STEM Challenge: Build Naosi a Stuffie

Context for Challenge

Students will step into the role of imaginative designers and makers as they create a one-of-a-kind stuffy for Naosi!

Their task? To design and build a three-dimensional (3D) stuffy that brings Naosi’s personality to life.

This challenge encourages students to explore shape, structure, and creativity while strengthening their ability to adapt, collaborate, and persist through challenges. It also helps them practice the social-emotional skills of patience, communication, and problem-solving — all while having fun crafting something meaningful for Naosi.

Materials

Set Up

Prepare Materials:
Ensure all materials are ready and easy to access before students begin. Encourage resourcefulness — students should use no more than three of any one material in their creation!
For example, a student may use five straws and five pieces of paper, but not ten straws. If you offer aluminum foil, limit it to one arm’s-length piece per student.

Provide Guidelines and Constraints:
Reiterate today’s key rules and reminders:

The stuffy must be 3D — it should stand on its own, not be flat.
Students should focus on structure and creativity, exploring shapes, textures, and colors that bring Naosi’s character to life.
Each stuffy should include at least two distinct materials to encourage experimentation and design thinking.

Model the Design Process:
Before students begin, demonstrate how to brainstorm, sketch ideas, and test prototypes.
Share how designers experiment, discover what works (and what doesn’t), and improve their models through small iterations.

Encourage Collaboration:
Students may work in pairs only — no groups of three!
Invite partners to share ideas, divide tasks, and help each other troubleshoot.
Remind them that great designs come from communication and teamwork.

Support Adaptation:
When something doesn’t work, it’s a chance to adapt!
Encourage students to pause, identify the challenge, and find creative alternatives.
Celebrate flexible thinking and persistence — important SEL skills that turn setbacks into opportunities to grow.

Facilitate Reflection:
After building, provide time for students to reflect:

What was your favorite part of the design process?
What challenges did you face, and how did you solve them?
What would you change if you built it again?

Students can share reflections individually, with partners, or as part of a class discussion.

Celebrate and Showcase:
End the activity by celebrating creativity!
Display all stuffies in a “Naosi Gallery” and let students explain what makes their creation special.
This recognition reinforces pride, effort, and community connection.

CASEL Discussion Questions

Use these questions to guide discussion and connect the challenge to SEL goals in Social Awareness and Relationship Skills:

How did you make sure Naosi would feel safe and comfortable in your stuffy’s design?
When your partner had an idea different from yours, how did you decide what to do together?
What did you do when your first idea didn’t work out?
How did you change your design to make sure it could stand and hold its shape in 3D form?
What was your favorite detail or creative idea from someone else’s stuffy design?