This instructional activity certainly will not be a drag! Little engineers design parachutes that make use of air resistance and, as a result, slow the descent of the payload as much as possible. It is an opportunity to teach about many motion concepts: air resistance, drag, gravity, Newton's laws of motion, etc. Primaries can simply design and test, while older learners are provided with background reading, a planning page, data tables, and evaluation questions to stimulate critical thinking. This resource will inspire your learners to reach new heights!

Concepts

engineering design, engineering, air resistance, air, newton's laws of motion, sir isaac newton, drag, gravity

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Additional Tags

drag, engineering design, stem, air resistance, law of falling bodies, newton's laws of motion, gravity, science

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Pros

• An overview of the involved concepts is provided as reading material
• Can be used to address Next Generation Science Standards
• A fun activity for bringing STEM into your classroom

Cons

• The publisher mentions meeting CCSS.Math.Content.2.MD.1 and 2.MD.3, but unless you have little ones measure specific parachute canopy sizes, this standard is not clearly addressed

Common Core

2.MD.A.1 2.MD.A.3