25 Days of STE(A)M

Directions:

1. Build a paper airplane of any design.
2. Test your design at least 3 times.
3. Measure and record the distance of each flight.
   Tip: Place a long string at the start and end of your plane’s flight path. Then, use a ruler to measure the length of the string.
4. Repeat with a different airplane design to determine which will help Santa travel the farthest.

Resources:

Airplane Data Collection Template

Step-By-Step Paper Airplane Designs from The Art of Manliness

Directions:

1. Start by drawing a “connect the dots” model of your structure on paper.
2. Build your structure out of toothpicks and marshmallows.

Helpful Tip:

An Igloo’s three-dimensional dome shape helps distribute the weight of snow.

Directions:

1. On a piece of paper, draw any winter wonderland scene.
2. Place a glass dish on top of the paper.
3. Draw snowflakes with a blue dry-erase marker directly on the glass dish.
4. Pour a bit of water onto the glass dish.
5. Use a straw to blow the snowflakes and make it snow!

Example:

Falling Leaves activity from mothercould

Directions:

1. Decorate a small jar to look like a holiday character using any craft supplies.
2. In a large bowl, mix 3/4 cup Elmer’s Glue, 1/2 tsp baking soda, up to 1/4 cup water, and food coloring if desired.
3. Slowly add up to 1½ tbsp contact solution containing ​​Boric Acid and Sodium Borate. Fold in a bit at a time to ensure the slime doesn’t harden.
4. Knead until you achieve your desired slime consistency.
5. Keep your slime in your jar!

Example:

Holiday Slime activity from thebestideasforkids

Directions:

1. Tape a piece of parchment paper to a flat surface.
2. Use permanent markers to draw a holiday image on the parchment paper (e.g., Christmas tree, wreath, menorah).
3. Mix a few small cups of water with different food colorings to create colored water.
4. Use a dropper to drop colored water on the parchment paper.
5. Use a toothpick to drag the drops and decorate your holiday drawing. Notice how the water moves!

Example:

Moving Water activity from mothercould

Directions:

1. Plan your weather report and write a script. Is there a blizzard? Wintery-mix? Snowfall?
2. Gather props and costumes.
1. THINK: What might a weather person dress like while reporting the news? What visuals can you create to show your viewers? (e.g. weather maps, weekly forecast charts)
3. Record your weather report!

Resource:

Practice your reporting skills with this freebie from Discover Digital Video LAB!

Directions:

1. Use bricks to build a model of your favorite holiday treat.
2. Challenge yourself to build a whole feast!

Examples:

Check out some examples in our Earth Day and Celebrations Activity Card freebies!

Directions:

1. Gather all the holiday and winter objects you want to test (e.g. candy canes, pinecones, pine tree leaves, present bows).
2. Record each object and your predictions in your Sink or Float Record Sheet.
3. Fill a bucket with water. Place one item in the bucket.
4. Observe what happens and record your findings.
5. Repeat steps 3-4 for each object.

Directions:

1. Pour just enough milk to cover the bottom of a plate.
2. Place a holiday cookie cutter in the center of the plate.
3. Drip 3-4 drops of food coloring in and/or around the cookie cutter.
4. Drip dish soap directly onto food coloring drops and observe the magic!

Directions:

1. Drip red or green food coloring into ice cube tray compartments.
2. Add water to each. Freeze.
3. On a plastic bag (for less mess), make a holiday design with ice cubes (tree, wreath, candy cane, etc.).
4. Press a piece of white paper on top of your ice cube design. Feel the cold through the paper!
5. Peel the paper off to reveal a print!

Directions:

1. Use pipe cleaners to build a self-standing tree.

Bonus if you can balance a tree topper of your own design on top!

Directions:

1. CLICK HERE to download and follow steps 1-5 for building your very own catapult. You will need: 10 craft sticks (popsicle stick or tongue depressor size), 5 rubber bands and 1 plastic spoon.
2. Place paper bowls or plates, labeling each with different point values. (e.g. 1 bowl worth 5 points, another worth 10, etc.)
3. Place a cotton ball or marshmallow on the spoon. Hold down the catapult with one hand and use your other hand to push down the spoon.
4. Aim for a target and let go of the spoon. Keep track of your score and have fun!

Directions:

1. Use a variety of materials to create a unique snowflake!

Suggested Materials:

Think about what you have at home! Get creative and use household items like:

• Pipe cleaners
• Popsicle sticks
• Glue
• White felt
• Q-tips
• Cotton balls
• White paper
• White foam

Directions:

1. Start by drawing a map for your maze with paper and pencil.
1. Make sure the path is wide enough for a jingle bell.
2. Consider how many dead ends to include and make sure there is an entrance and exit.
2. Create a base from large BrickLAB Bricks (or other construction blocks) baseplates. Check out our freebie, Seasonal STEM Challenges for Fall, for more details.
3. Add longer bricks to construct the walls of your maze.
4. Test the maze by sending the jingle bell through from beginning to end.

