In this festive activity designed for secondary school students, learners will design a high-tech, environmentally friendly replacement for Santa’s sleigh. The sleigh will use a sustainable method of allowing it to fly through the air to deliver the presents. This free resource will build knowledge and skills in Design and Technology and Engineering. A activity sheet, presentation and design sheets are available to download for free. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Designing a sustainable high-tech replacement for Santa’s famous red suit In this activity, learners will design a replacement for Santa’s suit that meets a series of design criteria and incorporates at least one technology to make Santa’s work easier. This free resource will develop creativity and graphics skills in design and technology, as well as increasing understanding of how developments in technology affect our lives. A activity sheet, presentation and template are available to download for free. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

In this festive graphics project designed for primary aged kids, students will use nets to make parts from card and paper, which they will then assemble into a lantern shaped like a Christmas star. This is a free resource that encourages learners to have fun with maths. Free handouts and templates are available to download below. Oh ho ho, and please do share your creative highlights with us @IETeducation #SantaLovesSTEM

In this fun and festive graphics project designed for secondary school students, learners focus on the making of a lantern shaped like a Christmas star using folded card and paper. This activity allows the theme of Christmas to develop their knowledge and skills in Design and Technology and Engineering. A activity sheet, presentation and templates are available to download for free. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Build a simple snowball catapult capable of firing cotton wool balls in this festive activity for kids. By the end of this activity, you will be able to: Engineer a catapult that harnesses potential energy and then releases it quickly, transferring that potential energy into movement as the snowball is fired into the distance. How long will this activity take? This activity will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. To extend your catapult design skills and understanding of levers, try the Build a popsicle stick catapult activity. What equipment will you need? 9 x lollipop sticks, 2 x elastic bands, cotton wool balls How to do it Step 1 Stack 5 of the lollipop sticks on top of one another. Step 2 Place the 6th lollipop stick across the stack of 5 sticks in the shape of a cross. Step 3 Place the remaining 3 sticks on top of the ‘cross’ stick, like the first 5 lollipop sticks. Step 4 Wrap the elastic bands tightly around the thick stack of lollipop sticks at either end. Step 5 Pull a piece of cotton wool from your cotton wool ball and roll it around to make a snowball. Step 6 Place the snowball on the longest end of the ‘cross’ stick, and press down on the shorter end using one hand. Step 7 Using the other hand, press back on the snowball and then fire! Watch Marvellous Marthy and download the free activity sheet today! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho, and please do share your experiment highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

This is a craft activity that all children can enjoy. Using an empty jam jar, children can make a snow globe with biodegradable glitter and a few other items from around the home or classroom. Our step-by-step guide is simple to follow, making it a great STEM project for children. It is an enjoyable hands-on activity promoting creativity and stimulating imagination. It can be used as a craft project for the home or as a main lesson activity in school for the festive season. As well as teaching design creativity, there are potential curriculum links with the Art department and STEAM-based activities. What you will need Clean jam jar or mason jar (no labels) with a tightly fitting lid Biodegradable glitter Christmas decoration or festive ornament – make sure it’s waterproof and small enough to fit in the jar Water Glue gun and glue stick (or waterproof glue – a tube of clear, silicone sealant will do) Glycerine or light corn syrup The engineering context Building a snow globe is a hands-on learning experience that combines art and science. It’s not only a fun winter craft activity for children, but it can also help to develop their STEM skills. While making a snow globe, children will develop their practical skills and learn about science and engineering concepts such as viscosity. Suggested outcomes This STEM craft activity will teach creativity and problem-solving skills. Children can experiment with different arrangements of objects, types of jar, and glitter distribution to create their desired scene. This process encourages them to think critically, make aesthetic choices, and find solutions if things don’t go as planned. It’s also an opportunity for them to express their individuality and explore their artistic side. The use of biodegradable glitter can also teach learners about sustainability and environmental issues. The activity sheets are available to download for free. All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. You can download our step-by-step instructions below as either a classroom lesson plan or PowerPoint presentation. You can also watch our video tutorial to find out how to make a snow globe. If you’re up for an extra activity, try our number fun activity as well. And please do share your handmade snow globes with us on social media on Facebook and Twitter using our #SantaLovesSTEM hashtag. You can also send them via email to IETEducation@theiet.org to be featured in our online gallery.

