Source Institutions
Source Institutions
Add to list Go to activity
Activity link broken? See if it's at the internet archive

In this engineering activity, learners design parachutes to give toy figures safe landings. This activity is great for practicing an important STEM skill--changing only one variable at a time.
- Under 5 minutes
- 30 to 45 minutes
- $5 - $10 per group of students
- Ages 8 - 14
- Activity, Lesson/Lesson Plan
- English
Quick Guide
Materials List (per group of students)
- several items from this list: plastic wrap, tissues, paper towels, plastic bags, tissue paper, coffee filters, handkerchiefs
- 1 toy minifigure (LEGO, for example)
- string or thread
- scissors
- tape
- paper and pencil
- stopwatch (optional)
Subjects
-
Engineering and Technology
-
Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Transportation Engineering
-
Engineering
-
Physical Sciences
-
Motion and Forces
- Gravity
- Momentum and Velocity
- Acceleration
- Center of Gravity
-
Motion and Forces
-
The Nature of Science
-
The Scientific Process
- Conducting Investigations
-
The Scientific Process
-
The Nature of Technology
-
The Design Process
- Research and Development
- Invention and Innovation
- Problem Solving
- Troubleshooting and Maintenance
-
The Design Process
Informal Categories
- Toys
Audience
To use this activity, learners need to:
- see
- touch
Learning styles supported:
- Involves teamwork and communication skills
- Involves hands-on or lab activities
Culture, ethnicity, and gender
-
Girls
- Explicity developed for this group
- Acknowledges this group's contributions to STEM
- Highlights STEM opportunities for this group
- Identifies role models or mentors in STEM fields from this group
- Uses inclusive images of people from this group
Other
Components that are part of this resource:
Includes alignment to state and/or national standards:
This resource is part of:
Access Rights:
- Free access
By:
Rights:
- All rights reserved, Twin Cities Public Television, Inc., 2010
Funding Sources:
- National Science Foundation, 0813519
- ExxonMobil