Low Prep Christmas STEM Activities

Looking for some Low Prep Christmas STEM Activities?! I’ve got you covered!

If you’re anything like me, you’re scrambling around like crazy right now prepping #allthethings for the holidays. (Teacher mommas, I’m talking especially to you!) December is a short month but a very BUSY one, with lots of little elves who need to stay engaged as we count down to Winter Break. STEM Challenges are the perfect ways to keep our kiddos creating and collaborating, and I’ve got you covered with LOW PREP lessons that you and your kids will absolutely love. These challenges are perfect to get parents in on the fun during Winter parties or even to pair with another class for STEM buddies. Here are all my holiday STEM favorites!

These Christmas STEM challenges work for kindergarten through 5th grade: Shelf for the Elf has recording sheets for lower and upper grades, Santa’s Parachute is a big hit with upper grades, and the Polar Express bridge is just right for K–3rd.

1. Shelf for the Elf Challenge

Has the elf officially joined (ahem, invaded) your home or classroom yet? Why not embrace the craziness with a Shelf for the Elf engineering challenge that ties in three-dimensional structures, lines and joints, balance, and more! This challenge is found in my Christmas STEM pack and is ALWAYS a favorite from K-5th grade. Differentiated recording sheets are provided that are developmentally appropriate for both lower and upper grades.

Check out my YouTube video for a walk through of all the components in my Christmas STEM Challenges!

2. Santa’s Parachute Challenge

The Santa’s Parachute challenge is a HUGE hit, especially among upper grades, and is great for students to experiment with a range of designs and improvements. Students choose from a variety of construction materials to determine which ones work most effectively for the canopy and basket of their parachute. The ultimate challenge is for students to get Santa to land upright on the target, all while exploring the forces of gravity and drag! This challenge is found in my Christmas STEM pack.

3. Tallest Tree Challenge

Low prep, simple, and crazy fun, the Tallest Tree challenge is perfect for Holiday parties, centers, or even a minute-to-win-it style timed challenge! Students use either standard sized cups or mini cups to create the tallest possible “tree” while exploring a variety of three-dimensional solids.

4. Red and Lulu STEM Stations

Looking for a gorgeous, magical, heartwarming read aloud to share with your students?! Red and Lulu by Matt Tavares has quickly become my all time favorite holiday picture book, and the story of two cardinals and the famous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree will warm your heart. For the "Red Flies High" STEM Stations students will learn about forces of flight as they construct a model of a flying cardinal and navigate through a series of New York City themed challenges! The book provides tons of cool facts about the history and significance of the Rockefeller Tree, and students can even use STEM Bins® as an extension to build models of famous NYC landmarks.

5. Holidays Around the World STEM Activities

These Holidays Around the World STEM Activities combine research, simple building brick STEM challenges, and math extensions for nine winter holidays around the world: Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, St. Lucia’s Day, La Befana, Diwali, Ramadan, Lunar New Year and Christmas! Holidays can be taught one or two per day or all nine holidays can be taught in one day. The provided QR code research mats provide necessary background knowledge for each holiday and can be read and discussed as a class.

6. The Polar Express STEM Activity

All aboard! The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg is a must-read every December, and my Polar Pass STEM Activity is the perfect follow-up for K-3rd. After the read aloud, students become engineers for the night and design a train bridge sturdy enough to carry the Polar Express safely on its way to the North Pole, then test and improve their designs like real engineers do! The lesson plan, discussion chart, key vocabulary, video links, and student recording booklet are all done for you. This one is found in my Polar Express STEM pack.

Want the holiday ones? All three are in the STEM Activities + Read Alouds FAVORITES on TPT, which puts all 30 picture book activities in one download.

I hope you LOVE these holiday STEM challenges and I hope your classroom is filled with peace, joy, and STEM this year!

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