Turning a book into an artistic present! In this fun activity designed for secondary school students, learners will be given the opportunity to make folded book art by manipulating paper products. This free resource allows learners to use Christmas themes to develop their knowledge and skills in Design and Technology and Engineering. A free activity sheet is available to download. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Learn the science of snowflakes and why they always have 6 sides in this fun Christmas STEM activity Our free resource designed to allow learners to use the theme of the Christmas period to develop their knowledge and skills in Mathematics, Design and Technology and Science. This lesson focuses on the science behind snowflakes and polar charge. Oh ho ho, and please do share your snowflake highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM

Learn how to make Rudolph fly like a rocket with our festive science experiment. This quick and simple science experiment will teach students about the result of the chemical reaction between an alkali (bicarbonate of soda) and an acid (white wine vinegar) when you try and trap the gas that is produced. Top tip: do this one outside, as it can be messy. What equipment will you need? A plastic camera film canister, bicarbonate of soda (or an effervescent tablet), white wine vinegar, paper, scissors colouring pencils, a red nose, sticky tape How to do it? Step 1 Cut out a piece of paper so that it is tall and wide enough to wrap around your plastic canister. Step 2 On the paper, draw your very own Rudolph and colour it in. Step 3 Stick the red nose on Rudolph. Step 4 Take the lid off your plastic canister and turn it upside down so the open end is face down on the table. Step 5 Wrap the picture around the plastic canister and stick it in place. Step 6 Turn the canister the other way up so the opening faces upwards (Rudolph should now be upside down). Step 7 Fill the canister halfway with white wine vinegar. Now this is where you need to be super speedy: Step 8 Drop an effervescent tablet into the canister, put the lid on tightly, then turn it upside down (Rudolph will now be the right way up). Wait for him to blast off! Watch the video from Marvellous Marthy and download the free activity sheet to join in the fun this Christmas! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho, and please do share your experiment highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

In this festive STEM graphics project, students will use a net to make a naughty or nice gauge and customise it to their own design. This activity could be used as a main lesson to teach learners how to use nets to make useable objects. It could also be used as one of several activities within a wider scheme of learning focusing on how maths can be utilised to understand the use of nets. Nets are important as they allow 3D objects to be made when folded. This activity is one of a series of free STEM resources designed to allow learners to use Christmas themes to support the teaching of the primary National Curriculum. They are designed to support the delivery of key topics within design and technology, and maths. The graphics could be added by hand or using IT. The examples at the end of the presentation were made by learners using computers at home during a lesson delivered using conferencing software. Resources required A4 paper or thin card for handouts Scissors Rulers Brass split pin fasteners Drawing and colouring equipment If available, the handout should be printed on a thin card, as greater rigidity improves performance. The engineering context Engineers use gauges to give visual displays of the amounts or levels of things. This can range from the volume control on a television to the fuel tank on a car to a temperature gauge on a machine. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will understand that gauges are used to measure things, and they will be able to make a graphic product by cutting and folding a net. Download the Naughty or nice activity sheet for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho, and please do share your classroom highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

