If you’re like me, then you hate to waste a second of precious instructional minutes. On the other hand, you also loathe feeling like the “mean” teacher when all the other classes are having Valentine’s Day parties. The perfect solution to your problem is here! Valentine’s Day STEM Challenges are activities which push your students to think critically, problem-solve, and collaborate while reinforcing math and science standards. This is brain-busting work disguised as fun! Your kids will love them, and you will too: win-win!
Watch the Overview
There are five (or eight – depending on how you look at it) Valentine’s Day STEM Challenge events which are sure to keep your students engaged and feeling the love this holiday! Also, each challenge has its own detailed blog post including a video walk-through linked below.
* Flower Frenzy is comprised of the following four flower mini challenges:
- Floating Flowers
- Fluff & Flatten Flowers
- Functional Flowers
- Firmly Fixed Flowers
Materials for all challenges were procured at the Dollar Tree except a large box of craft sticks (Michael’s) and candy (Target).
Just by viewing the information below, you can pick up the simple materials and run the challenges with a bit of prep time on your part.
Alternatively, you can save yourself time and energy (and use it to head over to your local dollar store!) by picking up the prepared challenge lessons. The lessons includes teacher notes/guide, modifications to increase the difficulty for older students, data recording & analysis handouts, NGSS Standards, extension ideas and more.
I recommend one challenge per day or week leading up to Valentine’s Day, or even all challenges in one day-long 5-event pentathlon! STEM challenges are always most beneficial when done in multiple iterations, however they can be treated as one-off activities as well.
A brief description of each challenge is available below, and more information is also available by clicking on each challenge title.
Valentine’s Day Challenge #1: Cupid’s Quiver
Basic Premise:
In groups, students will first design and then build a bow & arrow set for Cupid’s Valentine’s Day target practice. (Designing the quiver
is optional.) If you find bow & arrow too difficult, an alternative option is to modify the challenge to make throwing darts instead.
is optional.) If you find bow & arrow too difficult, an alternative option is to modify the challenge to make throwing darts instead.Students will aim for high scores as they take three shots each at a Valentine’s themed target. Then, take the the sum or average of students’ personal and/or team results to determine the final scores.
Target
Valentine’s Day Challenge #2: Candy / Confection Container
Basic Premise:
Working against a criteria/constraints list individually or in partners/groups, students will design and build the smallest 
container possible to house a candy assortment. Or you can choose to do the “Confection Container” alternative where students design and then build the smallest container possible to house one or more cupcakes (keeping frosting on the cupcakes, not the box!)
container possible to house a candy assortment. Or you can choose to do the “Confection Container” alternative where students design and then build the smallest container possible to house one or more cupcakes (keeping frosting on the cupcakes, not the box!)
Valentine’s Day Challenge #3: “Heavy” Hearts
Basic Premise:
Individually or in partners/small groups, students will design the “heaviest” heart possible.
Using a criteria/constraints list, students create small hearts of various colors & sizes. Point values will then be assigned to each color group based on its size.Then, students arrange various configurations of their smaller hearts inside a large,
outer heart in order to create the “heaviest” possible heart.
“Heaviest” is in quotation marks because we are not measuring weight; rather, we are assigning point values to inner hearts.
This challenge can be run simply by focusing on shape creation & manipulation, measurement, addition, and symmetry. Alternatively, you can add complexity by focusing on length/width ratios, multiplying & dividing decimals, percent contribution, etc.
Valentine’s Day Challenge #4: Cards in the Clouds
Basic Premise: In partners/groups, students will first design and then build the tallest “tower of love” possible using Valentine’s Day cards they were probably just going to throw away anyway! (Note: for older students or those who don’t exchange cards, use index cards or alternative love-notes handout from product.)
Valentine’s Day Challenge #5: Flower Frenzy
Basic Premise:
Individually or in partners/groups, students will design and build a uniquely talented bouquet of flowers! Furthermore, this STEM challenge includes four challenge prompts that can be taken separately or simultaneously in groups:- Floating Flowers
- Fluff & Flatten
Flowers - Functional Flowers
- Firmly Fixed Flowers
GOTTA HAVE IT?
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Sample Handouts
Fabulous ideas! Love it!
Love this. I know your students must love it too.
These are great. I adore themed STEM activities around holidays.
Thanks! Me too!
I love your formats and methods! I wish I had had you as a teacher!
Aw, that's so sweet! Thanks! 🙂
You always have THE BEST challenges!! We did Cupid's Quiver last week; it was definitely challenging & the kids LOVED it!! This week we're going to do Cards in the Clouds! Can't wait!
Thanks so much, Kathie! It delights me that your kids are loving it! 🙂
Omg I love these! I'm following you now!