Santa got stuck in the chimney

STEMLinc Video Conferencing: Jolly old Santa has been eating far too much on his present run.  His tummy has grown so much he is now stuck in a chimney!  Pushing and pulling, your students will help the elves to test and select suitable fabrics for a new Santa suit design.   In this video conference, students will explore the concept how of  push and pull affects the way an object moves or changes shape, combined with some basic materials chemistry. (Image: https://panadero.com/santa-claus-come-chimneys/) 

Year Level: 1 – 2

Duration: 45 – 55 mins

STEM-in-a-box: Yes

Background information: What better way to learn some scientific principals than bringing a Christmas themed story to life with students engaged in designing a hands-on solution to a problem?  Students will help the Christmas elf to come up with a real solution for Santa.  Finish this workshop with a fun song and dance version of  ‘Santa got stuck in the chimney‘.

Prior knowledge: Not necessary

Learning Intentions: 

In this program students will:

• compare observations and make predictions with other students about the properties of fabrics
• consider how the force of push and pull can change the shape of an object
• conduct a simple measurement of girth
• construct a folded chimney model following simple instructions

Activities: 

In this video conference students will:

• respond to questions, and make predictions about the properties of difference fabrics
• participate in guided investigations, including making scientific observations
• test how various fabrics would perform in helping Santa to move easily down the chimney
• listen to a Christmas story engaging with the text by actively solving a STEM issue for the elves
• sing and dance along to a Christmas song that celebrates their STEM solution

Victorian Curriculum: 

Capabilities – Questions and possibilities

• Make simple modifications to known ideas and routine solutions to generate some different ideas and possibilities (VCCCTQ003)

Science – Communicating

• Represent and communicate observations and ideas about changes in objects and events in a variety of ways (VCSIS055)

Science – Planning and conducting

• Participate in guided investigations, including making observations using the senses, to explore and answer questions (VCSIS051)

Science – Chemistry 

• Everyday materials can be physically changed or combined with other materials in a variety of ways for particular purposes (VCSSU045)

Science – Physical Sciences

• The way objects move depends on a variety of factors including their size and shape: a push or a pull affects how an object moves or changes shape (VCSSU048)