Ever wonder how parachutes work? Now’s your chance to make one and see it in action! Build your own parachute to help a toy float safely to the ground. You’ll get to tinker, test, and even decorate your creation. Let’s get crafting and experimenting—because science is awesome!
WHAT YOU NEED
- A plastic bag (like a grocery bag)
- Yarn or string
- A paper cup
- Scissors
MAKE YOUR PARACHUTE
- Cut the Bag
Snip off the handles from your plastic bag so it’s ready to fly. - Make Bag Holes
Poke four holes evenly spaced around the edge of your bag. - Prep the Cup
Cut four holes around the rim of your paper cup. - Cut the String
Measure and cut four pieces of string, each about 10 to 12 inches long. - Attach the Strings
Tie one end of each string to a hole in the cup. Then, tie the other end to the holes in the bag. - Decorate Your Parachute
Use markers, stickers, or crayons to make your parachute one-of-a-kind! - Ready, Set, Fly!
Pop a small toy or lightweight object into the cup. Toss your parachute high into the air and watch it float to the ground!
EXPERIMENT LIKE A SCIENTIST!
Try adding different toys to the cup. Does the parachute fall faster with a heavier toy? What happens if you use a feather or a small ball?
You can even swap the plastic bag parachute for another material—like tissue paper, paper towels, or fabric. What changes? Write down your guesses and test them out.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT
Your parachute slows the fall of the toy by catching air! This is called air resistance. It works against gravity, which is pulling the toy to the ground. By changing materials or weights, you’ll see how air resistance and gravity interact. How cool is that?
Now go ahead—build, test, and keep exploring!
