Parachute Parade
Source Institutions
-
Twin Cities Public Television
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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
