Everyone in the family will be excited to build a pumpkin tunnel for cars and tracks! Already, we have made a pumpkin-cano and slime in a pumpkin! What else can you do with a pumpkin? How about a pumpkin car tunnel! A fun and unique pumpkin STEM challenge. I saw a neat idea from Adventures of Adam. Can you get a car to fly through the tunnel? Let’s give it a try!
PUMPKIN TUNNEL STEM CHALLENGE FOR KIDS
SUPPLIES
Pumpkin {large enough to set up tracks and such}
Hot Wheels tracks and cars
Tea Light Candles {battery operated}
PUMPKIN TUNNEL SET UP
Pick your pumpkin, clean it out, and carve out two openings to make your pumpkin car tunnel! Save the seeds and make a tasty snack later. I added a couple of dollar store, battery operated, flickering lights for a great effect. This pumpkin tunnel is SUPER SIMPLE to make and play with right away. Grab your Hot Wheels track and come up with your own car race through the tunnel.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: LEGO Pumpkin Small World Play Idea
PUMPKIN TUNNEL STEM CHALLENGE
We had a blast experimenting with the Hot Wheels car flying through the tunnel. This made a great STEM challenge for the whole family. We had to set up tracks just right to make the jump and then evaluate what went wrong and what should be done differently. There was tons of experimenting with different distances and even different weight cars!
USE OUR: Free Printable STEM Worksheets
How else can you set up a pumpkin tunnel? Loads of great engineering possibilities to design all sorts of track set ups. We added more track, a turn and a upside down loop to see what we could get the cars to do. Every time the car went through the pumpkin tunnel there was a big cheer.
Turn off the lights to watch the cars race through the pumpkin tunnel in the dark with just the glow of the tea lights.
The small lights added a fun element to our pumpkin tunnel play!
We also used teal lights for our LEGO pumpkin fairy house.
If you have a car enthusiast at your house this pumpkin car tunnel is sure to be a hit all season long! Add more pumpkins and make a huge race track. Take it outside too! A great fall STEM project for kids and families.
A PUMPKIN TUNNEL IS A GREAT FALL STEM PROJECT
Click on the pictures below for more awesome ways to enjoy pumpkins and fall STEM.
Amazon Affiliate Disclosure: I am an Amazon affiliate. I do receive a small compensation for any products purchased through this site.
LEGO Spookley Pumpkin STEM Activity
Emma Edwards (Adventures of Adam)
Love how we inspired you to do this! My husband can’t wait until we introduce my toddler to the world of Hot Wheels. I feel my living room will never be the same again 😉
littlebins
They sure are fun! I am so glad I saw your pumpkin tunnel!
Kids Nook
Cool idea, will remember this one for next year!
My kid is heavily into hot wheels ( here’s a link about out die cast cars experience Matchbox vs Hot Wheels vs Majorette Toy Cars) . I am more into mathcbox 😀
Jon Pelmear
where can I buy axles and wheels for a pumpkin racer? [email protected]
littlebins
If you are talking about a Lego car, check Amazon. Hot wheels and tracks can also be purchased through the links at the bottom of the article.