For the month of December, our house transforms into all things Christmas! We try to cram every movie, every activity and every story into these few short weeks. But who’s to say the Christmas season can’t be educational as well?
Here are some of my fun and easy STEM activities to help celebrate the season with your curious little scientists. The best part about these ideas…(besides the smiles, the educational value and the memories)? You probably already have these materials stashed in a closet!
This balloon race activity is one of my absolute favorite activities to do with my children. The squeals of laughter never get old. And, it’s a great way to introduce some basic physics concepts.
Help your young scientist explore “thrust” in action with these fun, indoor balloon races! It’s hands-on physics!
Snowman Balloon Races
Pssst! Got a lab notebook for your little scientist? Use it to run this experiment! Lab notebooks encourage skills in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) like problem solving, collecting data, and interpreting results. Plus, they’re easy to use!
Is your student in preschool? Give the first printable a try! Space for big handwriting and hand-drawn pictures help young kids record their ideas. (They may still enjoy having you help them scribe!) Is your student in grade school? Then printable #2 might be for you.
LABORATORY NOTEBOOK for preschool kids <– click this link to print your free lab notebook for preschoolers.
LABORATORY NOTEBOOK for elementary kids <– click this link to print your free lab notebook for elementary kids.
Question:
Why do balloons move when the air comes out?
Background:
We fill balloons with air, then tie the opening closed. What happens if the opening isn’t closed? The air will escape, and the balloon will move! When the air leaves the balloon, it causes a force called “thrust.” This scientific concept is similar to how a rocket or an airplane moves forward.
Experiment:
Materials needed:
- String or yarn
- 2 straws (the paper ones work great)
- 2 balloons of any color and size
- 2 Clothespins (spring-loaded ones)
- Tape
Procedure:
- Thread straw onto string
- Find 2 points in the house to tie the string to
- Tie string to the line until taut. The straw should slide easily on the string
- Blow up balloon (but do not tie)
- Twist and hold with a clothespin
- Allow each child to decorate a balloon. My kids each decided to make a snowman (Okay, we might have just watched Frosty 😉
- Tape balloon to straw
- When the racers are ready, start the countdown and release the clothespins
- If your kids are anything like mine, we have multiple heats. You may want to try using balloons of different sizes and let the kids predict which one will be the winner.
Observations:
After the fun and excitement dies down, you can begin to talk about your kids’ observations and the science concepts at work.
- Which balloon went faster?
- What did the balloon look like at the beginning of the race?
- What did it look like at the end?
- Did you hear any noises? What was the noise?
Discuss what your scientist sees, hears, feels, etc. All observations are important!
Conclusion:
- What happened to the air in the balloon during the experiment?
- What caused the balloon to move along the string?
- How did the straw help the balloon move?
Show your scientist that when the air leaves the balloon, it creates a force that moves the balloon forward. The force is called “thrust.” Thrust is the same force that moves a rocket or an airplane forward. (For particularly curious kids, you may also introduce the concept of “friction” by explaining that the straw helps the balloon move along the string because it’s smooth.)
Photo credit: Marci
Marci’s creativity and experience in education bring dozens of STEM concepts to life for young, curious minds. After receiving her bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a certification in mathematics, Marci honed her teaching skills in several child development and school settings. Today she is the mother of three and focuses on homeschooling lessons.