These walking reindeer made us laugh so much. They work brilliantly, but can be a little fiddly to get going. This activity is traditionally called the walking horse, but as it's nearly Christmas, we've made reindeer!
The reindeer *walk* down a ramp or slope, because of a combination of forces including gravity and friction.
You'll need
- Paper
- Scissors
- A ramp or stack of books and thick cardboard
Walking Reindeer Template
Print the template below to make this activity even easier! If you don't have a printer, just draw the shape on paper.
Normal thickness paper works the best.
Instructions
Cut around each reindeer shape.
Cut the small triangles from the bottom of each leg, and then cut up the legs, stopping at the middle section.
Bend the four legs down and fold the tail upwards.
Fold up the head and again at the top to make a head.
Set up a ramp from a stack of books and thick cardboard, and place the reindeer at the top.
If it doesn't move, gently push the legs until it starts walking.
How does it work?
When the horse is at the top of the ramp, it has potential energy due to its height. As it moves, this is converted into kinetic energy.
The small triangles you cut at the bottom of the reindeer's legs make it slightly unstable, so it rocks from side to side when gently pushed. As the reindeer rocks onto one leg, the other legs are lifted up, as it is on an incline, gravity pulls the lifted legs forward.
The reindeer rocks from side to side, moving forward with each cycle, which creates a walking type motion.
Last Updated on December 17, 2025 by Emma Vanstone
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