This activity using paper hearts can simply be used as a fun Valentine’s Day craft, or you can turn it into a cool STEM or STEAM building activity by proposing various challenges to the kids. Children can use the free printable template to create their paper hearts or you can cut strips of paper before getting started- super easy!

Follow our Valentine’s Day for Kids Pinterest board!

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This easy Valentine’s Day activity uses just paper hearts made from paper strips and glue. You can use it as a simple Valentine’s Day craft or extend the activity into a STEM/STEAM building challenge by using challenges listed later on in the post.

As with all our paper strip activities, you can print out the free template for the kids to use on their own, or pre-cut the paper strips yourself.

Be sure to check out our other paper strip crafts!

Building Sculptures Using Paper Strip Hearts

Materials for Paper Hearts

Scissors or paper cutter (This is the paper cutter I use at home.)
Glue stick or Glue dots (If you are using a thick paper like cardstock, the glue dots will be a better choice to hold the heart shapes in place. If you are using a thinner construction paper, the glue sticks should work fine.)
Optional: Yarn, twine, or string if you want to hang the end product
Construction paper or cardstock cut into strips: You can basically use any variety of lengths you want for your paper strips. (We used a few 11, 7, 5, and 3 inch strips.) I recommend cutting your paper strips to a width of either 3/4 inch or 1 inch for this project.

Or you can print out our free template right onto cardstock and have children color and cut out their own strips.

Directions for Building Paper Hearts

1. Take a strip of paper.

2. Fold it in half to form the bottom point of the heart.

3. Take the top two ends and bend them towards each other to form the top of the heart. Hold the ends in place with a glue stick or glue dot. (If using cardstock, definitely use glue dots for this. You can buy a roll like this and cut off a strip for each student to use.)

4. Make as many hearts as you want using various sizes and colors.

Using the Paper Hearts as a Valentine’s Day Craft

1. Use your glue stick or glue dots to stick your hearts together in any formation you want creating your very own heart sculpture!

2. Tape some string to the top of your creation for hanging.

Using the Paper Hearts as a STEAM Challenge

Give the kids one or more of these different challenges using their paper hearts:

Build a structure that can stand on its own.
Build the tallest structure you can.
Build the widest structure you can.
Build a triangular shape that can stand on its own.
Invite your students or children to come up with even more challenges!

Looking for even more Valentine’s Day Ideas?

Be sure to check out our Valentine’s Day STEAM Ebook!

More About the Ebook:

Inside you’ll find entertaining and educational projects like: – Valentine Rockets – Origami Hearts – DIY Valentine Speakers – and so much more!
Perfect for children ages 4-10, all the step-by-step activities are helpfully coded with difficulty indicators and estimated project times.
PLUS, bonus STEAM challenge cards, heart tessellations and project extensions for curious kids.

Valentine’s Day STEAM: Building Structures with Paper Hearts