When it comes to Christmas, there is no better season to try STEM activities for kids.
You might be thinking that Christmas seems like a weird time to learn about science and STEAM activities, but it is actually an excellent time!
We have found that Christmas STEM activities are some of our very favorite projects each year.
This year, we wanted to try a more complicated Christmas engineering project, so we decided to make an elf on the shelf zip line.
In the end, we all had a blast with this project. The elf zip line was a favorite with the kids and it is completely classroom friendly.
The Elf on the Shelf zip line would be a perfect maker project for STEAM class, STEM lessons, and after-school activities.
ELF ON THE SHELF ELF ZIP LINE ENGINEERING CHALLENGE FOR KIDS!
WHAT IS CHRISTMAS ENGINEERING ALL ABOUT?
Engineering projects are all about getting children to think outside the box and come up with creative solutions to problems.
You can solve real-world problems, like how to make the grocery check-out line more efficient, or solve abstract issues, like how to get the Elf on the Shelf to move around!
In this project, the kids are challenged to create an Elf on the Shelf zip line to get her from point A to point B.
We did our activity outside, but you can do it inside as well!
Maybe your elf needs to get from the Christmas tree to the chimney to report to Santa!
CHRISTMAS ENGINEERING PROJECT TIPS
CLICK HERE FOR THE SLEIGH BUILDING ENGINEERING CHALLENGE
One of our favorite Christmas engineering challenges to date was when we figured out how many kids Santa would conveniently visit in a night if he was just one man and not magic.
We had so much fun with our Elf on the Shelf zip line engineering challenge!
You’ll need a few supplies if you want to make your own version of this project.
SUPPLIES
- Elf on the Shelf doll
- String
- Ribbon
- Rocks
- Plastic cups
DON’T MISS: THE PRESCHOOL SNOWMAN PRINTABLE PACK!
HOW TO MAKE THE ELF ON A SHELF ZIP LINE ENGINEERING CHALLENGE
The Elf on the Shelf zip line challenge will be unique each time you make it, because the kids will be designing it and making it new each time.
If you have a lot of kids doing this challenge, break them up into groups of 4-5 and have each group come up with their own design.
First, the kids must decide where their zipline will go.
Then, they must decide how to build it so that it can hold the elf, get the elf to travel, and prevent her from falling out!
In our design, the kids used two strings attached to either side of a cup to slide the elf down from the tree to a table.
Our elf kept falling out, so we used some river stones to hold the cup in place and keep the elf secure.
The kids also made her a ribbon seat belt to keep her even more secure during the abrupt landing.
Christmas STEM Activities by Grade
Christmas STEM Activities for Preschool
Christmas STEM Activities for Kindergarten
Christmas STEM Activities for 1st Grade
Christmas STEM Activities for 2nd Grade
Christmas STEM Activities for 3rd Grade
Christmas STEM Activities for 4th Grade
