Up, up and away! Imagine the look on your kids face when a simple helicopter that they built themselves takes flight for the first time.
011: Elastic Helicopters!
Have your child design and build their copter and then challenge them to see how high they can get it to fly.
What you need:
-Masking tape
-Scissors
-Card stock
-Plastic propellers
-Craft sticks
-Rubber bands
-Paperclips
Instructions:
The Build
-Fit the plastic propeller onto to the tip of a craft stick
-Bend up a paper clip to just under a 90 degree angle
-Tightly tape the paperclip to the opposite end of the craft stick
-Design, cutout and tape a helicopter shape to the craft stick
-String (2) #33 rubber bands from the propeller and the paper clip
To Fly:
-Holding the bottom of the craft stick, rotate the propeller until the rubber bands fully coil twice
-Hold the helicopter out in front of you, let go of the propeller first and then the base next, as quick as 1,2.
-Watch it fly!
Troubleshooting and safety
-Make sure you have wound the rubber band fully twice over
-Make sure to release the propeller separate from the base
-The size and shape of the cutout matter, try different designs -Don't fly around breakable things, trees or roofs
-Keep the propeller away from your face and hair
What they learn:
-Stored energy
-Structural design
-Inertia
-Trial and error
When the project is complete:
-Take a photo of the structure and share it with us! Tag us on social media and use hashtag #theRchild, we can't wait to see the results.
Interested in learning more about STEAM education?
You can find our current class offering here: https://bit.ly/2HCs8IT
Comments