DECEMBER STEM CHALLENGES

TREE CHALLENGE

Build a holiday tree out of cups.  Have a contest against a family member or classmate.

Constraints:  Your tree must be as tall as possible without falling over.  Set a timer for 3 minutes for building.

Materials:  plastic cups or Dixie cups

SLEIGH CHALLENGE

Design and build  a slope and sleigh for Santa out of things laying around your house.

Constraints:  none

Materials:  straws, foil, cardboard, tape, craft sticks, glue

ORNAMENT CHALLENGE

Make a 3 dimensional ornament without using a 3D printer.

Constraints:  Your ornament must be no bigger than 6 inches tall AND you cannot buy any materials from a store.

Materials:  anything you find around the house

Test the strength of paper.  Build a cylinder base out of paper and see how many books it will hold.

Constraints:  paper tube must be at least 12 inches tall

Materials:  books, cardstock or thick paper

Design and build an arch bridge with a complete the circle using only Pringles.  Watch the video above for challenge details.

Constraints:  only Pringles may be used

Materials:  1 can Pringles any type

Fill a container with candy canes.  Design a tool to help you pick up one candy cane at a time.

Constraints:  Your tool must be longer than 12 inches and you must stand at least 8 inches away from the candy cane container.

Materials:  candy canes, cardboard, string, straws, pipe cleaners, glue or hot glue, any other materials you find

Try this AMAZING experiment.  Use the video to help you set it up.

Constraints:  none

Materials:  water, 3 glasses. paper towels, food coloring

Constraints:  Follow the recipe below.

1. Set up a large container such as an under-bed tub
2. There are two ingredients in this recipe: cornstarch and water. If you don’t have the same quantities as us, the ratio is one part water and two parts cornstarch.
3. Pour one 16 oz. container of cornstarch into the tub
4. Pour almost all of water on the cornstarch, around 3/4 cups. Mix the water and cornstarch together with your hands. Add the rest of the water to make the consistency more liquid. Play with the ratio.
5. Add food coloring or liquid watercolors to make it colorful.

Materials:  cornstarch, water, food coloring, big bowl or tub for mixing, spoons

Choose your favorite holiday movie.  Make a list of all the STEM that you see in the movie.  Find examples of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.  Share your ideas with someone special.