No Prep Winter Games Activities
Need a quick way to get students thinking creatively before a STEM build or design challenge? These Winter Games Creativity Challenges are fast, no-prep warm-ups that build the creative thinking your students need for real-world problem solving.
Why use creativity warm-ups?
This printable set of quick, Winter Olympics–themed creativity warm-ups helps students practice fluency, flexibility, originality, and elaboration as they sketch, imagine, and “finish the picture” in fun new ways.
Perfect for K–5 bell ringers, brain breaks, early finisher work, or STEM warm-ups, these low-prep pages train students’ “creative muscles” in just 3–10 minutes a day.
Creativity supports STEM because students have to generate ideas, try new approaches, and improve designs. These activities strengthen divergent thinking (coming up with lots of possibilities), which helps students get unstuck faster during harder challenges.
Challenge 1: The Rings Creativity Challenge
Students turn rings into as many different objects as possible (not an art contest—an idea contest). Choose the sheet that fits your grade level: 25 rings (4+), 12 rings (2–3), or 6 rings (K–1).
Teacher tip: Use a short timer (3–8 minutes), then have students share their most original ring.
Challenge 2: Finish the Picture
Students transform a partial winter-sports image into anything—except the obvious object (ex: “It’s NOT a curling stone!”). Constraints push students to think differently, boosting originality and flexibility.
Make it stick
End with one quick reflection:
“Which idea is your most original?”
“Which one has the best details?”
Use these as morning work, brain breaks, or a STEM warm-up—and watch students get faster, braver, and more creative over time.
Everything You Need—All in One Place
All of the activities mentioned above are included in the Winter Games Creativity Challenge 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 full 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 Olympics bundles as part of the STEM Teachers Club.
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