The Perfect STEM Staycation for Mom – #MothersDay2020

Mother’s Day is around the corner and this year we are challenged to be extra creative given the current circumstances. We know that moms around the world have gone above and beyond the past few months especially to provide stability, health and security the best they can for their family. Let’s give them a day of pampering they well deserve!
Not sure how to accomplish Mother’s Day this year? We have a recipe for the perfect STEM Staycation for you and your family to try.
There are 4 steps to our Mother’s Day Recipe. You and your family can pick between options to customize your day.

Let’s get started!

STEP 1: Take Mom on a Tour of Her Favorite Places

Option A: If you have less time (under 30 minutes), you can go on a virtual walk with your mom. You can create a slideshow of pictures of your family at your favorite places and share your favorite memories. Make it unique by borrowing from our Create Your Own walkSTEM methodology and come up with a fun question to ask at each place.
You can also use a computer to go on virtual tours of your mom’s favorite museums and parks. Lots of museums, arboretums, art galleries and national monuments have free virtual experiences for you to use.

Option B: If you have the time and accessibility, invite your mom to join you outdoors for a nice walk. You can visit some of her favorite places, places you both enjoy together and have memories of, or places like your local playground, park or nature preserve. Again, make it interesting and select a minimum of 3 “stops” along your walk where you have planned a STEM question that she and you can think about together as you walk, borrowing from our Create Your Own walkSTEM methodology. Take pictures along the way and create either a digital slideshow or scrapbook to remember your walk this year together.

STEP 2: Create Flowers and Decorations for Mom

Option A: You can create flowers using supplies you have at home and math! Ask an adult for help to gather materials like tissue paper, construction paper, or printer paper, along with scissors, glue, popsicle sticks or pipe cleaners. Click these links to see examples for inspiration:
Paper Flowers
Tissue Paper Flowers
5 Easy Paper Flowers
Flower petals can be cut out or folded from the paper. Decide how many petals you want on each flower. Will there be an odd or even number? Will the petals alternate colors and create a pattern? What shape will the petals be?
You can use old pencils, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners or tightly rolled paper to create the stem of the flowers.
Feel free to also use any type of paper to create the leaves for your flowers.
Use either tape or glue to attach the flower petals and leaves to your stem.
Finally, you can either wrap ribbon around the stems or place your flowers in a vase without water to give to mom.

Option B: You can use paper artwork like origami to create decorations and gifts for mom. Click these links to see examples of origami artworks you can create at home:
Tulip Flower
4 Petal Flower
Butterfly
20 + Origami Instructions for Kids
You can wrap these to give to mom, or use them as decorations on your table or for mom’s desk.

STEP 3: Cook or Bake for Mom

Option A: Cook one of your mom’s favorite meals or snacks.
You will be using science to cook and math to prepare and measure the ingredients.
You can present your meal for mom on a table with the decorations you made in STEP 2.

Option B: You can bake one of your mom’s favorite snacks or desserts. This can be done ahead of time if you have a busy schedule. Check out this example of 30+ dessert recipes to try.
You will also be using science and math to bake something delicious for mom.
You can present your baked goods to your mom on a table using the decorations you made in STEP 2.

STEP 4: Create a Spa for Mom

Option A: You can use chemistry and math to create bath bombs and scrubs for your mom to use for her own relaxing spa day! Check out these examples of recipes that use common household ingredients:
DIY Bath Bomb video -Arts & Crafts By Three Sisters
DIY Bath Bomb Recipe – Inspired by Charm
Bath Bomb Recipe without Citric Acid – Country Hill Cottage

Option B: You can use chemistry and math to make homemade face masks for your mom to use! Check out these easy recipes that use common ingredients:
Homemade Face Mask Recipe – Super Simple
You can also try mixing these common kitchen ingredients in a bowl:
Cucumber +Honey + Cinnamon
Plain yogurt+ Avocado+ Honey
Lemon+Honey+Egg Whites
Oatmeal+Honey

Did you know, when you measure the ingredients you are using math?
Did you know, when you mix the ingredients together, you are using the science of chemistry?

We hope you find these options flexible and helpful for planning your Mother’s Day celebration this year. Share photos from your STEM Mother’s Day celebration with us! We’d love to see the creative ways you pamper your mom this year.
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