Welcome to STEAM at Home by STEM In The Rockaways! Designed for families and young learners, this resource hub makes science, technology, engineering, arts, and math engaging and accessible right from your living room. Whether you're looking for quick hands-on activities, real kit and tool recommendations used in community programs, or thoughtful STEAM gift ideas for birthdays and holidays, you'll find everything you need to spark curiosity and keep kids building, coding, and discovering year-round.
For families
Simple activities you can do together, plus the kits and supplies we use in our programs — with gift ideas for the holidays, birthdays and every season.
Try it at home
Each one takes about 30 minutes, uses a few supplies, and ends with a question to talk through together.
You'll need: copper foil tape, a 5mm LED, a CR2032 coin battery, cardstock, clear tape
Talk about it: What happens if you flip the battery over? Why?
You'll need: a packet of dry yeast, warm water, 1 tablespoon of sugar, a small bottle, a balloon, a funnel
Talk about it: Where do you think the gas filling the balloon comes from?
You'll need: a Tower of Hanoi puzzle (or 3–5 coins of different sizes and 3 paper plates)
Talk about it: Can you find a pattern in the fewest moves for 3, 4 and 5 pieces?
From our program supply list
These are items we've bought for STEM In The Rockaways programs. Prices shown are what we paid; prices change.
Build and code an Arduino robot car that follows lines and avoids obstacles. Best with an adult helper.
A pocket-size programmable board with lights, buttons and sensors.
Comes with slides so kids can look at cells, hair and pond water.
Open-ended building for design challenges at any age.
Watch the full life cycle, from caterpillar to chrysalis to butterfly.
Excavate hidden dinosaurs like a real paleontologist.
A classic logic puzzle that builds patience and pattern-finding.
The key supply for the light-up card activity above — add LEDs and coin batteries.
Small motors, propellers and switches for building things that spin and move.
A programmable wearable badge with a color screen.
Holiday season
Gifts that keep kids building, coding and discovering long after the wrapping paper is gone.
Birthdays
Suggested by grade — check each product's age rating before you buy.
Grades K–2 (suggested)
Grades 3–5 (suggested)
Grades 6–8+ (suggested)
All year long
Always supervise children with small parts, batteries, glassware and anything that heats up.
As an Amazon Associate, STEM In The Rockaways earns from qualifying purchases. Prices and availability change — check the store before you buy.