In this Christmas STEM activity for kids, students will test a simple series electrical circuit in an attempt to make Rudolph’s nose light up. This experiment will encourage students to have fun with electronics and understand circuits. What equipment will you need? Rudolph template, Stiff piece of card the same size as the template, Block of wood, 2 crocodile leads, 1.5V or D size battery, A 2.5 bulb with holder, Sticky tape, Blu-tac How to do it Step 1 Please print off the Rudolph template and stick it onto a stiff piece of card. Step 2 Make a hole (large enough to put the bulb through) where the nose would be, keeping the bulb holder at the back. Tape the bulb holder to the cardboard to hold it in place. You can paint the bulb red with a felt tip pen or add some red acetate. Sweet wrappers work well for this! Step 3 Stick the block of wood to the bottom of the card so that the Rudolph template stands up. Step 4 Attach the crocodile leads to the metal part on each side of the bulb holder. Stick the battery down on top of the piece of wood at the back with a piece of Blu-tac. You are now ready. The science behind the experiment Electricity will only flow when there is a power source within a complete circuit of conductive material with no breaks. There is no need, at this stage, to explain what electricity is or how it works, but children can begin thinking about what electricity does. Encourage the children to look around the room to find other things which work on electricity. They could cut out pictures from magazines of things which work on electricity and then sort them into those which work on mains electricity and those which work on battery power. Download the Light up Rudolph’s nose activity sheet for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho, and please do share your experiment highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

In this fun science activity for kids, students will make play dough that can insulate or conduct electricity. Make colourful dough with salt and another with sugar to find out which one will work! Through this process they will learn about conductors and insulators. Students will also learn about ionic bonding. This is a resource that encourages learners to have fun with science. An activity sheet is available to download for free. We have also included a bonus wordsearch using terminology from the activity to promote sticky learning. Oh ho ho, and please do share your experiment highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM

Students will learn about the effects of chemical reactions while making an exploding snowman in this fun, science experiment for kids. In this activity, students will use the theme of Christmas to make a card model of a snowman and mix the bicarbonate and vinegar to see the effects of the reaction. This is one of a series of free STEM resources designed to allow learners to use the theme of the Christmas period to develop their knowledge and skills in Science and Engineering. This activity could be used as a main lesson to teach learners about chemical reactions when one or more substances are changed to a different substance. It could also be used to explain foams as liquids or solids containing gas bubbles. Small 50g containers are best for this activity. The teacher may either bring in small plastic bottles or get the learners to bring in the bottles/containers. Teachers should ensure that covers are placed on work surfaces, or trays are used to prevent spills and catch the exploding liquid. The products of the reaction are relatively safe, though caution should be taken not to get splashes in the eyes, and clothes should be protected. The exploding mixture produced can be disposed of by washing it down the sink with plenty of water. Equipment required A zip-lock bag (sandwich bag size is great to start off with) Permanent markers Baking soda White vinegar Kitchen roll The engineering context Engineers use chemical reactions to help solve a number of problems. For example, rocket engineers mix chemicals together to make a reaction that powers a space rocket. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to make an exploding snowman using bicarbonate and vinegar, and they will be able to understand that a reaction is when one or more substances are changed to a different substance. Download the Make an exploding snowman activity sheet for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho, and please do share your experiment highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

Try out this fun science experiment, designed for primary school students, to catch Santa as he delivers your presents by creating an electronic trap! The engineering context Engineers need to be able to understand how electrical circuits are drawn and communicated; This includes the use of circuit symbols to produce circuit diagrams and schematics. This knowledge could be used when investigating, designing or making electrical and electronic circuits in the future. What equipment will you need? A thin piece of sponge – a washing up sponge is great, but make sure it is completely dry, Scissors, Masking or sticky tape, Aluminium kitchen foil, 3 crocodile leads (you will need another 2 if you do the extension task), A 2 x AA battery pack, A 3V buzzer How to do it Step 1 - Cut a square of the thin sponge approximately 10cm x 10cm. In the centre, cut a hole approximately 4cm in diameter. ⚠ Be careful when using scissors. Always have an adult on standby in case you need help. Step 2 - Cut two pieces of aluminium foil slightly smaller than your piece of sponge. Step 3 - Using masking or sticky tape, tape one piece of aluminium foil to the top of the sponge and the other to the bottom. The tin foil pieces MUST NOT touch if the sponge is not pressed down but should once it is pressed. Step 4 - Attach one crocodile lead to the top piece of foil and one to the bottom piece. You have now built the pressure pad for your Electronic Santa Detector, but you need to put it in a circuit for something to happen. Follow the diagram in the activity sheet below to connect the components with your crocodile leads. When you gently press the centre, the buzzer should sound. Now all you need to do is leave it somewhere you think Santa will stand when he delivers your presents. Just inside your bedroom door, perhaps, or at the end of your bed with your stocking. When he steps on the pressure pad, the buzzer will sound and alert you to him being in the room. You might also want to disguise it so it is not noticeable. Santa is old and wise, and if he sees it, he will know not to step on it! Download the Make a trap to detect Santa activity sheet for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho, and please do share your experiment highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

