Science Club: Things That Fly

This has been a STEM year in Science Club and the kids have had a great time! We began the year with Things That Roll, including Balloon Powered Cars, Marble Powered Cars, and Rubber Band Powered Cars. We also built Pumpkin Racers!

Notes from Building

Photos from the Race

When we returned to school in January from our Winter Break, it was time for Things That Float. We built four entries for the Annual Great Cardboard Boat Regatta!

Notes from Building

Photos from the Race

Our topic for the end of the year is Things That Fly. I've been collecting ideas all year long of possible activities. Here is what I came up with:

giant bubbles

kites

sky lanterns

origami boomerangs

stomp rockets

puff rockets

paper airplanes


Kids' Paper Airplane Book
by Ken Blackburn and Jeff Lammers

But I thought it would be interesting to see what the children had in mind!

On Thursday we kicked off the topic by talking about hot air balloons and trying to make an air fort out of an old duvet cover. This did not work, but that's okay. That's Science for you! Then I sent them off to brainstorm and write up their wishlist for Things That Fly. Here is what they came up with:

paper airplane

fan-powered paper plane

mechanical plane

all cardboard airplane

cardboard airplane (rubber band powered)

cardboard jet

boomerang

hand helicopter

pull helicopter

rubber band powered rocket / helicopter

flying bird (sticks, paper & cardboard, fabric, something floppy)

foam airplane that looks like a bird

jet

paraglider

parachute with fabric and string

make a parachute with an animal

hot air balloons for Lego people

balloon with helium

make kites

make a cloud

yard rocket

catapult

slingshot

Now I have to sort through all these ideas and decide what we will do for Science Club with our last 5 sessions (May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30). Should be fun!

May 2 - Origami Boomerang
supplies needed: half sheet of printer paper, bone folder (optional)

May 9 - No-Parachute Egg Drop Challenge
note: it is nice to drop a completely unprotected egg first so that they have something to compare their results to

eggs that survived went into the "Egg Carton of Honor"

eggs that didn't were placed under the dogwood tree in the "Braveyard"

May 16 - Puff Rocket
I recommend puffing instead of stomping!

May 23 - Catapult
each team was given the following supplies:

1 paper bowl
2 plastic spoons
3 rubber bands
4 straws
4 craft sticks
15 inch long piece of masking tape
pompoms (the ammunition)

this looked fun but did not work well because they were arguing about the differences between a slingshot, a catapult, and a trebuchet

May 30 - homemade bubble wands with wire & wool yarn, Giant Bubble Mix

Note to self:
Up, Up and Not OK: Letting Go of Balloons Could Soon Be Illegal in Florida
The New York Times - May 8, 2024

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