In this simple STEAM challenge, preschoolers will construct a Christmas tree using recycled egg cartons. The kids will have a blast coming up with their own tree designs and decorating the trees all on their own. Kids will be so proud to take their creations home to mom and dad after building.
Christmas Tree STEAM Building Challenge from Recycled Egg Cartons
Objective: Learn about the shape and color of trees and how to get materials to stick together.
Materials: Egg cartons, scissors, glue sticks, green paint, pom poms.
Ask: Can you make a tree from these materials? How can we stack the egg cartons to make a tree shape?
Learn: Children will quickly realize there is more than one way to make a tree! Some kids may prefer stacking, some kids might create a tower several egg cups deep, and others might observe that since the egg cups are already stuck together, they don’t have to do anything other than paint and decorate! Let the children come up with their own tree designs for this challenge.
Experiment: Discuss what makes a tree look like a tree. Is it the shape? The color? Let the kids experiment with different layouts for their trees.
STEAM Integration:
Science: Talk about the life cycle of trees and how pine trees are evergreen trees. Discuss what that means and why not all trees lose their leaves in the winter.
Technology: Look up pine trees online for design inspiration.
Engineering: Let the kids come up with their own tree designs.
Art: Let the kids decorate their own egg carton trees. Our kids used pom poms as ornaments, but other preschool kids might like using glitter, stickers, ribbons, and other small objects to decorate their trees.
Math: Count how many cartons are used for each tree. Count the number of ornaments used to decorate each tree. Time how long it takes the paint to dry.
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