through a fun competition.

Educational Games and Brain Teasers

Avoid the "summer slide" by keeping the brain active with games that require serious thinking.

35. Backyard Scavenger Hunt

• The Activity: Create a list of items to find (e.g., "something fuzzy"). This encourages observation and categorization.

36. Math War with Playing Cards

• The Activity: Each person flips two cards and must add, subtract, or multiply the numbers. The highest total wins the round.

37. DIY Escape Room

• The Activity: Create a series of clues and paper "locks" that kids must solve to "escape," requiring logic and teamwork.

38. Storytelling Stones

• The Activity: Paint images on stones (a star, a boat, etc.). Have your child pull three stones from a bag and tell a story that incorporates all three.

39. Kitchen Measurements Challenge

• The Activity: Ask math questions during baking, such as "How many 1/4 cups make 1 cup?" to make fractions tangible.

40. Learn a New Life Skill

• The Activity: Master a new skill like tying shoes, folding laundry, or making an omelet to build independence.

Give the gift of learning that lasts all year with a 12-month subscription to our STEM cooking adventures.

Making the Most of Your Summer Projects

To ensure these projects are successful, consider these simple tips:

1. Embrace the Mess: Many of the best learning experiences are messy. Lay down a plastic tablecloth or move the activity outside.
2. Follow Their Lead: Focus on what fascinates your child. The goal is to foster curiosity, not just stick to a curriculum.
3. Safety First: Always ensure adult supervision, especially when using the stove, oven, bleach, or sharp tools.
4. Ask Open-Ended Questions: Encourage critical thinking by asking "What do you think will happen if...?" or "Why did the ice cream turn solid?"
5. Focus on the Process, Not the Result: It doesn't matter if the result isn't perfect. What matters is that they tried something new and solved problems.

If you are a teacher or camp counselor, you can also bring our hands-on STEM adventures to your classroom, camp, or homeschool co-op. Learn more about our versatile programs for schools and groups, available with or without food components.

Why "Edutainment" Matters

At I'm the Chef Too!, we see the kitchen as a powerful classroom. When a child measures ingredients, they are doing math; when they watch a cake rise, they are witnessing chemistry. By blending these subjects, we create a multi-sensory experience that caters to different learning styles.

Our kits are developed by mothers and educators to ensure learning is engaging and delicious. We want to spark a flame of curiosity that keeps burning long after summer ends.

Explore our full library of adventure kits available for a single purchase in our shop.

Conclusion

By choosing summer projects that prioritize hands-on learning, you help your children build confidence, develop critical thinking, and create lifelong memories. Every activity is an opportunity to see the world in a new way.

We invite you to join our community of explorers and creators. Let’s make this summer the most educational—and delicious—one yet!

Ready for a new adventure every month? Join The Chef's Club and enjoy free shipping on every box.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age groups are these projects suitable for?

Most of the activities listed here are perfect for elementary-aged children (ages 4-10). However, many can be adapted for toddlers with more adult assistance, or for older children by adding more complex scientific explanations or engineering challenges.

How can I make these activities affordable?

Many of these projects use common household items like cardboard boxes, flour, salt, vinegar, and recycled bottles. For projects that require specialty supplies, our I'm the Chef Too! kits provide everything you need in pre-measured amounts, which can often save money compared to buying full-sized packages of specialty ingredients or supplies.

I'm not a "science person." Can I still do these?

Absolutely! The beauty of "edutainment" is that you don't need a PhD to have fun. Our kits come with easy-to-follow instructions that explain the concepts in simple, everyday language. You and your child can learn together!

How much time do these projects take?

Activities can range from a quick 15-minute experiment (like ice cream in a bag) to projects that span a whole week (like growing rock candy or pressing flowers). You can choose the project that best fits your schedule for the day.

What if my child is a picky eater?

Many of our "edible" projects are more about the science and the process than the final taste, though most kids find the results delicious! If a child doesn't like a specific food, focus on the arts and crafts or the nature-based projects instead.

Is adult supervision required for all projects?

Yes. While we encourage independence, kitchen and craft activities often involve tools, heat, or materials that require a grown-up’s eye to ensure everyone stays safe and has a great time.