32 Holiday Science Activities and Experiments to Engage Your Elementary Students
Let the holiday cheer begin! We’ve curated 32 holly, jolly holiday science experiments and activities that are perfect for the weeks leading up to your holiday break! From creating snow globes to making a self-inflating balloon, there are plenty of exciting, educational, and fun Christmas science experiments every student can enjoy.
These activities will have everyone enjoying the festive season while learning about science in a fun way.
We’ve taken the time to categorize the holiday science activities into Physical science, Earth science, Life science, and general STEAM categories. This will help you meet your science requirements while having a bit of festive fun!
SCIENTIFIC METHOD & EXPERIMENT RECORDING SHEETS
These holiday science experiments are also a great opportunity to work in a little bit about the Scientific Method and Science Experiments. Show students how scientists work through a process that asks a question and searches for an answer to that question.
Check out more photos of the Scientific Method Posters and Science Experiment Recording Sheets that can be used in any of these holiday Science Experiments.
32 Christmas Science Activities for the Classroom
The following holiday science experiments cover the three main science domains and also include 9 STEAM activities so that you can expand the fun all day long!
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Physical Science Holiday Activities
Below are 14 ideas for Christmas physical science experiments and activities that focus on properties of matter, irreversible changes, density, and much more! These holiday science experiments will make a great addition to our Third Grade Science Stations Bundle.
1. Don’t Break the Presents
The Don’t Break the Presents experiment is a hit for any age. It’s perfect for teaching concepts like gravity, force, and acceleration. Plus, your students get to problem-solve on how to keep the egg safe.
2. Yarn Ball Ornament
Here’s a great project that is both a science experiment and a craft. Your students can learn about static electricity while making a great holiday ornament to take home. Check out the yarn ball ornament.
Do you need more ideas for teaching static electricity? Here are some ideas all about static electricity.
3. Jumping Tinsel
Another fun activity to teach your students about static electricity is jumping tinsel. This requires a few materials and is easy to prepare. Great for all ages.
4. Gumdrop Structures
Get your students in the holiday mood while letting their creativity run wild with gumdrops. Gumdrop stars? Why not? Gumdrop houses? You bet! This fun activity will encourage your students to create all kinds of structures!
5. Dissolving Candy Canes
The iconic holiday candy cane has never been more fun than this. Although, eating it might be slightly better. Your students will explore chemical reactions while making a pepperminty mess.
6. Christmas Sinking and Floating
In this activity, your students will investigate what makes some objects sink and others float. This Christmas sinking and floating activity is a fun, festive way for them to learn about density.
7. Snow and Water Science Experiment
This snow and water experiment is another simple, but effective activity that allows younger students to gain a better understanding of experimentation. What water temperature melts snow the fastest?
8. Bubbling Snow Globe
Now your students can create their own snow globes that bubble. This activity is a great way to learn about chemical reactions, too.
9. Snowy Christmas Tree
This snowy Christmas tree is a fun craftivity that will teach your students about suspensions, or non-Newtonian fluids. Let them get creative and messy. A big hit with younger students, but older students will have a blast, too.
10. Melting Christmas Tree
Get ready for some fizzy, messy fun! Students get to create their own Christmas trees and then watch as the chemical reactions take over in this melting tree activity.
11. Bend Your Candy Cane
I know you were waiting for more candy cane fun! I can’t blame you. This activity will teach your students about the concepts of heat and melting points. Plus…candy canes!
12. Slime Ball Gifts
Let’s face it, kids love slime! It’s squishy, messy, and a great way for students to learn about viscosity and the effects of temperature on things like slime. Your students help make the slime the way they want it and take it home as a holiday gift from you.
13. Candy Cane Slime
if you want something even more festive why not try making candy cane slime? For this experiment all you need are white glue, borax powder (or liquid laundry detergent), red food coloring and peppermint essential oil (optional). Mix together equal parts of glue and warm water with one teaspoon borax powder (or 2 teaspoons liquid laundry detergent) until fully combined before adding several drops of red food coloring to make it look like candy cane slime. Add peppermint essential oil for an extra festive scent if desired.
The result? A super slimy treat that’s sure to be enjoyed by all!
14. Rudolph Balloon Race
Who’s ready for some reindeer games? This fun activity combines the love of balloons with the excitement of a race. Your students will learn about gravity and friction as they try to make their reindeer win the race!
We also have a great Balloon Race Science activity in our Teaching Ideas for Force and Motion.
15. Lightbox Color Mixing
This festive activity allows your younger students to experiment with color properties. Lightboxes can teach sensory skills or enhance other lessons for older students. This holiday version will help students discover color mixing in a fun, creative way.
