Bob Run Winter Games STEM Activity Bobsled Challenge 2026 Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd

Perfect lesson for the Winter Olympics 2026.

Bring the excitement of the Winter Games into your classroom with this Bob Run Design Winter Games STEM challenge for K–2.

In this hands-on bobsled STEM activity, students design and build their own bob run (bobsled track) using simple materials, then test it with a marble or LEGO minifigure “bobsled.”

Perfect for January/February STEM lessons, Winter Olympics 2026 unit, or primary science centers, this low-prep challenge helps young learners explore gravity, motion, and the engineering design process through play.

What Students Do

• Learn kid-friendly bobsled vocabulary like runners, hull, driver, and brakeman using illustrated vocabulary cards.
• Explore how bob runs work—long icy tracks with straight sections, sharp turns, and walls that keep the sled on the course.
• Engineer a bob run using paper plates, toilet paper tubes, paper towel rolls, cups, tape, and more. Their track must include one straight section and a section with three turns in a row.
• Choose a marble or LEGO minifigure bobsled and test how it travels down the run, noticing how gravity and turns affect speed.
• Reflect on what they’ve learned about bobsledding and share their ideas in writing on “What I Know About Bobsledding” pages.

What’s Included

• Teacher instructions with suggested materials, LEGO minifigure setup, and tips for successful STEM challenges (productive struggle, redesign, and sharing).
• Full-color and blackline Engineering Design Process posters and guiding question charts (Ask, Imagine, Plan, Create, Test, Improve, Share).
• Vocabulary cards for key bobsled terms and “How Bob Runs Work” posters.
• Informational text “What Is Bobsledding?” with multiple-choice comprehension questions and answer key.
• Student challenge letter that sets the scene: students are helping prepare for a winter competition by designing a new bob run.
• Planning page for the Bob Run Design Winter Games challenge (Ask/Imagine/Plan) and differentiated “What I Know About Bobsledding” writing templates.
• Global Journey of Winter Games history pages to connect the challenge to real-world Winter Games hosts.

Why Teachers Love It

• High-interest Winter Games STEM challenge tailored to primary students.
• Uses simple, low-cost materials and is easy to prep for whole group, small groups, or STEM centers.
• Integrates science, engineering, reading, writing, and global awareness in one engaging activity.
• Encourages creativity, collaboration, and perseverance as students design, test, and improve their bob run tracks.