Daily STREAM Activity: Build a Parachute

Make your toys go flying!

Activity best for children age 3 and up

Practice being an engineer by building a parachute for your favorite toy!

Image 7 1 20 At 2.24 PM
Image Credit: No Time For Flashcards

Materials you’ll need:

Recycled materials for Parachute

  • Napkin
  • Tissue paper

String

Tape

Small toy

Directions

STEP 1
Choose your favorite small/ lightweight toy to build a parachute for.

STEP 2
Gather materials for your parachute. Try and find lightweight materials like napkins, tissue paper, or paper towels.

STEP 3
Gather string or another material that you can use to attach your parachute to your toy.

STEP 4
Create your parachute! Tie or tape everything together. Make sure your parachute has room to trap air underneath and create air resistance.

STEP 5
Test your parachute! Drop your toy from a high place and see if your parachute works. Does your toy float safely down to the ground?

BONUS
Try making a few different parachutes with different materials. Which materials work best?

BONUS
Make improvements! After your first test, think about how you can make your parachute better. How can you make it lighter? Safer? Bigger? Add or take away materials and test it again. An engineer’s work is never done!