Flying Elf Hat STEM Challenge

This flying elf hat STEM Challenge is great fun for younger children in the run-up to Christmas. It’s quick and easy to set up and keeps kids busy for a long time. All you need is an empty milk container, green and red paper, and tape.

The same activity is often called rocket mouse, as traditionally, the cone is made to look like a mouse, not an elf hat.

Flying elf hat STEM challenge instructions — **Flying Elf Hats Instructions**

You’ll need

Green and red paper or card

Scissors

Milk container – clean and empty

Tape

Felt tip pens

Instructions

Create a cone with the paper and tape. I added some stripes to mine and a small pom pom to make it look like an elf hat.

Place the elf hat cone on top of the milk container.

Use both hands to squeeze the milk container. The elf hat will shoot into the air!

an empty milk jug and a paper cone made to look like an elf hat for an elf themed science challenge

Why does the elf hat fly?

When you squeeze the bottle, the air inside is forced out through the top. The force of the air against the elf hat cone sends it shooting upwards. The harder you push the sides of the bottle together, the greater the force of the air leaving the bottle, and the higher the elf hat will fly!

Investigations to try

Add a bigger pom pom to the top of the hat. Does it fly as high?

Can you get the hat to land on your head?

What happens if you use a bigger or smaller hat?

More elf experiment ideas

If you like this idea, you’ll love my other elf investigations! Make frost appear on the side of a can, a rainbow of colour appear in water and lots more cheeky elf experiments!

Design and build an elf balancing toy!

Red Ted Art has some fantastic elf crafts, including a brilliant paper plate elf hat!

Don’t forget to check out my 24 easy elf science ideas too!