::: more flying machines
We all loved the idea of using air to propel our balloon rockets and were very excited to discover another way of using air …
to make hovercrafts.
We pulled out some old CD’s, balloons, tops of the pop up bottle caps and Blu Tak.
The children put a ring of Blu Tak around the CD hole …
then pushed the cap into it to secure it.
Then they blew up a balloon and placed it over the cap.
Next they placed their hovercraft at the top of an incline (we used the underside of our good old removable tray table top).
We explained to the children how a hovercraft moves on a cushion of air and showed them how a CD wouldn’t slip down the ramp without a push because there is no air between it and the surface …
so they were very excited when they saw their hovercrafts whizzing down the slope!
Naturally this led to hovercraft races.
Some children decided to use their balloons in a different way and made ‘fresh air balloons’ …
using yoghurt containers as the basket …
in a similar way they made their parachutes recently.
The results were fantastic …
with fresh air balloons floating around successfully both inside …
and out in the playground!
Tags: ballons, Blu Tak, bottle tops, C.D., yoghurt containers
Wow .. what a creative and inexpensive idea ..
Definitely gonna try it out with my kiddos
What a simple and original idea. Add the balloons to home made boats and watch them zip across water too.
::: Juliet what a great idea!
Ahhhhhhhh! I need to start collecting those bottle tops! This is one of the coolest things ever, Donna!
I have a huge box of old CD’s and I just didn’t want to use them for yet another suncatcher mobile. Rock on, my sister!
By the way, I watched some Aussie football a couple nights ago — Sydney vs. Richland(?) What a fun sport. If I were a little younger, and fitter, and had larger arms, I’d take it up!
::: They are very cool Tom and you’re right there is only so many things you can do with a C.D.
Good on you for watching the ‘footy’. It really is the BEST game in the world. Did you know you have your very own Aussie rules team in Seattle? – The ‘Seattle Grizzlies’ http://www.seattlefooty.com/
Ladies that has to be the best, most creative idea I have seen in a long while!!! I soooooo wish I had some of those tops, my school age kids would just love this one. I am going to find some this weekend!!! I will make sure we have a camera ready for this one!!!
::: Michelle a soft drink sized bottle top with a large hole drilled into it should also work.
You guys are too cool for school
I love this idea, and to top it off I have a box load of old CD’s sitting in the storeroom just waiting for someone to come up with a good idea to put them to use. Now I have one!
By the way Donna, do you think these contraptions would hover over water?
(I’m going to check out the Grizzlies!)
::: We’ve never tried them on water Tom so let us know if you give it a go.
What a great idea – shameless borrowing will be happening over this way – and my little bloke who is still really in love with flying things will be rapt! Thankyou!
Hi there again – I was wondering if you could show us how you store all your bits and pieces – what have you found works best? Thanks!
::: Louise if you take a look at this link – ‘set up an invention table’ you will see the tubs and lockers we use to hold our bits and pieces. We also use similar tubs and lockers for storing our manipulative equipment, imaginative play props etc.
http://www.playbasedlearning.com.au/2010/01/invention-table/