Most children love drawing cars and this project takes that to the next level by teaching students how to make a simple car model that moves using the power of air!
Resources needed:
Cardboard
1 Balloon
3 Straws
3 Sticks (you can even use a broomstick)
Compass
Ruler
Sellotape
Scissors
Permanent Marker
Strong Adhesive
Time needed:
1 hour
Concepts Taught:
Basic vehicle framework, environment-friendly vehicle, propulsion
Propulsion: To push forward or drive an object forward. A propulsion system is a machine that produces thrust to push an object forward. On airplanes, thrust is usually generated through some application of Newton's third law of action and reaction. A gas, or working fluid, is accelerated by the engine, and the reaction to this acceleration produces a force on the engine.
Instruction for students:
Step 0:
Briefly explain to the students the concept of propulsion and how today they will be using the force of air to propel a model car.
Step 1:
On the cardboard, using a scale, draw a rectangle. Then using a compass draw four circles.
Step 2:
Cut the rectangle which becomes the car’s body and draw two lines on either side. On these lines, cut and stick two straws.
Step 3:
Stick two sticks into the cut circles and insert them into the wheel. The sticks here are the axel of the wheels.
Step 4:
Stick the other two wheels and turn the vehicle around. Next, draw a line in the middle.
Step 5:
Stick a balloon to the end of another straw using a sellotape or thread. Stick this to the car body along the line drawn.
Lift the car. Blow air through the straw and hold it. Now release it back on the floor. See it propel using just the power of the air :)
Optional: Car Race
The activity can culminate with a car race too!
Instruction for teachers:
Following instructions
Observe how the students follow instructions. Only give them one set of instructions and see if intuitively they can figure out what the next one would be. If they cannot follow the instructions properly, simplify your language.
Conceptual Understanding
Make sure at the end of the class the students understand the meaning of some fundamental concepts learned - propulsion, wheel & axle. Also, explain to the students about why building eco-friendly transportation is important for our future.
Follow Up Activity
As a followup activity in the next class, you can have the students build their own vehicle using balloons as the propulsion engine.
Have fun making and share the works of your students with the hashtag #projectprayogshala to get featured!