Design Cinderella’s New Shoes with This Fairy Tale STEM Challenge!

Bring STEM learning to life with a hint of fairy tale magic! In this Fairy Tale STEM Challenge, students will stroll into the role of engineers and fashion designers to solve a pressing problem for Cinderella: her glass slippers were incredible but totally impractical. She needs a new pair of shoes that are both safe and comfy—perfect for walking, running and a whole lot of dancing!

What Is This Fairy Tale STEM Challenge About?

Students will use their knowledge of materials, engineering, and design principles to create a new pair of shoes for Cinderella. They’ll explore two key aspects:

• Functionality: The shoes need to be wearable and supportive for everyday activities.
• Stability: The shoes must be durable enough to handle all of Cinderella’s adventures, from running through the castle to twirling at the ball.

With this hands-on creative problem-solving activity, students will learn how to consider design and function while creating a shoe solution fit for a princess!

What’s Included in This Fairy Tale STEM Project Resource?

This Fairy Tale STEM project guide and templates include everything you need to lead your students through the challenge:

• Challenge Overview: Outlines Cinderella’s shoe problem and sets the standards for success.
• Material Research Guide: This guide helps students research and choose materials based on their properties, such as flexibility, stability, and comfort.
• Shoe Design Template: Guides students in building their shoe designs.
• Functionality and Stability Test Checklist: Allows students to test their creations for wearability, sturdiness, and durability.
• Reflection Pages: Encourages students to consider what worked, what didn’t, and how they could improve their shoes.

Download, Print, and Start Building Cinderella’s New Shoes!

This resource is available as a printable PDF file and an editable Google Slides download. To get your copy, click the dropdown arrow on the download button and select your preferred file type. We recommend printing this resource as a packet and providing students with stapled copies to help them stay organised.

This resource was created by Kendall Britnell, a teacher and Teach Starter collaborator.

More Fairy Tale STEM Projects for Kids!

Looking for more fairy tale STEM-inspired fun? Before you go, make sure you check out these exciting fairy-tale STEM projects and activities!

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