Can your kids take pool noodles, pipe cleaners, and pom-poms and build a monster? This monster STEM challenge will test creativity and imagination!

Some of my favorite kids activities are those that are simple, inexpensive and encourage creativity and imagination. STEM challenges are go-t0’s for us, because kids can use a number of materials, and simply need to think, experiment, plan and explore them to create something. This build a monster STEM challenge uses materials from the Dollar Store and lots of creativity to create fun little monsters!

What you need for the Monster STEM Challenge:

The supplies needed for the monster STEM challenge are simple, and almost all of them can be found at your local Dollar Store. Below are suggestions, but feel free to get creative with this!

Pool Noodle
Pom Poms
Wiggle Eyes
Chenille Stems (pipe cleaners)
Low Temp Glue Gun and Glue Sticks (Hot Glue will melt the Pool Noodles)
Scissors
Serrated Kitchen Knife

To Set up the Monster STEM Challenge:

Prior to laying out the materials for the kids, cut the pool noodles into 6”, 5” and 4” sections with serrated kitchen knife to create the monster bodies.

Lay the cut pool noodles, alongside all of the other materials for kids to build their very own monster.

Older children can use a low temp glue gun themselves so that this process is completely independent. Younger children can play how they would like their items attached, and you can help them with the gluing.

White school glue is an alternative to make this more independent, but because it takes so long to dry, this might lead to frustration for the kids.

Children can attach a variety of wiggle eyes, pom-poms, pipe cleaners and more to the monster bodies. Get creative!

The pipe cleaners can be cut and bent into fun arms, hands, legs, feet, hair, antenna and facial features. Push the ends of the chenille stems into the pool noodle foam to secure OR use a glue gun.

Create hair, noses, mouths, chins, hands, antenna and ears. Name each feature as you attach it to your monster, the sillier the better!

Kids can name their monster and have some fun playtime with their new creation.

What is a STEM challenge?

A STEM challenge is a project that gets kids to explore, design and test in science, technology, engineering or math. STEM challenges are important as they are focused on the thought process which leads to improved problem solving in many areas of life.

Encourage this monster building as a STEM challenge by:

allowing kids to problem solve how to add the pipe cleaners without glue
provide kids with the opportunity to engineer their own monster
don’t provide an example of what their monster should look like – instead, lay out the materials and prompt “can you figure out how to build a monster with these items?”

If you want to set this up as a monster craft with instructions instead, follow along below or print for kids to follow:

Pool Noodle Monster Craft

Yield: Multiple monsters

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Active Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

This monster craft uses pool noodles, pipe cleaners and pom-poms to make cute monster buddies.

Materials

Pool Noodles
Pom Poms
Wiggle Eyes
Pipe Cleaners

Tools

Low Temp Glue Gun and Glue Sticks (Hot Glue will melt the Pool Noodles)
Scissors
Serrated Kitchen Knife

Instructions

Have an adult cut the pool noodles into 6, 5 and 4 inch sections with serrated kitchen knife to create the monster bodies.
Attach a variety of wiggle eyes to the monster bodies with a glue gun. Get creative!
Cut and bend the chenille stems into fun arms, hands, legs, feet, hair, antenna and facial features. Push the ends of the chenille stems into the pool noodle foam to secure OR use a glue gun. Try to use (and name) all the colors available.
Add a colorful variety of pom poms to each monster with the glue gun. Create hair, noses, mouths, chins, hands, antenna and ears. Name each feature as you attach it to your monster, the sillier the better!