Holiday STEAM Magic with the Chicka Chicka Ho Ho Ho Alphabet Tree

The holidays are a magical time filled with opportunities for creativity and learning. Inspired by the festive picture book Chicka Chicka Ho Ho Ho by Bill Martin Jr. and Michael Sampson, this holiday-themed STEAM activity brings the story to life in an engaging and educational way. Preschoolers will explore balance, stability, and letter recognition as they build their own holiday alphabet trees using green plastic cups.

The Magic of Chicka Chicka Ho Ho Ho

Start the activity with a cozy storytime. Chicka Chicka Ho Ho Ho takes the familiar rhythm of Chicka Chicka Boom Boom and adds a festive twist. The letters are off on another adventure, climbing a holiday tree and tumbling off in a playful, rhyming story.

Engage your little learners with questions like:

• How do the letters climb the tree?
• What happens if the tree isn’t strong enough?
• Can we make a tree that can hold all the letters?

The book sets the stage for a fun challenge while sparking curiosity about balance and structure.

Let’s Build a Holiday Alphabet Tree

With the story fresh in their minds, preschoolers are ready to tackle the challenge of building their own alphabet tree!

Materials Needed

• Green plastic cups (enough to stack into a pyramid tree)
• Toy alphabet letters (foam, magnetic, or paper cutouts)
• Mini holiday decorations (pom-poms, pipe cleaners, stickers)
• Chart paper or a whiteboard for recording results (Optional)

Instructions

1. Provide children with green plastic cups to stack into a pyramid-shaped tree. Start with a wide base and work upwards, reducing the number of cups in each row.
2. Challenge children to place letters on the tree, one at a time. Encourage them to name each letter and its sound as they add it. Watch as they experiment with placement to keep the tree balanced.
3. Discuss what happens when the tree tips or letters fall off. How can they redesign their tree to make it sturdier?
4. Let the children decorate their tree with pom-poms, pipe cleaners, or stickers for a festive touch.

What Your Preschoolers Will Learn

This hands-on activity introduces key STEAM concepts in a playful and engaging way:

• Science: Experiment with balance and stability while stacking cups.
• Technology: Use tools like cups and letters to build and test designs.
• Engineering: Design a tree that can hold all the letters without tipping over.
• Art: Personalize the tree with festive decorations.
• Math: Count the cups and letters, measure the tree’s height, and compare layers.

Encourage Exploration with Guiding Questions

• What happens when we add too many letters to one side of the tree?
• How can we make the tree more stable?
• How many letters can your tree hold?
• What’s the tallest tree you can build?

These questions inspire critical thinking and problem-solving, making the learning process even more impactful.

Why This Activity Works

Preschoolers love hands-on challenges that bring stories to life. This activity blends the festive fun of Chicka Chicka Ho Ho Ho with foundational STEAM skills like problem-solving, design, and experimentation. Plus, it’s a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays while fostering collaboration and creativity.

Share the Magic!

We’d love to see your holiday alphabet trees! Share your creations on social media using #PreschoolSTEAM. Let’s spread the joy of learning and creativity this holiday season.