Earth Science Holiday Experiments for Students
The following December science activities for elementary students are a great addition to your earth science studies. These holiday science experiments would go along great with our second-grade science units.
16. Growing Crystal Tree
Your students can combine the fascination of growing crystals with the beauty of a snow-covered pine tree. It’s the next best thing to a winter sleigh ride through a real pine forest (and not as cold!).
17. Crystal Ornaments
Want another cool activity to teach your students about sedimentation and crystallization? Students will be able to make their own crystal ornaments that they can take home. Bring on the holidays!
18. Candy Geodes
What a fun (and delicious!) way to teach your students about geodes and how they’re formed. This might take some pre-class prep work and access to a stovetop. Your students will love the results!
Life Science Activities for December
Here are some fabulous December science experiments that focus on plant life, fungi, the human body, and the five senses.
19. The Open Pinecone
Ever wonder why pinecones open? This fun activity investigating part of the life cycle of pine trees is great for fall time and the holidays.
Do you need some more ideas for teaching about the life cycles of plants? These Third Grade Science Stations provide in-depth studies of plant and animal life cycles.
20. The Science Behind Cranberries
Raise your hand if you love cranberries! They are tasty at any time of the year but make a wonderful addition to any holiday meal. Did you know that they are perfect for scientific experimentation, too? Check out these great activities to find out more.
21. The Science of Yeast
Question: Why is yeast so popular for science experiments? Answer: Because it’s such a FUNGI! Get it? Anyway, this fun activity will wow your students as they investigate how yeast works.
22. Grow the Grinch’s Heart
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a yearly favorite for many families. Now, your students get to recreate the story’s climax on their own and grow the Grinch’s heart.
It’s a fun activity, and it’s perfect for the holidays. Bonus: This will give you the perfect opportunity to discuss with your students how real hearts work (and how they don’t!).
23. Holiday Optical Illusions
Do you love optical illusions? I know I do. Now your students can have fun with these festive optical illusions. They are a fun way to test the senses and find out what makes these illusions work.
STEAM Activities for Christmas Science
These holiday science experiments will help your students explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math while having holiday fun!
24. Bath Bomb Christmas Ornament with a Surprise
Not only will your students enjoy making this bath bomb project in class, but they’ll love using it at home! It’s a great experiment, plus a holiday gift for their friends or family. Or you… if you’re brave enough to use them.
25. Christmas Tree Farm Math Game
This is a fun addition and subtraction game based on the book Christmas Farm by Mary Lynn Ray. Your students will learn about the lifecycle of Christmas trees while honing their math skills.
26. Circuit-Tree
This perfectly named engineering activity is great for your older students who love to tinker and build working circuits.
We also have two matching science stations that use old holiday lights to teach students about energy.
27. Snowflake Symmetry Drawings
This beautiful snowflake craftivity is perfect for both your creative and your analytical students. It’s the perfect combination of art and math.
28. Christmas Tree Symmetry Craft
One holiday craft combination of art and math isn’t enough! You had fun with the snowflakes, now let’s add Christmas trees!
29. Christmas Bell Keychain
Do your students love the movie The Polar Express? Now they can make their own Christmas Bell keychain. This activity adds a STEAM twist to the craft: personalization of the keychains with your students’ names in binary code. How special is that?
30. Engineering Ice Lantern Activity
This activity is a great combination of art and engineering. Students will design their lanterns and then execute a plan to make their designs a reality. The entire activity is very…cool.
31. Christmas Tree Geoboard
Geoboards are fun math learning experiments that can teach your students basic math and geometry skills. The possibilities are endless.
32. Problem-of-the-Day Christmas Countdown
Do your students love advent calendars? Now you can use a countdown to Christmas while teaching your students basic math skills.
During the holiday season, I love being able to turn simple classroom science activities into fun and engaging learning opportunities. We don’t have much time during the day for all of the experiments and holiday focus. Integrating it within other subject areas is so helpful!
Mystery Science Holiday Resources
Mystery Science is one of my go-to resources for science. Here are a few of my favorites for the holidays.
More Holiday Resources?
Are you looking for MORE holiday resources? This Christmas Tree Craftivity is great to help students reflect on giving gifts.
More Science Resources?
Here are a few blog posts all about seasonal science experiments:
- Halloween Science Experiments
- Thanksgiving Science Experiments
- December Holiday Science Experiments
- Valentine’s Day Science Experiments
- Earth Day Science Activities
- Easter Science Activities
Jessica BOschen
Jessica is a teacher, homeschool parent, and entrepreneur. She shares her passion for teaching and education on What I Have Learned. Jessica has 16 years of experience teaching elementary school and currently homeschools her two middle and high school boys. She enjoys scaffolding learning for students, focusing on helping our most challenging learners achieve success in all academic areas.