Our learning resource website holds over 140 learning resources related to science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). These resources can be used in a variety of settings – at home, at school, and out and about! They have been developed and designed to be adaptable.
This list of spooky STEM resources have been chosen by the Science Museum Group Academy and Resource team, who work closely with teachers, community groups and others involved in STEM engagement and communication.
The team loves this spooky time of year and couldn’t resist not sharing these with you so you can make your own STEM-O-ween activities.
Leech Jar
The leech jar is one of our 3D objects. These jars were used to store leeches, which were used in a medical procedure called bloodletting.
I really enjoy the 3D objects because it lets you get a closer look at our objects from multiple angles (letting you see things like the holes in the jar that are there so air can come in for the leeches to breathe) and includes some questions to think and talk about with others.
For this at home Halloween activity use the theme of creepy crawlies! Creepy crawlies are common Halloween theme, so the leech jar ties in nicely and these blood sucking creatures can lead into a greater discussion of what real life vampire-like animals exist!
Jess, Academy programme leader
No PRESSURE
No Pressure is one on my favourite activities to facilitate with visitors. It looks at the topics of forces and motion, as related to what happens to astronauts in space.
Space is a subject that tends to inspire curiosity in all age groups, so this activity is great for initiating investigations and getting some lively science conversations going within groups.
For a Halloween activity to try at home , instead of astronauts in a spaceship, maybe think about spooky ghosts in a haunted house! Draw scary faces on your marshmallows, then watch them spookily grow and shrink!
PETE, ACADEMY AND RESOURCES DEVELOPER
OOZING OOBLEK
Oozing Ooblek is a fantastic multi-sensory resource that sparks curiosity and conversation for all ages and only requires two simple ingredients!
Combining water and cornflour together creates a really unusual substance, something that can behave both like a solid and a liquid depending on how you are manipulating it.
This is called a non-Newtonian fluid. The science behind this fluid is quite complex and can be explored with older ages. Equally, the sensory aspect of it is so fun it is a great thing to make with little ones.
This is one of my favourite resources because when you come across it for the first time, it seems almost a bit other worldly for a material to behave in that way.
But the funny thing about it is that non-Newtonian fluids exist in our everyday, in our kitchens and are extremely easy and cheap to make!
You can make Ooblek into something fit for a Halloween activity by adding green food colouring to it and calling it slime! And, with the right equipment you can also use Ooblek to create Ooblek Monsters for that extra spooky theme!
mADY, ACADEMY PROGRMME LEADER (EARLY YEARS)
Make an animation
Make an Animation involves making a device called a phenakistoscope, which displays a continuously looping animation consisting of images drawn onto a spinning disc.
This is my favorite resource because it is so versatile. You can draw a ball, a pattern or a figure jumping. To make it a Halloween activity to try at home, you can draw a sequence of a pumpkin face being carved out, or a spooky ghost appearing. There’s so much fun to be had and the possibilities are endless.
REBECCA, LEARNING RESOURCES PRODUCER
Total darkness
Sophie, digital producer – learning
Cipher wheel
For a Halloween activity give your secret messages a spooky twist. Try out Chiper Wheel and instead of using numbers, encrypt your messages with spooky pictures. From broomsticks to pumpkins, ghosts to spider webs this is a great resource to get creative with, develop your brilliant math’s and computing skills, and more importantly ensure that you share your secrets securely with only your intended recipient.
Kate, academy programme leader
Egg-drop trick
Andy, acdemy programme leader
Barbers- surgeons chair
Alice, academy and resources devleoper (early years)
Graphite circuits
You can get your spooky creative skills flowing with Graphite circuits. We rely on electric circuits every day, in our homes, schools and places of work, in our portable gadgets and kitchens. In this Halloween activity, a circuit drawn by a pencil conducts electricity to light an LED. These circuits can be in the shape of almost anything so let your spooky imagination flow, could you create a ghost circuit with glowing LED eyes or witches’ broom? This activity can be easily modified for any age group or event.
jon, learning resources devleoper
Liquid Lava Layers
Rachel, Academy and resource devloper
what to read next
If you have enjoyed this blog post here are others on a similar theme you will also enjoy.