Directions:

1. Picture your favorite holiday tradition in your mind. Think about what’s happening in the foreground, middle ground and background of the scene you’re seeing.
2. Bring the image to life in a three-dimensional tunnel book!

For step-by-step directions, visuals, materials and templates, download our FREE activity, A Peek Down the Tunnel!

Directions:

1. Choose 2 pieces of different colored paper.
2. Carefully use scissors to cut the paper into strips. THINK CAREFULLY BEFORE CUTTING: How can you make a long chain using only 2 pieces of paper?
3. Form a ring with one strip of paper and glue or tape the ends together.
4. Thread the second strip into the ring and tape its ends together to form another loop. Repeat until you've used all the strips.
5. Measure your chain with a ruler. How long is your chain? How might you improve your design?

Challenge yourself to craft an even longer chain!

Directions:

1. Use a pencil to draw a snowman on white cardstock. Be sure to include features that bring the snowman to life! (e.g. hat, eyes, carrot nose, scarf, etc.)
2. Use crayons to add color to your drawing. You may also choose to add a few details around your snowman.
3. Use watercolors to paint the background.
4. Sprinkle salt over the picture, then let the paint dry.
5. The salt will leave behind a snowfall-like pattern!

Example:

Check out the Watercolor Turtles activity video from Unleash Your Wild Side for an example.

Directions:

1. Decorate an empty plastic bottle to look like a snowman, using materials such as buttons, googly eyes, ribbon and colored paper.
2. Once decorated, fill the bottle with about 2 tablespoons of dish soap, 1/2 cup baking soda, and 1-2 tablespoons of warm water.
3. Finally, pour 1 cup of distilled white vinegar into the snowman. Observe the reaction!

Example:

Snowman Eruptions activity from 123Homeschool4Me

Directions:

1. Stretch a laytex balloon so it's ready to inflate.
2. Use a permanent marker to draw Santa’s gift bag. See our example for inspiration, but feel free to make it your own.
3. Now you're ready to use your paper funnel, empty plastic bottle, baking soda, vinegar and spoon to fill Santa’s gift bag!

To download the step-by-step directions and visuals to fill Santa's gift bag, visit our Hot Air Balloon Experiment!

Directions:

1. Fill a glass jar (baby food jars work well!) 1/4 of the way with water.
2. Mix in about 1 teaspoon of white paint and some glitter (optional).
3. Fill the jar with baby oil. It will rise above the water and paint mixture.
4. Break up an Alka-Seltzer tablet, then add small bits to the jar one at a time. Watch the model snowstorm form inside the jar!

Example:

Snowstorm in a Jar Science Experiment from Mombrite

Directions:

1. Print out one of these templates.
2. Use scissors to cut out the template so that only the black outline is left.
3. Fold one sheet of construction paper or cardstock in half. Align the center of the template with the folded edge of the paper.
4. Trace the inner and outer edge of the template onto the paper with a pencil. Cut along the pencil lines.
5. Open the paper to reveal the full image!

Follow the step-by-step instructions in our STEAM Butterfly Symmetry Investigation to fill the inside of your decoration with colorful tissue paper.

Directions:

1. Code your own dress-up game in Scratch. For step-by-step directions and visuals, download How to Code a Dress-Up Game in Scratch for free!
2. Add new sprites to give your game some holiday spirit!
1. Draw a new sprite that will fit on the characters, such as a santa hat, an ugly sweater, or a reindeer headband. Be creative!
2. Then, upload your sprite and code it to appear in the game! (click here for full instructions)

Directions:

1. Grab an empty toilet paper roll, and choose a holiday character that you want to make. See this example for ideas.
2. Gather supplies and THINK: How can I use what I have creatively to make this roll look like my character?
3. Glue each decoration to your toilet paper roll.
4. Glue a ribbon to the back of the roll and hang your ornament for all to see!

Example:

Christmas Toilet Paper Roll Crafts from thebestideasforkids.

Directions:

1. For step-by-step directions and visuals, download our FREE activity, Cloud in a Jar!
2. Observe the experiment and reflect on the following:
1. What does Santa see when he delivers gifts on a cloudy night?
2. Describe why it is important for Santa and other pilots to have special tools to help them fly through clouds.

Directions:

1. With a pencil, draw the outline of a winter/holiday image onto the first piece of colored paper.
2. Use scissors to cut out the image.
3. Glue the cutout to a second color of paper.
4. With a black marker, draw one line up the center of the image, extending off the image to the edge of the paper.
5. Draw more lines radiating out from the center like veins, also extending to the edge of the paper.
6. Add additional lines to create an artistic grid.
7. Fill in each section with a different pattern.