30 min
Paper Aeroplane Testing Lab
Three designs, one tape measure, and an argument about which flies furthest.
🚀
Balloon Rocket on a String
A straw, a string across the room, and a balloon that fires along it.
Five minutes to build, and they will launch it thirty times.
Ce qu’il vous faut
- a balloon
- a drinking straw
- string
- tape
Comment faire
- Thread a long string through a straw and tie it tautly between two chairs.
- Blow up a balloon and pinch the neck closed without tying it.
- Tape the balloon to the straw.
- Let go and watch it travel along the string.
- Measure how far it goes, then try a bigger or smaller inflation and compare.
Pourquoi c’est bon pour eux
This is action and reaction made visible, and children immediately want to know why it goes backwards relative to the air escaping. Varying the inflation and measuring the distance turns a demonstration into an experiment they run themselves.
Adapter selon l’âge
4 to 5 yearsYou build it, they launch it and count how many chairs it passes.
11 to 12 yearsTest string angle, balloon shape and straw length as separate variables.
Sécurité
Burst balloon fragments are a choking hazard. Clear every piece and keep away from under-threes. Check for latex allergies.
Astuce rangement
Untie the string and keep the straw for next time.
Dans le même esprit
25 min
Tallest Straw Tower
Twenty straws, some tape, and one rule: it has to stand on its own.
35 min
Build a Lolly Stick Catapult
Seven lolly sticks, two elastic bands, and a pom-pom that goes further than expected.
35 min
Frozen Treasure Excavation
Freeze small toys in a tub of water and let them dig them out.
45 min
Cardboard Marble Run
Kitchen roll tubes taped to a wall, and a marble that keeps falling out.
30 min
Origami Jumping Frog
Fold it in five minutes, then race it across the table for half an hour.