STEM Task: Falling Slowly Middle Grades Science Experiment
About This Product
Here is a fun, low-prep science experiment for your middle grades class! It's perfect for a Friday afternoon, day before a holiday, or as part of your regular science curriculum. Students will have a chance to experiment with simple, everyday materials to learn about a science concept in a hands-on manner. They will have to make a prediction before completing the experiment and draw a detailed and labelled diagram after they are done. They will also define relevant vocabulary words and answer a question about what they learned.
Falling Slowly: This deceptively simple task asks students to use a piece of paper to design an item that falls as slowly as possible when dropped from a height of 2m. They may be surprised to see that a tiny ripped piece of paper is often the best design! Discussions about gravity and the natural design of helicopter seeds could follow.
Student Instructions:
You must try to design a paper object that falls as slowly as possible when dropped from 2m.
Fold, cut, tear your paper however you want.
Test different designs.
How to Use:
Students can work in small groups. Go over the instructions and materials and give students time to predict before they start the experiment. Review the findings and relevant vocabulary after students have completed their experiment and diagram.
Grades to Use With: This activity is great for middle grades (4-7) classrooms or high school special education classes.
What's Included:
One-page PDF handout with with material list, instructions, prediction, vocabulary or reflection, and room for a labelled diagram.
If you enjoy this experiment, check out others in my store:
Or, you can get all 8 in a bundle here: 8 Low-Prep STEM Tasks for Elementary and Middle School: Simple Handouts for Each Experiment