Takeoffs and Landings

For this program the kids made all sorts of fun stuff: paper airplanes, parachutes, roto-copters and hot air balloons.

Paper Airplanes:

Using books to make paper airplanes

Testing planes

Skill Testing

 Roto-Copters:
These were cut out using an Accu-cut die onto card stock, construction paper and printer paper.  We didn't have time to test which weight of paper worked the best.

Hot Air Balloons:

We found the idea on this website and modified it for older kids and time.

http://www.sewhomegrown.com/2011/03/kids-craft-mommy-craft-hot-air-balloon.html

We cut card stock into 1x6 inch strips.  The kids used tempera paint dabbers to decorate their strips.  Once done and dry, we punched holes on one end and connected the strips together using metal brads.  We also punched a hole on the other end and curved the ends up  into a balloon shape, adding an additional brad.  The kids cut yarn strings to attach a 1 1/2 x 4 inch basket to their balloon.

For some reason I don't have a picture of a finished balloon.  This is from the Sew Home Grown blog.  We did not make ours into mobiles.

Parachutes:

We cut 8 x 8 squares out of black plastic garbage bags, tissue paper, and regular grocery sacks.  We punched holes in the four corners.  (To make it easier for the hole punch to work on the plastic, we taped the corners on some and added round stickers to others).  We also cut four equidistant holes on coffee filters. The kids picked one from the four options and cut lengths of yarn to tie on each corner.  We tied the ends together and let the kids test them using clothespins as weight.

Testing from the landing.

Black plastic bag parachute

It's hard to see, but these are roto-copters falling down.

Due to the large number of kids at our first session, we only did the testing from the landing during our smaller evening session.  The kids were well behaved and the patrons didn't seem to mind the items falling onto them.

Attendance: 30, 5

Evaluation: This program didn't go as planned in that I had hoped to do a lot of testing of the different materials to see if material weight made a difference in performance.  I think the program needs to be restructured in order for that to happen.  Each child would have to do the same project at the same time with testing following after creation.  That being said, the kids had a blast.  The hot air balloons required a lot of staff involvement when it came to assembling the balloons.  The younger kids also had a hard time tying the yarn to the parachutes and many didn't cut long enough strings.  With tweaking, a program to run again.

Balloon Mania

Divide kids into groups of about 4.  At each table have one empty water bottle, a cup with 2 oz vinegar in it, a funnel and a balloon.

Activity: Are You Gassy? Science Experiments

http://theexplorationstation.wordpress.com/2009/04/02/making-a-gas-from-a-solid-and-a-liquid/

1. Have kids pour the cup of vinegar into their bottle.  Next, have a couple teen volunteers go around the room with baking soda.  At each table, the kids measure out two teaspoons of baking soda, which they put into their balloon using the funnel.  Next, have the kids attach the balloon to their water bottle being careful not to let the contents of the balloon enter the bottle.  As a group, have them tilt their balloons so the baking soda goes into the vinegar.  What happens?

The following experiments were demonstrated in front of the kids.

1. Put 2 oz water into the water bottle.  Add 2 tsp baking powder to a balloon.  Attach balloon to the water bottle and empty into the bottle.
2. One bottle clear soda (Sprite/7-Up).  Add one package pop rocks to a balloon.  Attach balloon to soda bottle and empty into the bottle.

Game: Static Electricity

http://mrsmouthy.wordpress.com/2011/09/27/mad-scientist-birthday-party/

1. While kids are eating their snacks, have them tear tissue paper into small pieces.  Scatter tissue paper pieces on the floor.
2. Each person gets a blown up balloon and a bowl.
3. Have the kids rub the balloon in their hair and use it to pick up the tissue paper and place it in their bowl.
4. The person with the most tissue paper in their bowl wins.

Game: Balance the Balloon Relay

1. Divide into teams.  Half of each team should be on opposite sides of the room.
2. One person gets a fly swatter and must balance the balloon down the room to their counterpart, who must then balance the balloon back to the other side of the room.

Game: Balloon Popping Relay

1. Use the teams from the previous game and give every person a balloon.
2. One player from each team places a balloon between their legs and walks it across the room to the finish line.
3. They then sit on the balloon and try to pop it.
4. Next they run back to their team and the next person goes.

Craft: Balloon Yo-Yos

http://tinkerlab.com/balloon-yo-yo/

1. Using funnels, fill a balloon with uncooked rice.
2. Tie closed.
3. Use three rubber bands attached together to create the yo-yo string.

Evaluation: 

This was a super fun program.  The Static Electricity game, while fun, created a HUGE mess.  The balloons didn't pick up as much of the tissue paper as desired, so there was a lot of clean up involved after the programs ended.  Both relays were fun and caused a lot of laughter from the participants.  The science experiments worked well.  We had the kids all do the baking soda/vinegar experiment while one of us demonstrated the other variations.  We then compared the results to see which combination made the biggest balloon.  The balloon yo-yos were also a big hit.