Figure Skating Winter Games STEM Activity for Kids
The Winter Olympics are full of events where athletes glide, spin, and jump with incredible control— figure skating is one of the most iconic.
In the Olympics, skaters perform solo or with a partner while judges award points based on what they see. The skater or pair with the highest score wins.
This classroom STEM challenge brings that same “on the ice” feeling to K–2 learners by having students design a skater and rink, then use magnetism to move their skater through a course—without touching.
Figure Skating STEM Challenge by Carly and Adam
Students create a skater and a skating rink, then maneuver the skater around a course using magnetism. The rink can follow a course layout or be designed on a paper plate.
Materials:
paper plate,
Ice skater/rink/judges cutouts
paperclip
glue stick or tape
scissors
colored pencils or markers
magnet
History of the Winter Olympics
Figure skating first became part of the Olympics in 1908, with women’s, men’s, and pairs starting that year. Ice dancing was added later in 1976.
Competitions often include nine judges, and points are added for a final score.
Use Magnets to Move Your Skater
A highlight of this challenge is seeing a magnet make something move without direct contact. Students test, adjust, and try again as they figure out how to guide their skater more smoothly around the rink—just like solving a real engineering problem.
Vocabulary words:
judge: a person who gives points in a competition
glide: to slide smoothly across the ice
jump: to push off the ice and go into the air
score: the points a skater earns
After testing, students can reflect on what worked, what was tricky, and what they would change next time. Then they write about what they learned about figure skating.
Bring the excitement of the Winter Games into your classroom with this figure skating Winter Games STEM challenge for Kindergarten, 1st Grade, and 2nd Grade.
Everything You Need—All in One Place
All of the activities mentioned above are included in the Winter Games STEM lesson plans by Carly and Adam, making it easy to plan an engaging Olympic-themed STEM experience without starting from scratch.
STEM Teachers Club Members can download all of these activities for free.
The full resource is also available for purchase on Carly and Adam’s store.
Whether you’re planning a multi-day unit or just a few special STEM days during the 2026 Winter Olympics, this lesson plan gives you everything you need to bring the Games to life in your classroom.
Get all of the lessons in both Winter Games bundles as part of the STEM Teachers Club.
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