Become an Elf Engineer with these 25 Days of Elf on the Shelf STEAM challenges and free STEAM challenge cards!
This is the second Christmas that my oldest has been a part of the Santa crew in our house. She is also the best Elf on the Shelf mover this house has ever seen because I always forget. That’s what five kids does to my brain this time of year!
The Elf is the last thing on my mind, but it’s the first on hers! To challenge her this year, I’m giving her 25 days of Elf on the Shelf STEAM challenges because we’ve done all the typical staged Elf surprises over the last 6 years.
We will still stage our Elf on the Shelf for the four little kiddos in the family, but it’s nice to start a brand new Elf tradition for my oldest. I’m pretty excited to turn our Elf on the Shelf into an Elf Engineer this year!
Daily Elf on the Shelf STEAM Challenges
Check out our list of ideas below! There will be some links active to get started and the ideas are already included. Sign up for our newsletter to receive ideas via email!
25 Days of Elf on the Shelf STEAM Challenges
This list will update as we go throughout the month of December! Follow along each day for a brand new idea! Check out the ideas we have in store below!
25+ Elf on the Shelf STEAM Challenges
Become an Elf Engineer with these 25 Days of STEAM Challenges for Elf on the Shelf!
Hold an Elf on the Shelf Zip Line Challenge
Hold an Elf on the Shelf Zip Line Challenge! We like to try to cross the entire length of our living room with our zip line! One tip is to make sure that the zip line isn’t too low to grab.
Flying Elf Static Electricity Balloon Challenge
This flying elf static electricity balloon STEAM challenge is super easy to set up and a great elf engineer activity for your Elf on the Shelf to bring!
Dress the Elf With this Christmas Boolean Logic Activity
Trixie the Elf needs helping searching for the perfect outfit for each day of the week. Learn how to use boolean expressions to narrow down exactly the right outfit in this Christmas Elf boolean logic activity.
Guess Who? Santa's Elves Unplugged Boolean Coding Activity
Learn about boolean and comparison operators with this Guess the Elf boolean coding activity!
Elf on the Shelf Binary Code Messages
Learn binary code to write hidden Elf on the Shelf binary code messages from your Elf! Decipher them for treats!
Tallest Christmas Tree STEM Challenge
Build the tallest Christmas tree out of plastic cups with your Elf!
Frozen Elf Ice Exploration
Freeze your Elf on the Shelf in ice to learn about the properties of water!
Teach your Elf some Math with Pascal's Triangle Christmas Tree Patterns
Learn about Pascal’s Triangle with this fun Christmas math activity! Pascal’s Triangle is a pretty cool mathematical concept that is filled with tons of patterns!
Color some Pixel Puzzles
Have your Elf on the Shelf color some pixel puzzles or leave the puzzles as a surprise activity!
Magic Reveal Christmas Pixel Art Math + Tech Activity
Complete a digital pixel puzzle magic reveal activity!
Make a Snowman with Snow Cloud Dough
Grab the toddler snow cloud dough recipe below and pair it with some fun snowman pieces to build a snowman. This winter sensory activity is great for toddlers to explore and create. The recipe makes enough for 1-2 kids to play with and can be doubled for some more cloud dough fun!
Hidden Messages from Elf on the Shelf
Use lemon juice to make hidden messages from your Elf on the Shelf!
Jingle Bell Polar Express Challenge
Can you build something that can keep a jingle bell from ringing?
Build a House for Your Elf
Put your engineering skills to the test and build a house for your Elf on the Shelf!
How to Catch an Elf with Slime
Make some oozing slime to catch your Elf on the Shelf!
Build a Ladder for Elf on the Shelf
The Elf needs help to reach the shelf because his magic is missing! Build your Elf on the Shelf a ladder to get back up on the shelf!
Design a Bridge for Elf on the Shelf
The Elf needs to cross to the next shelf without any magic. Can you build a bridge for your Elf on the Shelf to make it across?
Elf on the Shelf Marshmallow Shooter
Your Elf is up to no good! Build a marshmallow shooter to have a snowball fight!
Snowball Catapult
Can you design a catapult to launch snowballs (cotton balls) for a toy snowball fight?
Elf on the Shelf Compressed Caroling Code Challenge
Learn about text compression and compress some Christmas carols!
Elf on the Shelf Magnet Hanging Challenge
Can you help your Elf on the Shelf hang upside down with magnets?
Tallest Snowball Pile
Can you help your Elf on the Shelf build the tallest snowball pile using cotton balls?
Elf on the Shelf Hot Chocolate
Learn about physical change with a hot chocolate experiment!
Area and Perimeter Wrapping Paper Challenge
Your Elf on the Shelf needs help cutting wrapping paper into the right sizes to wrap up some random things around your house! Help your Elf measure and cut using area and perimeter!
Make Fizzy Snowman with Elf on the Shelf
Turn your Elf on the Shelf into a mad scientist with an acid/base fizzy snowman activity!
Fractal Christmas Tree STEAM Challenge
Free Elf on the Shelf STEAM Challenge Cards
Grab these STEAM challenge cards and store them for last minute learning ideas this December!
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD ELF ON THE SHELF STEAM CHALLENGE CARDS
Find more Elf on the Shelf STEAM Ideas!
Elf on the Shelf Slime from Little Bins for Little Hands
Mini Pine Tree Farm Holiday Sensory Activity from Barley & Birch
Elf on the Shelf Zip Line Challenge from JDaniel4’s Mom
Make a Recycled STEAM Learning Snowball Factory from Barley & Birch
PIN THIS IMAGE TO SAVE THESE ELF ON THE SHELF STEAM CHALLENGES
Meet Toni, the Maker Mom behind Our Family Code
Hey there, I’m Toni! I’m a software engineer and Maker Mom that finds my joy in unleashing my children’s curiosity by exploring STEAM concepts with my fantastic five!
When I’m not chasing toddlers or raising tweens, you can find me tearing things up and putting them back together over here at Our Family Code.
I am the owner and content creator of multiple educational websites designed to increase access to STEAM & STEM education with a focus on teaching computer science and coding to kids of all ages!
You can also find out more about me by visiting ToniGardner.com!
