Back From Holiday Winter Break Science Lessons & Diy Activities (k-8)

You’re back from winter break. Your students are physically in their seats, but mentally they’re still playing video games in their pajamas. Here’s how to reclaim your classroom without losing your mind.

Free DIY Activities – Grab These First

Most “back from break” online content is just “What I did on my vacation” writing prompts disguised as curriculum. These are real, fun, and easy DIY activities with actual standards alignment to get their gears turning again. 

🚀 Grades K-2 Mini-Golf DIY Activity 

This easy DIY activity allows learners to experiment with push-and-pull forces commonly used in Golf. 

🚀Grades 3-5 Solar Cooker DIY Activity 

Build a S’more maker that converts light energy to heat energy. 

🚀Grades 6-8 Balloon Rocket DIY 

This easy DIY activity allows learners to make their own balloon rocket. 

All these  DIY winter science activities are no-to-low cost, under 30 minutes, easy to make, and have a small list of supplies. 

Start Here: The Misconception That Ruins Everything

Ask your students: “If I kick a ball in outer space, will it eventually stop?” Write down what they say.

Most will tell you it stops because it “runs out of force.” They’re wrong—and if you don’t surface this belief before teaching, it’ll still be there in June.

Here’s the fact that makes them pay attention: Objects don’t need a constant ‘push’ to keep moving; they only stop because something else (like friction or a wall) gets in their way. 

Try telling a middle schooler that if they threw a slice of pizza in a vacuum, that pizza would travel forever at the same speed until it hit a planet. That’s the whole thing. Everything else is details.

Back from Holiday Break : Energy & Motion Resources by Grade

Grades K-2: Back from Holiday Break Activity – Bumping and Moving

K-2 students have a lot of “stored energy” after break. Use it. They need to see that energy moves from one thing to another when they bump into each other. This is a great introduction to Mechanical Engineering for young learners. 

Pushes and Pulls video for Kids

Do your students need a brain break? Try out this Pushes and Pulls song to get the wiggles out. 

Grades 3-5: Back from Holiday Break Activity -The Tug-of-War

They remember “force” as a Star Wars thing. You need to pivot that to “push or pull.” This grade band needs to see that when things don’t move, it’s because the forces are behaving like a tied game.

Balanced and Unbalanced Video for Kids 

Grades 6-8: Back from Holiday Break Activity – Predictable Motion

Middle schoolers think they know physics because they play sports. Show them they don’t. Use Newton’s Laws to prove that the world is actually just one big math equation. They won’t call it cringe if you show them the DIY crashes.

Newton’s Laws of Motion Video for Kids

The “I Have 15 Minutes Before the First Bell” Version

No time to prep? Here’s exactly what to do:

Minutes 1-5: Ask the “Space Pizza” question from the misconception section above. 

Minutes 6-11: Play the Energy Transfer or Newton’s Laws video.

Minutes 12-15: Let them discuss and connect the videos to real-world scenarios. 

That’s it. You taught a core standard while the rest of the hallway is probably watching a movie that has nothing to do with science.

Coming back from break is more than just “surviving.” It’s an opportunity to reset the energy in your room. Don’t let the post-holiday slump win. Use the videos, try the DIY activities, and get them moving.

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