| This article teaches kids about aeronautics | | | | a stapler. Label your box "Flying Paper |
| and gives a handful of totally fun activities | | | | Machine Equipment". Pull the box out, add |
| to experiment with for their homeschool | | | | kids, and stand back. |
| science learning (including helicopters, | | | | |
| parachutes, and other flying machines). It's | | | | Ready to make more flying things? Let's make |
| also good for boy scouts working on a badge, | | | | more things that fly, zoom, twirl, and soar |
| or for any kids that love science | | | | while teaching homeschool science at the same |
| experiments. These experiments are part of a | | | | time! |
| homeschool science program that I teach, and | | | | |
| I promise your kids will love it. | | | | Helicopters Cut out a paper rectangle 5 by 2 |
| | | | inches. Cut lengthwise down the strip, |
| Every flying thing, whether it's an airplane, | | | | stopping about an inch before the end. Tape |
| spacecraft, soccer ball, or flying kid, | | | | this uncut inch to the end tip of a popsicle |
| experiences four aerodynamic primary forces: | | | | stick. Fold the "bunny-ear" flaps down in |
| lift, weight, thrust and drag. An airplane | | | | opposite directions. Throw off a balcony and |
| uses a propeller or jet engine to generate | | | | watch it whirl and gyrate! Optional: You can |
| thrust. The wings to create lift. | | | | notch the end of the popsicle stick to make a |
| | | | sling-shot helicopter. Make a quick slingshot |
| The smooth, pencil-thin shape minimizes drag. | | | | launcher by looping a rubber band to another |
| And the molecules that make up the airplane | | | | popsicle stick end. |
| attributes to the weight. | | | | |
| | | | Butterfly Cups Tape two Dixie paper cups |
| Let's find out what are all the parts of an | | | | together, bottom-to-bottom. Chain together |
| airplane for. You'll need to get a cheap | | | | six rubber bands. Loop one end of the rubber |
| balsa wood airplane for this next part - | | | | band chain over your thumb and hold your arm |
| check out your local drug store or toy store. | | | | out horizontally straight, palm up. Drape |
| I've even found them in grocery stores for | | | | the remainder of the chain along your arm. |
| about $2. | | | | Place the taped butterfly cups at the free |
| | | | end (near your shoulder) and slowly wind the |
| Take the balsa wood airplane and try to fly | | | | rubber bands around the middle section of the |
| just the body (no wings or fins). It flips | | | | cups. When you wind near the end, stop, |
| all over the place. Try flying just the large | | | | stretch the chain back toward your elbow, |
| wing (no body). Somersaults! Now slide the | | | | make sure the rubber band comes from the |
| large wing into the body and fly (fewer | | | | underside of the cups and release. The cups |
| somersaults, but still sickening to fly in!). | | | | should rotate quickly and take air, then |
| Now add a horizontal stabilizer (elevator) | | | | gracefully descend down for a light landing. |
| tail, and when you throw it, add a slight | | | | Try making one with four cups. |
| curve so the plane "fishtails" in the air | | | | |
| (like a car)… but did you notice that | | | | Hot Air Balloons Shake out a garbage bag to |
| there are no more somersaults? Add the | | | | its maximum capacity. Tape (use duct or |
| vertical tail (rudder) and see how it now | | | | masking tape) the open end |
| steers straight no matter how to curve-throw | | | | almost-closed… you still want a small |
| it. | | | | hole the size of the hair dryer nozzle. Use |
| | | | the hair dryer to inflate the bag and heat |
| Sneaky Tip: if you remove the metal clip on | | | | the air inside (make sure you don't melt the |
| the nose beforehand, you can add it last to | | | | bag). When the air is at its warmest, release |
| really see what it's for… notice where | | | | your hold on the bag while you switch off the |
| most of the weight is without the clip? | | | | hair dryer. It should float up to the ceiling |
| | | | and stay there for a while. This experiment |
| Tip for Teaching Homeschool Science: Keep a | | | | works best on cold mornings. The greater the |
| small box handy with these items inside: | | | | temperature difference between the bag's air |
| paper clips (in two different sizes), rubber | | | | and the surrounding air, the longer it will |
| bands, scotch tape, scissors, index cards, | | | | float. |
| string, copy paper, hole punch, crayons, and | | | | |