Winter or Christmas STEM Activity - Sled and Slope PAPERLESS

Flash sale, Saturday, December 12!

Christmas and Winter STEM Challenges are the perfect activities to engage your students in brain-busting work disguised as fun when they've got the winter crazies!

This challenge is perfect for distance learning and social distancing because the materials are incredibly simple! Every one can build their own sled & slope or sleigh & slope!

The basic premise:

Working against a criteria/constraints list in partners or groups, students will build a sleigh/sled and ramp designed to transport the people or gifts the greatest possible distance.

Note: there is a "Sled & Slope" version for a winter (non-Christmas) activity as well as a "Sleigh & Slope" version for Christmas included.

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Note: This version is for use with Google Slides in 1:1/paperless classrooms. If you prefer to print and have students complete work with paper/pencil, you'll want to look at the printable version instead.

If you have questions about which version is right for you, please feel free to leave me a question using the product Q&A below.

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This is one of five challenges available at a 40% discount in the Christmas/Winter STEM Bundle.

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Resource includes:

NGSS aligned standards, Grades 2 – 8

Teacher Tips

- Links to STEM Challenge how-to videos

- Materials and timing

- Criteria & Constraints (including modifications to increase difficulty for older students)

- Measuring results

- Post-design extension activities list

- Link to a video walk-through of the challenge

Student Slides

- Criteria & Constraints List (editable version provided)

- Data Recording

- Design Analysis

- Discussion Questions

Extension slides

- Process flow map

- Create & solve math problems based on designs

- Video/website linked slides

- Design an Experiment: Reducing Friction (with sample answers)

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Sample/suggested materials for each student or group:

(Materials you’ll need to do the activity are easily modified. )

– Cardboard, cardstock, cereal box, or paper plates

– Pipe cleaners (5 – 10)

– Small bows (2)

• Bows are to symbolize gifts; small candies can be substituted (If you’re doing the Sled & Slope version, you’ll need small people to ride the sleds. Think: little, plastic, green army men. Two riders will work well.)

– Popsicle/craft sticks (10 – 15)

– Rubber bands (5 – 10)

– Foil (12 – 24 in.)

– Straws (5 – 10)

– Scissors

– Tape (12 – 24 in.)

– Ruler or measuring tape

– Copies of data recording & analyzing handouts

– Optional:

• Wood scraps

• Paper bags

• Coffee filters

• Plastic cutlery

• Balloons (rocket boosters)

• String

• Cable ties

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Benefits of this STEM Design Challenge:

- Focus on critical thinking, problem solving, and application of learning

- Helps students develop growth mindset traits like persistence and resilience

- High levels of student engagement

- The potential to hit upon all NGSS ETS standards depending on the depth and number of iterations you choose to implement in your classroom (modifications included)

- Highly flexible and differentiated for materials, timing, grade levels, and rigor.

Each design iteration should be planned for ~60-90 min. if you are including data gathering and analysis rather than just building for fun. If you add extension activities, you will need to adjust timing accordingly.

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What do teachers have to say about this resource?

Note: Comments taken from the print version.

" My classes loved these activities. They were discussing and figuring out ways to improve their projects too. They learned a lot from these.”

“My second-graders had a great time with this challenge. It fit in well with our unit on motion, position and force. Thanks!”

“I love these STEM projects. The kids go crazy over them :)”

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You might also like these resources:

STEM CHALLENGE YEAR-ROUND MEGA-BUNDLE

Christmas/Winter STEM Design Challenge: 5-in-1 Bundle

Snow Scoop

Frosted Forest

Frozen Fortress

Thanksgiving STEM Challenge 5-in-1 Bundle

Getting Started with STEM Challenges FREEBIE

Analyze and Interpret Data Unit

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Please check out the preview to see the challenge, and don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions!

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