This engaging activity is one of a series of accessible STEM resources designed to allow learners to use the theme of the Christmas period to develop their knowledge and skills in Design & Technology, and Engineering. Learners will gain valuable insights into what constitutes a sturdy structure and how to ensure it possesses strength and visual appeal. Applying their newfound knowledge, they will craft their unique ornament, putting their skills to the test. This activity can serve as a central lesson in teaching the construction of robust structures using relatively weaker materials. It can also seamlessly integrate into a comprehensive learning scheme emphasising practical making and assembly skills within design and technology. Educators seeking to enhance their teaching resources can use this activity alongside the IET Education resource: Christmas Mobile. Tools/resources required 5 sticks of the same length 5 rubber bands String or twine for the hanging loops The engineering context Structural engineers must understand how to utilise weaker materials to create more robust structures, such as using rope to make bridges. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will understand how to construct a strong structure from weaker materials, and they will be able to make a strong and visually attractive ornament that they can hang from a Christmas tree. Download the Homemade Christmas decoration activity sheet for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable so that you can tailor them to your students and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, helpful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho, please share your creations with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM. The History of Christmas tree ornaments The history of Christmas tree ornaments is a fascinating tale that dates back centuries. Historians trace the tradition of decorating trees during the holiday season to ancient civilisations like the Egyptians, Romans, and Vikings, who adorned trees with symbols of prosperity and religious significance. However, the modern concept of hanging ornaments on Christmas trees emerged in Germany during the 16th century. Initially, these ornaments were simple decorations made from fruits, nuts, and candles. Over time, the ornaments evolved, incorporating glass-blown baubles, delicate figurines, and intricate designs. Today, Christmas tree ornaments are cherished keepsakes, reflecting cultural traditions and personal memories and symbolising festive cheer and celebration.

This free resource focuses on the making of a magic trick which makes a pack of cards disappear, using complex graphics products made from nets. Magic tricks use design and mathematics to make them work effectively and this trick uses boxes that must fit together snugly to deceive the audience. A free activity sheet and handout is available to download below. And please do share your classroom learning highlights with us @IETeducation

Protect Santa’s packed lunch with this fun insulator experiment This activity can function as a fun science experiment for kids in which students will observe the effects of thermal energy on change of state. What equipment will you need? Ice cubes with a small Christmas toy frozen inside (cake decorations are ideal for this or any small Christmas toy/decoration), 5 different types of material, which could include bubble wrap, plastic bag, wool, cotton, foam, tin foil etc., Small containers big enough to put wrapped ice cubes in. How to do it Step 1 - Choose which materials you think will keep his lunch cold for the longest. Step 2 - Wrap up each ice cube singly, in one material each, being careful to have the same number of layers for each material. Put each wrapped ice cube in a container. Remember, we are trying to make this a fair test, so what else do you need to keep the same? Step 3 - Decide where to put your ice cubes and how often to check them. What signs will you look for to tell you which material works best? Step 4 - Why do you think some ice cubes are melting more quickly than others? Do you think the cold from the ice cube is getting out, or the warmth from the air is getting into the ice cube? Step 5 - Which material kept your ice cube frozen for the longest? When you have decided which material is best, design a lunchbox to keep Santa’s lunch cool this Christmas Eve. What is thermal energy? Materials melt because of heat, a form of energy (thermal energy). All objects are made up of particles which are in a constant state of motion. Cold objects have less thermal energy than warm objects and the particles which make them up will be moving much more slowly. If we put a cold object next to a warm object, they will exchange thermal energy until they achieve thermal equilibrium – and become the same. We can stop or slow down this energy exchange by using a thermal insulator. Good thermal insulators have very strong bonds to hold their particles in place, stopping the particles from moving around easily and transferring energy to other particles. Download the Insulator experiment activity sheet for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho, and please do share your experiment highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

