STEM Drag Device Parachute Challenge (Digital & Printed STEM Journals)
Students use the engineering design process and explore the forces of gravity and air resistance to design a drag device to slow down a payload. This challenge uses a ping pong ball to represent a rover landing on Mars. The rover must remain inside an uncovered cup during drop and impact testing.
Grades: 2nd - 8th
Teaching Duration: 2 hours
Students use the engineering design process and explore the forces of gravity and air resistance to design a drag device to slow down a payload. This challenge uses a ping pong ball to represent a rover landing on Mars. The rover must remain inside an uncovered cup during drop and impact testing.
Grades: 2nd - 8th
Teaching Duration: 2 hours
Students use the engineering design process and explore the forces of gravity and air resistance to design a drag device to slow down a payload. This challenge uses a ping pong ball to represent a rover landing on Mars. The rover must remain inside an uncovered cup during drop and impact testing.
Grades: 2nd - 8th
Teaching Duration: 2 hours
“We added the parachute challenge to our summer space camp. This was a great way to have students try different things before preparing for our rocket launch (with an eggstranaut). Thanks!”
lesson overview
Drag Device STEM Parachute Activity
Students use the engineering design process and explore the forces of gravity and air resistance to design a drag device to slow down a payload. This challenge uses a ping pong ball to represent a rover landing on Mars. The rover must remain inside an uncovered cup during drop and impact testing.
This hands-on activity is an engaging design challenge that allows students to work in teams, apply the engineering design process, and connect math topics to real-world applications. As a student-driven assignment, the purpose of the teacher is to act as a facilitator. You will provide the structure to the project, but students will take an active role in designing and building a device to deposit a rover into the lunar crater. Our students have loved this activity, and we know yours will too!
This packet includes:
Detailed teachers guide with links to resources
Editable teacher instruction slides
Student handouts to guide them through the design process
Editable Google Slides STEM Journal for distance learning
Student recording sheet for each step of the process
Math connection problems include average and speed calculations, surface area, and unit conversions.
Recommended Materials:
Tissue paper
Dixie cups
String
Cardstock
Masking tape
Scotch tape
Ping Pong ball
Trash bags
Ping Pong ball
Looking for more STEM lessons? Find the Vivify resource guide here: bit.ly/VivifyResourceGuide
