How to Host a STEM Family Evening at Your Croydon Primary School
Educational and Fun Activities
Written by Isla Thompson
4 May 2025
🕓14 min
In Croydon’s thriving educational scene, schools are increasingly looking for creative, impactful ways to engage not only students, but their families too. Among the most effective of these efforts is the rise of the STEM Family Evening—a vibrant, hands-on celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths that brings learning to life after hours.
These evenings aren’t just extra-curricular fluff. They are community-building powerhouses that blend fun, discovery and family interaction in a way traditional learning often can’t match. By hosting a STEM family evening, Croydon primary schools can strengthen their school-home partnerships, increase pupil engagement, and make STEM feel more relevant, accessible and exciting to every child and adult who walks through the door.
1. Why Host a STEM Family Evening?
At first glance, hosting a STEM family event might seem like a major logistical challenge—but the benefits far outweigh the planning effort.
Firstly, it shows families that learning doesn't stop when the school bell rings. It creates an atmosphere where children see their parents getting curious, trying new things, and valuing education. That’s powerful modelling. A well-run STEM family evening doesn’t just end at 8pm. It plants seeds. Children go home talking about density, propulsion, or coding. Parents see their children’s enthusiasm in a new light. Teachers discover new interests they can nurture in class.
Secondly, it strengthens the school community. When families work together on STEM challenges—building spaghetti bridges, solving science mysteries, coding simple games—they’re not just building robots or slime. They’re building connections, resilience, and shared joy. STEM Family Evenings blend the magic of childhood curiosity with the power of hands-on exploration, all while strengthening the ties between home and school. They remind us that science isn’t confined to the classroom—it’s in our kitchens, our parks, our conversations, and our futures.
And finally, it provides a perfect opportunity to embed core curriculum content in real-world, multi-generational activities. Children who might struggle with a topic in class often find their confidence through practical exploration alongside family members.
2. Planning the Evening: What Makes a STEM Event Successful?
A successful STEM family evening is both structured and flexible. It should have a clear theme or objective, a welcoming and inclusive environment, and a range of engaging activities suitable for different age groups and ability levels. Start by setting the tone: this is not a formal science fair. It’s a celebration. Choose a theme like “STEM Around the World”, “Innovation Station”, or “Mission to Mars” that can tie your activities together in a playful and accessible way.
Next, select your activities. The key here is hands-on, collaborative fun. Think about stations where families can rotate and participate in 10–15 minute challenges or experiments. Some popular ideas include:
- Balloon-powered cars
- Build a bridge with marshmallows and spaghetti
- Basic coding games with tablets
- Floating and sinking predictions with mystery objects
- Making oobleck and learning about non-Newtonian fluids
But also think outside the box. Invite local STEM professionals to give short, child-friendly talks or demonstrations. Ask students to lead stations and explain experiments—they’ll take pride in becoming the “experts.” Feature student-led science performances, or organise a STEM-themed quiz or scavenger hunt across the school.
3. Making It Inclusive: Everyone Belongs in STEM
One of the most important aspects of a STEM family evening is that it’s inclusive. Not every family will be fluent in English or familiar with formal STEM vocabulary—but that shouldn’t stop them from taking part. Even better, these events often spark longer-term interest in extracurricular clubs, science fairs, or home experiments. Some families may go on to visit science museums, subscribe to STEM kits, or even explore STEM careers more seriously.
To ensure accessibility:
- Use clear signage with visuals at each station.
- Offer bilingual materials if your school community is multilingual.
- Have teachers or volunteers on hand to help explain activities gently and supportively.
- Avoid turning the evening into a competition. Celebrate effort and curiosity, not just “right” answers.
Additionally, ensure that activities include a wide variety of formats—some high-energy and noisy, others calmer and sensory-friendly. Children with neurodiverse needs or those with physical disabilities should be able to fully participate. Flexible spaces, quiet breakout zones, and simplified instructions go a long way in making the evening a welcoming experience for all.
4. Promoting the Event: Build Anticipation and Involve Families Early
Creating buzz is part of the fun! Promote your STEM family evening like you would a school fair or performance. Announce the date well in advance and build excitement with teaser posters, countdowns on school noticeboards, or even mystery challenges sent home. In Croydon, where schools are increasingly focusing on preparing children for a future of innovation and adaptability, events like these are more than just enjoyable—they are essential.
Involve families before the event. Ask for help running a station, lending materials, or bringing in their expertise. A parent who’s an engineer or works in IT might be thrilled to share their job with students—or simply help run the rocket station. As education continues to evolve in Croydon and beyond, it’s clear that the most impactful learning environments are those that welcome families in and encourage students to see learning as a shared, joyful journey.
You might also consider sending home a pre-event “STEM at Home” challenge to get families thinking—like “design a paper aeroplane that flies as far as possible” or “find three objects in your kitchen that relate to science.”
5. On the Day: Creating a Memorable Experience
Transform the school space into a place of discovery. Use coloured lighting, science-themed music, or even lab coats and safety goggles for volunteers to set the scene. Make sure each activity station is clearly labelled and has everything it needs. STEM family evenings are a brilliant way to transform your school into a hub of curiosity, creativity and collaboration. They show that learning doesn’t just happen in textbooks or tests—it happens when families build, question, fail, laugh, and succeed together.
Start the evening with a short welcome and a fun demo that gets the whole room laughing or gasping—maybe a mini explosion, a dry ice experiment, or a student-led skit.
Encourage parents to move freely between activities with their children. Have staff and student ambassadors at every station to help guide, explain and celebrate. End the evening with certificates for all attendees, photos, or a prize draw for families who completed a full STEM “passport.” And don’t forget to collect feedback. Ask both parents and children what they enjoyed most and what they’d like to see next time. This helps grow the event year on year.
Conclusion
By hosting one at your Croydon primary school, you’re not just organising a one-off night of entertainment. You’re creating memories, sparking passions, and building a school culture where every child knows that science, technology, engineering and maths are for them. And who knows? The child who builds a simple catapult with their mum might just become tomorrow’s inventor, engineer, or researcher. All it takes is that spark—and a school willing to host the evening that lights it.
Contact us to learn how to Host a STEM Family Evening at Your Croydon Primary School. Let’s help you plan an unforgettable STEM Family Evening at your Croydon school. From activity planning to expert-led stations, we offer everything you need to inspire, include, and excite your school community.
