The Halloween STEM challenge mats feature a bat, cat, spider, haunted house, and witch. Children are invited to decorate each featured element and create where it is. While we used LEGO to decorate our mats, you can use whatever you have on hand. Below is the Getting Ready for Halloween STEM challenge, you will find a number of building material suggestions.
Getting Ready for the Halloween STEM Challenge
First, you will need to download the set.
Second, if you don’t have Acrobat Reader you will need to download it. The algorithm page is an Acrobat Reader PDF file.
Third, you must go to your download file and open the page. You may be asked if you want the file to open right after downloading it. You won’t have to hunt for it in your download file if you are.
Printing Out the Challenge Mats
While we printed out the mats on white paper, you could print them out on colored cardstock or colored paper. That would give the mats a more Halloween feel.
Laminating the Mats
You can have your children work on the paper uncovered if you like. However, if you laminate the mats you can use them over and over again. Below you will find links for a laminator I recommend. There are also links for laminator pouches, paper, and cardstock.
The links below are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Gathering Building Materials
The following materials would be fun to build with:
- Blocks
- KEVA Planks
- LEGO
- Buttons
- Craft Sticks
- Wiggly Eyes
- Sections of an Egg Carton
- Small Sticks or Pebbles
Exploring the Halloween STEM Challenge Mats
While the directions are on the mats, you will want to go over them with your children. The first thing they will need to do is decorate the Halloween object. The second is to create a location or setting for it. They can complete both tasks however they please. If you have certain guidelines you feel they need, feel free to share them with your children.
It would be great to encourage them to describe what they have built to you when they are done. That will give you a full picture of what they are created. It will also give you insights into what they can orally share about their creations.
More STEM Building Activities
Ghostly Cup Stacking STEM Challenge
Building a Hay Bale Kicker Catapult
