Build a Snowman That Can Stand Alone, Winter STEM Activity, 2D & 3D Engineering Challenge

Every winter, I notice the same thing in my online classroom.

Some children talk excitedly about snow, snowballs, and snowmen they’ve seen outside. Others look curious… because they’ve never seen snow in real life. That’s where I got the idea to integrate STEM.

Instead of just talking about snow, we build understanding with our hands.

This Paper Snowman STEM Challenge is one of my favorite no-prep, sub-friendly winter activities because it works for all learners, uses simple materials, and naturally introduces engineering, shapes, balance, and problem-solving skills. The best part is that all are available at Teachers Pay Teachers and also Free at the bottom.

Winter is the perfect time to introduce STEM activities for elementary students into the classroom—especially when teaching children who may never have experienced real snow. The Paper Snowman STEM Challenge is a low-prep, hands-on STEM activity that helps students explore engineering, balance, and 2D and 3D shapes using simple materials.

This activity works well for all grade levels, with the level of difficulty easily increased or decreased. It is ideal for preschool STEM activities, STEM activities for kindergarten, and early elementary grades, making it a flexible choice for winter lessons, holiday units, or no-prep substitute plans.

 Why This Winter STEM Challenge Works

Children learn best when they can:

• Touch
• Build
• Test
• Fix
• Try again

This activity lets students imagine, design, and engineer a snowman using only paper and cotton, perfect for classrooms where snow isn’t part of daily life.

At the same time, students explore:

• 2D vs 3D shapes
• Structure and stability
• Fine motor skills
• Creative decision-making

And the best part?

There’s no single “right” way to build the snowman.

Build a Snowman That Can Stand Alone, Winter STEM Activity, 2D & 3D Engineering Challenge

Learning Goals (STEM Made Simple)

By the end of the activity, students can:

• Understand the difference between 2D (flat) and 3D (solid) shapes
• Use rolling, folding, and strip-joining techniques
• Build a structure that can stand independently
• Strengthen fine motor skills and spatial awareness
• Reflect on what worked and what didn’t

All of this happens naturally through play-based engineering.

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Materials (Low Prep, High Impact)

Everything is classroom-friendly:

• Worksheets available at TPT and at the bottom
• White or colored paper
• Cotton
• Glue or tape
• Scissors
• Optional decorations: buttons, sequins, cupcake liners
• Optional stability support: a coin or small rock
•  Teaching Flow (What I Actually Do in Class)

 Introduce the Real-World Problem

I start by showing pictures of real snowmen and asking:

“Some children can see snow, and some can’t. How could we show what a snowman looks like using only paper and cotton?”

Right away, students feel like problem solvers, not just craft makers.

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Start with a 2D Snowman

We talk about 2D shapes—flat, with length and width.

Students:

• Draw
• Cut
• Glue

This step builds confidence, especially for Pre-K and Kindergarten.

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Move Into 3D Thinking

Now comes the engineering part.

We discuss 3D shapes—they have height, width, and depth.

I model a few techniques:

• Rolling paper strips into balls
• Making a simple cone
• Joining strips to form a circular shape

Students choose their method:

• Lower grades: rolling strips only
• Higher grades: cones, tubes, or circle-stacking

Choice = engagement.

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Build & Decorate

Students create:

• One large shape for the base
• One smaller shape for the head

They stack, glue, and decorate using face worksheets or paper cut-outs.

Optional: adding a coin inside the base becomes a mini engineering discovery about balance.

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Test & Improve (The STEM Moment)

I always ask students to gently move their snowman.

If it falls?

That’s not failure, that’s data.

Students adjust:

• Glue placement
• Shape size
• Balance

Students adjust their designs by changing glue placement, shape size, and balance. Through testing, they discover that the head must be smaller than the body for the snowman to stand independently. Students who created oversized heads noticed that their snowmen tipped over, leading to meaningful discussions about structure, stability, and design improvement.

This is real STEM thinking.

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Reflect Like Engineers

Simple reflection questions:

• What worked best?
• What was tricky?
• Which building method helped it stand?
• How was 2D different from 3D?

Winter STEM Challenge,  Build a Paper Snowman 2D & 3D Engineering Activity

 Download from here

Worksheets  Task Card From 1 to 7

STEM Worksheets  8 to 21

STEM Worksheets 22 to all

2D Building Worksheets

This hands-on STEM activity is designed to support STEM education in real classrooms by combining creativity, engineering, and problem-solving in a meaningful way. Whether you are planning preschool STEM activities, STEM activities for kindergarten, or STEM activities for elementary students, this winter challenge fits easily into any lesson or no-prep substitute plan. It works smoothly in digital and in-person classrooms using Google Workspace, Google Classroom, and Google Chrome, making it an ideal choice for modern teachers looking to strengthen STEAM education through engaging, low-cost, high-impact learning experiences. Even young students can explain their thinking when given the chance.