If your students love ramps, racing, and just one more try, a Skeleton Winter Games STEM Challenge is the perfect way to bring Winter Olympics energy into your classroom—without needing fancy supplies. Using Carly and Adam’s Skeleton Winter Games STEM Challenge (K–2) lesson plan, you can run an engaging engineering experience where kids design a sled that races head-first down a ramp.
Introduce the Sport of Skeleton to Your Students
To introduce the Winter Games, explain that students will be exploring skeleton, a Winter Games sport where athletes lie on their stomachs on a sled and race head-first down an icy track, steering by shifting their body. You can build background knowledge by using the included “What is Skeleton?” reading with students.
Then, preview the key words from the lesson—skeleton, sled, and speed—so students can use the vocabulary as they talk about their designs. If you choose, you can also show the optional video listed in the lesson as an extension.
Build + Test + Improve
Have students follow the challenge directions as they build their skeleton sled. To test, place the sled at the top of the ramp with the rider’s head facing down, release it, and observe how it slides. After testing, students make changes to their design and test again to improve how the sled performs.
What I Know About Skeleton
To end the lesson, have students complete the “What I Know About Skeleton” writing page to explain what they learned. They can use the information from the included “What is Skeleton?” text—such as how athletes start by running with the sled, then jump on and lie on their stomachs, and steer using small body movements—to help them write.
Students can also refer to the fact that skeleton races are timed and the fastest combined time wins.
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 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 Games bundles as part of the STEM Teachers Club.
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