Christmas STEM Challenge Cards

24 hands-on Christmas STEM challenges for children aged 5 to 11, one for every day of Advent. Children build, test and improve as they make the tallest paper tree, a reindeer bridge, an elf parachute, a foil sleigh boat, a circuit to light the star, a coded route for Santa and more. Each card tells a short festive story, sets a clear challenge and explains the science behind it. Recording sheets and teacher notes are included. Ready to print in A4 or US Letter. WHAT'S INSIDE (28 pages) 1. Start here: every page with a suggested age 2. How to run a challenge: the design cycle (ask, imagine, plan, create, test, improve), 4 ways to use the cards, easier and harder ideas, safety notes 3. Materials checklist for all 24 challenges (mostly paper, tape and recycling) 4. 6 team role cards: project manager, builder, tester, recorder, materials manager, presenter 5. Advent STEM countdown chart with star ratings 6. 24 challenge cards, 2 per page with a cut line. Each card has a story hook, the challenge, rules, what you need, how to test it, an extra challenge and the science bit 7. 2 blank cards to design your own challenge 8. Design planner for any challenge 9. Test results table and bar chart 10. Fair test planner for KS2 11. Code Santa's Route: an unplugged coding grid for Day 20 12. Class results board 13. My STEM reflection sheet 14. Teacher notes: curriculum links and a tip for every challenge, plus a sample coding answer 15. Christmas STEM Star certificate THE 24 CHALLENGES Tallest tree, snowflake symmetry, elf parachute, reindeer bridge, sleigh slide, snowball catapult, paper chain champion, keep the snowman cold, foil sleigh boat, present zip wire, static snow, bauble balance, gingerbread house blizzard, rocket reindeer, wrap it up, light up the star, sleigh run marble race, strongest stocking, Christmas shadow show, code Santa's route, jingle instruments, spinning top, bauble drop and Santa's sleigh machine. WHY YOU'LL LIKE IT - Covers structures, forces, materials, electricity, light, sound, maths and coding - Linked to the UK national curriculum for science, maths, DT and computing - Works for KS1 and KS2, with ideas to make each challenge easier or harder - Mostly uses paper, tape, straws and recycling you already have - Written in British English and undated, so you can use it every December WHAT YOU GET - 2 PDF files: A4 and US Letter (same 28 pages) - Quick Start guide (PDF) HOW IT WORKS - Download the files from your Etsy Purchases page - Print at 100% / actual size at home or at a print shop - Print the cards on card if you can, cut them out and print the sheets as often as you need for your own class or family PLEASE NOTE - This is a DIGITAL download. Nothing physical will be shipped. - The files are not editable. - Personal use, or use with one class or group. Please don't share or resell the files. - Materials are not included. An adult should supervise every challenge. Designed by Thexton Labs. Artwork and layouts were created with our own code, with the help of AI tools.