It’s Thanksgiving, and this little turkey needs your help to escape! Using engineering and creative thinking, let’s design a way for our turkey to make a quick getaway. Gather your supplies, and let’s build an epic escape route with a zip line for this turkey escape STEM challenge!
Thanksgiving STEM for kids
Welcome to the Turkey Escape STEM Challenge! This is one of many creative ways kids can set up a turkey escape challenge and explore the engineering design process. Use this as a guide or a jumping-off point to develop your own unique escape plans. Let your imagination soar as you consider different ways for your turkey to make a daring getaway!
💡Explore all of our Thanksgiving STEM Activities [here].
Turkey Escape STEM Challenge and Zip Line
This hands-on activity invites kids to explore the engineering design process by creating a zip line escape for a paper turkey. They’ll think like engineers, using materials they have on hand to solve a problem and bring their design to life.
This challenge encourages kids to brainstorm, build, test, and improve their designs—all essential parts of the engineering process. Are you ready to help your turkey make a daring escape?
Supplies:
- Turkey printable (see below)
- Markers or crayons (for coloring)
- Recyclable materials (like cardboard tubes, paper cups)
- Paper, tape, string, glue
- Paper clips, small sticks, or straws (for structural support)
- Clothespins (to help the turkey glide)
Instructions:
Color Your Turkey: Start by decorating the turkey printable to give it some personality. Let kids use markers or crayons to bring their turkey to life!
Design the Zip Line: Cut a long piece of string for the zip line. Attach one end to a high point (like a door frame or top of a chair) and the other end to a lower point to create an angle.
Build the Contraption: Using the paper clips, straws, or clothespins, create a mechanism to attach your turkey to the zip line. Test different ideas to see what helps it slide smoothly down the string.
Attach and Test: Once the turkey is set up on the zip line, give it a test run! Make adjustments to the design if needed. Is the turkey gliding smoothly? If not, try different materials or angles to improve its performance.
Reflect: After the escape attempt, take time to reflect. What worked well? What didn’t? What would you change if you did it again? This reflection step is key to the engineering design process. Use our questions for reflections!
Turkey Escape Tips and Tricks:
Applying the Engineering Design Process
After setting up your Turkey Escape Challenge, guide your young engineers through each step of the engineering design process to help them think critically and improve their designs:
Ask: What does the turkey need to escape? How can we build a zip line to let it glide smoothly and safely? What materials do we have available?
Imagine: Brainstorm different ways to create the escape route. Will the turkey go straight down, or will it encounter fun obstacles along the way? Draw or discuss a few ideas before you start building.
Plan: Decide on the final design. Make a quick sketch and list the materials you’ll need. Think about how each piece will work together to help the turkey make a successful escape.
Create: Begin building your zip line and turkey contraption! Don’t worry if it’s not perfect – this is just the first attempt. Get creative with the materials and see what works.
Test: Once your design is ready, try it out! Observe how the turkey travels on the zip line. Does it move smoothly? Does it need more support or adjustments?
Improve: After testing, consider what worked well and what could be improved. Adjust your design to make it faster, smoother, or more exciting for the turkey’s escape.
Encourage kids to go through these steps multiple times, building and refining their designs with each attempt. This iterative process is critical to the engineering mindset, helping them understand that improvements and revisions are all part of creating a successful project!
Related Turkey Disguise Activities:
Each Thanksgiving activity provides a different way to engage with the turkey theme and adds fun and creativity to your learning experience. Plus, they’re all perfect for Thanksgiving season fun!
More Fun Thanksgiving Activities
Thanksgiving Worksheets—Over 100 pages of printable Thanksgiving-themed science activities, STEM challenges, arts and crafts activities, puzzles, games, and more. The preschool version is here.
Thanksgiving STEM Activities – Science experiments, building activities, coding, and STEM challenges for kids to enjoy.
STEMS-GIVING – Complete with a printable menu to download, this STEMs-Giving is all about hands-on learning with food science!
Thanksgiving Crafts – From a pilgrim’s hat craft to a paper plate turkey, there is something for everyone. Also includes easy Thanksgiving art ideas!
Printable Thanksgiving Project Pack
STEMS-Giving Pack! A full menu of Thanksgiving dinner science activities, secret codes, and more!
I can’t find the turkey printable to go with the free Turkey Escape STEM challenge.
Please email me [email protected]