Learn about liquid and gas in this fun science experiment to make a snow blizzard In this simple and festive activity for kids, students will create a snow blizzard in a jar! This activity can function as a fun science experiment for the young engineer at home or as a full lesson in school to think about gas and reactions. What equipment will you need? A jar, A pot for mixing paint, Water, Baby oil (enough to fill ¾ of your jar), A small amount of glitter, Bicarbonate of soda or an effervescent tablet, A small tube of white paint, Blue food colouring, A stick for stirring How to do it Step 1 – First, fill the jar until about ¾ full of baby oil. Step 2 – Mix water and a few tablespoons of white paint in the pot. Step 3 – Return to the jar of baby oil and add the glitter and blue food colouring. You can add as much of these as you like – you are creating a magical winter scene! Step 4 – Add the paint and water mixture into the jar, filling it to the top. Step 5 – Lastly, add a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda. Adding the bicarbonate of soda will start the blizzard! The science behind the experiment Oil is less dense than water, less heavy; This means the water sinks to the bottom of the jar, and the oil floats on top, and as they don’t mix, there’s a separation between the two. When you add the bicarbonate of soda or an effervescent tablet, it reacts with the water to produce carbon dioxide gas bubbles. These stick to the water droplets. The water and gas combination is less dense than oil, making them rise to the top of the jar and create pressure in an upward direction. At the top, the gas bubbles pop and escape into the air, leaving the dense water behind to sink back to the bottom again. This reaction creates our beautiful blizzard in a jar! The engineering context Understanding the way different materials work and the properties they all hold is vital in creating and developing solutions to our world’s problems. Engineers are interested in the world around them, which is a fun and critical spark to ignite from an early age. Download the Snow blizzard in a jar activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho, and please do share your experiment highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

In this fun and festive activity, students will explore drag, thrust, gravity and lift forces to design and craft their own sleigh for Santa. Download the How does Santa’s sleigh fly? activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho, and please do share your sleigh designs with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.

A simple and fun science experiment about insulation, to see how blubber keeps penguins, whales, polar bears and seals warm in the North Pole. This is one of a series of free STEM resources designed to allow learners to use the theme of the festive period to develop their knowledge and skills in Design and Technology, Science, Mathematics and Engineering. In this activity, students will construct a straightforward model of a polar animal and use this to investigate how they keep themselves warm. They will understand how well a layer of blubber can insulate an animal and how the heat loss is reduced against an uninsulated animal. This is a versatile activity that could serve as a main lesson activity to teach about insulation and heat transfer. It could also be used as part of a wider scheme of learning, focusing on how animals react to the world around them. This activity could be carried out in pairs or small groups. The teacher presentation covers the main activity on slides 1 to 11, and the subsequent slides are extension work and links. Resources required An empty margarine tub A full margarine tub A large flat dish Warm water Cold water with ice A thermometer A stopwatch or smart watch timer Graph paper Pencils and differently coloured pencil crayons The engineering context Engineers must be able to investigate the natural world to understand how it works. This allows them to design solutions that benefit and learn from the environment, such as suits for divers that can keep them warm. Suggested learning outcomes By the end of this activity, students will be able to understand how polar animals keep warm in very cold conditions, they will be able to understand what blubber is and how it helps polar animals to survive, and they will be able to record experiment data using tables and graphs. Download the How polar animals keep warm activity sheets for free! All activity sheets and supporting resources are free to download, and all the documents are fully editable, so you can tailor them to your students’ and your schools’ needs. The activity sheet includes teacher notes, guidance, useful web links, and links (where appropriate) to the national curriculum in each of the four devolved UK nations; England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Oh ho ho please do share your experiment highlights with us @IETeducation! #SantaLovesSTEM.