Science Club number 3- Flying Things

The theme this week was Flying Things.

I encouraged the kids to think about what makes things fly.
When building rockets and planes, what can they add to make their designs fly farther, faster, or straighter ?
I asked them to play with fin design and material, rocket length and other adaptations.
... but, mostly we just got caught up in the fun!

Our activities...

getting ready the night before...
all the activities in different bins! Helpful!

 1. Elastic "Fling" airplanes. They take about 30 seconds to make.

http://alittlelearningfortwo.blogspot.com/2010/10/elastic-aeroplanes.html
Wrap the folded paper around the elastic, pull back, and ZOOOOOOOM!

2. Loop Airplanes.
/http://www.instructables.com/id/The-Two-Loop---Paper-Airplane/

3. Straw Rockets.

Wrap paper around straw and tape. (Don't tape to the straw).  Fold over top and secure with tape. Add fins. Blow through the straw!

4. Straw and balloon rockets

1. Put straw through string, tie string to 2 posts.
2. Blow up balloon but don't tie it (keep pinching it!)
3. Tape balloon to straw (one strip to underside of straw works well)
4. Let go of balloon and watch it zoom!

How did we end up with 15 blonde kids?

I absolutely love the stairs as a teaching spot!

Lukey- wants to be teaching like his mama.

5. Marshmallow poppers. Again, so easy and so fun!

1. Cut bottom out of cup (but leave bottom ring intact or cup will lose its shape).
2. Cut top off balloon and tie a knot in the... the... part where you usually tie the knot :)
3. Open balloon where you cut it and stretch it over the bottom of the cup. Secure with masking tape.
4. Put a marshmallow or other object in the cup, pull on the knotted part (see above) and BOOM!

6. Alka Seltzer Rockets. Am I allowed to say it again... ? So easy and so fun!

 1. Go to your local film processing place and ask for some clear film canisters. They have to be the ones that seal completely with the top fitting inside the canister. (They will look at you, smile, and say, "Alka Seltzer is in Aisle 8.")
2. Build a tube around the canister and tape it to the canister (but don't let any hang over where the lid snaps in). The canister part is the bottom of your rocket.

3. Making the cone: draw a circle, make a cut from  the edge to the middle. 

Fold one piece over the other. Ta-da! Attach it to the top of your rocket. 

4. Next, add fins for stabilizing. Experiment with size, shape and materials. Decorate if you like!

5. Put an Alka Seltzer tablet in the canister (or half- it still works) and fill 1/2 way with water. Quickly snap on the top and stand up your rocket.

Wait for it... 

POP!

Some hints for building the rockets via Julie...

1. Short tube works best for getting height. (less weight)

2. Wrap a few more pieces of tape around the bottom to keep the water from ruining your rocket.

3. Re-use your Alka Seltzer a few times.

My friend Julie:
"Okay, you have to take a picture of your table, because
it looks like some serious science happened here!"

7. I also found these at our local dollar store...



You blow up the balloon and let 'em fly!