Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math Play

Science, Technology, Engineering, & Math Play

What do children learn from STEM play?

STEM play and discovery give young children the opportunity to explore, ask questions, and make sense of the world around them. By nurturing their natural curiosity through hands-on, playful experiences, we can spark a lifelong interest in science, technology, engineering, and math from the very beginning.


11:00 am - 03:30 pm

Build a Spaghetti Tower

Put your engineering skills to the test with Mathnasium! Using only spaghetti and marshmallows, children will be challenged to create a tall tower, learning basic engineering concepts along the way.

11:00 am - 03:30 am

Come Play with Discovery Museum

Come play with Discovery Museum as we bring some of our favorite exhibit activities outside for some fun!

11:00 am - 03:30 pm

Dig with Dinosaurs

Become a paleologist for the day and join us in exploring all things dinosaurs! Explore fossils with magnifying glasses, manipulate dinosaurs in sand trays and use chisels and mallets to explore homemade salt dough fossils.

11:00 am - 03:30 pm

Materials in Motion: Young Engineers at Play

Get ready to build, launch, and create! At Worcester Head Start STEM Play Area, children discover how simple, everyday materials can transform into something new. Inspired by The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires, young engineers will design, build, and test their own catapults. Inspired by Leaf Man by Lois Ehlert, children will arrange leaves and natural materials into their own creative collage. Two activities, one big idea: everyday materials, endless possibilities.

11:00 am - 03:30 pm

New England Botanic Garden

Enjoy nature crafts with the folks from the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill!

11:00 am - 03:00 pm

Planting with REC

Plant seeds and read stories with the Regional Environmental Council (REC) staff and volunteers.

11:00 am - 03:30 pm

Science You Can See!

Nudge floating magnets into mysterious patterns, investigate a set of skulls, or build a bridge that seems to defy gravity. No matter your interests, join educators from the EcoTarium and explore the unseen!

11:00 am - 03:30 pm

Stomp Rockets Plus!

Get ready to jump, stomp, and launch into learning! Kids will have a blast as they harness the power of gravity and force to send rockets soaring sky-high. Explore different types of kid-friendly rockets to see how designs and launch styles can vary and learn about physics, problem-solving, and creative design.