STEAM Hands-On Learning Kit: Slingshot Flyer with Rotors for Kids

Explore Aerodynamics - Slingshot Flyer Kit: Hands-On STEM Fun for Kids

Unleash the wonder of flight with the Explore Aerodynamics - Slingshot Flyer Kit! Designed for schools and libraries, this affordable STEAM kit introduces students to the fascinating concept of lift—the force that helps helicopters and airplanes soar. With a combination of engaging experiments and interactive challenges, learners will explore aerodynamics, Bernoulli’s Principle, and the impact of angles of incidence on lift. Perfect for sparking curiosity and creativity, this kit makes complex scientific principles easy to understand and fun to learn.

The kit includes hands-on activities that allow students to test and refine their designs. They’ll experiment with rotor angles to observe how different tilts affect lift and flight performance. Students can also create and test custom blade tip designs, exploring how shape impacts air movement and lift. Using the included slingshot launcher, kids can launch their flyers up to 20 feet into the air, measuring flight times and adjusting designs for optimal performance.

Additionally, the kit features a built-in LED light, making launches exciting and visually captivating, especially after dark. Observation sheets and guided challenges ensure that each activity is educational, interactive, and rooted in real-world STEM concepts. To enhance the learning experience further, kids can observe a working electrical circuit, understanding how the LED connects to the battery to light up, adding another layer of discovery to their STEM exploration.

Reach New Heights: Launch the flyer up to 20 feet into the air with the included slingshot launcher.

Light Up the Night: The built-in LED adds a dazzling effect, making nighttime launches even more fun!

Experiment and Learn: Kids can test angles, tweak designs, and discover how lift works through interactive challenges.

Flyer Colors Vary!

Explore Aerodynamics - Slingshot Flyer

$2.00

Quantity

Grades 3-8
Flyer & Rubber Band Slingshot – Explore force and motion with a fun, interactive slingshot. Colors vary!

3 Rotors – Dive into aerodynamics with three custom-designed rotors for hands-on experimentation.

Video Instructions – Access step-by-step video assembly tutorials for easy learning.

Printable Assembly Instructions – Follow clear, printable instructions to assemble the kit components.

Printable Activity Plan: Exploring Aerodynamics – Learn the principles of aerodynamics through engaging activities.

Printable Activity Plan: Exploring Circuits – Discover how circuits work with hands-on projects.

Printable Activity: Testing the Angle of Incidence for Lift – Conduct experiments to understand lift by adjusting rotor angles.

Printable Activity: Rotor Blade Tip Exploration – Explore flight dynamics by testing various rotor blade tips.

Printable Activity: Design Your Own Rotor Blade Tip – Get creative by designing custom rotor blade tips for unique flight experiences.

Observation Sheet – Record your findings and track your experiments with a comprehensive observation sheet.

Additional Supplies Needed for Extension Activities:

Please note: For the activity involving experimenting with blade tips or designing your own, you'll need scissors and tape, which are not included in the kit.
With the STEAM Hands-On Learning Kit, kids will engage in exciting, hands-on experiments that teach important scientific principles in a fun and interactive way. By building and testing their own rubber band slingshot and rotors, they will learn key concepts in aerodynamics, force, and motion. Through activities that explore lift, circuits, and the angle of incidence, kids will gain a deeper understanding of how flight works and how design affects performance.

As they explore how to design and test their own rotor blade tips and adjust flight variables, children will develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and engineering skills. This kit encourages creativity and experimentation while reinforcing important STEM concepts such as physics, design thinking, and scientific observation. By completing the activities, kids will not only have fun but also build a strong foundation for future learning in science and engineering.
The STEAM Hands-On Learning Kit addresses multiple subject areas within the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) framework, offering a comprehensive learning experience that fosters a wide range of essential skills:

Science (Physics and Aerodynamics): Kids will explore fundamental principles of force, motion, aerodynamics, and lift through hands-on activities such as testing rotor blade tips and adjusting the angle of incidence. This helps them understand how flight works and how different factors affect it.

Technology: The kit incorporates circuit exploration and technology-based activities, introducing children to the basic concepts of electrical circuits and their application in real-world scenarios.

Engineering: Children will engage in engineering design thinking, experimenting with and modifying their own rotor blade tips and other components to improve performance. They’ll apply critical thinking to design, test, and iterate, developing problem-solving skills that are central to engineering.

Arts: Creativity is encouraged as children design their own rotor blade tips and experiment with various flight configurations. This promotes design thinking and artistic expression in problem-solving.

Mathematics: Measurement and data collection are key skills, as kids observe and record their results using the observation sheet. They will apply mathematical concepts like angles, ratios, and measurements to better understand the relationships between design and performance.

Skills Developed:

Critical Thinking: Through trial and error, kids learn to analyze and solve problems as they test different variables and designs.

Problem Solving: By exploring multiple outcomes based on their design choices, children develop strategic thinking and innovative problem-solving skills.

Scientific Inquiry: The kit encourages kids to ask questions, make predictions, and experiment—fundamental practices in the scientific method.

Collaboration and Communication: As children work through the activities, they will collaborate, share findings, and communicate their ideas, helping them develop teamwork and communication skills.

This kit is a powerful tool to inspire curiosity and build a strong foundation in STEM education, equipping kids with the skills they need for success in school and beyond.