Looking for a fun and educational way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your kids or students? We’ve got the perfect activity to spark their creativity and teamwork! Our Kindness Carrier Valentine’s Day STEAM Challenge invites kids to combine engineering, storytelling, and artistic flair to deliver a special Valentine in the fastest and most imaginative way possible.
Here’s how it works:
The Challenge
Your team has been given a very special mission—to deliver one very important Valentine using a zipline system called the Kindness Carrier! But this is no ordinary delivery. You must also create a short performance that tells a story about why this Valentine is so meaningful. Is it a message of friendship? A long-lost love note? A kindness award? Be creative and make your delivery the most meaningful one ever!
Setup
- Attach a string or yarn between two stable objects at different heights to create the zipline (e.g., a chair to a table).
- Place one special Valentine (a paper heart) at the start point (Cupid’s Kindness Cove).
- The delivery point (Mailbox of Kindness) is at the bottom of the zipline.
Materials
Each team can use the following materials:
- 1 small paper Valentine
- 1 paper cups
- 6 pipe cleaners
- 2 paper clips
- 1 rubber band
- 3 straws
- 4 craft sticks
- 6 inches of masking tape
- 1 balloon
Challenge Steps
Part One: Plan, Build & Test (8 minutes)
- Use the materials provided to design and build your Kindness Carrier.
- Plan and rehearse a short performance that explains the importance of this Valentine.
Part Two: Presentation (2 minutes)
- Present your story while delivering the Valentine using your Kindness Carrier.
Scoring
Your team can earn points in the following categories:
- 10 points if your story has a beginning, a middle, and an end.
- Up to 20 points for the creativity of your performance.
- 10 points if your zipline successfully delivers the Valentine.
- Up to 20 points for how creatively you use the materials in your Kindness Carrier.
- Up to 20 points for how well your team works together.
Tips for Success
✅ Test Early: Use your time wisely—test your Kindness Carrier before the performance starts so you can make adjustments!
✅ Keep it Secure: Make sure your Valentine won’t fall off during the zipline ride—think about how to keep it steady.
✅ Be Creative: The more unique your story, the more memorable it will be! Think of an exciting or funny reason why this Valentine is special.
✅ Use Everyone’s Ideas: Work together as a team and make sure everyone has a role in the story and the building process.
✅ Make It Dramatic: Think about how your Valentine’s journey can be a big moment—will it be a race against time? A delivery to a secret admirer? A message of hope?
✅ Have Fun! The best stories and designs come from teams who enjoy the challenge—so bring the energy and have a great time!
Why This Challenge Matters
This STEAM Challenge isn’t just about having fun (though that’s a big part of it!). Kids will develop critical skills like problem-solving, collaboration, and creativity while exploring key concepts in engineering and storytelling. Plus, it’s a great way to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a meaningful, screen-free way.
Get More Creative Activities
Want even more ways to keep kids engaged in hands-on learning? Check out our Creative Process Guides, packed with 10 exclusive Destination Imagination STEAM Challenges to inspire young innovators.
👉 Parent’s Guide to the Creative Process: Download Here
👉 Teacher’s Guide to the Creative Process: Download Here
