Make A Plastic Bag Parachute Craft
Yadina is disappointed when the Nature Troop's hike is blocked by a huge tree stump. Luckily, Berby suggests a magical solution — a trip to the Secret Museum! They travel back in time to meet Bessie Coleman, who faced obstacles as a Black woman wanting to be a pilot. Despite challenges, Bessie worked hard to reach her goal of becoming the first Black and Indigenous woman to publicly fly an airplane in the United States. Yadina learns from Bessie's determination, not to give up and persevere to find a solution to her problem.
Bessie Coleman wasn’t just a pilot. She also had an interest in parachute jumping! Making a toy parachute is a fun way for your child to practice perseverance in facing challenges. As you make the parachute together, ask your child questions that help them keep trying until their parachute works just as they want it to. For example, if it falls too fast, you can ask how they can adjust their materials so that it can fall more slowly. When it finally floats just right, it's a reminder to never give up and keep trying, just like how Bessie never gave up on being a pilot.
Materials
Directions
Cut a square piece of lightweight fabric or plastic. A good starting size is around 12 inches by 12 inches (30 cm by 30 cm), but your child can adjust the size based on their preference.
If you'd like, let your child decorate the fabric or plastic with markers or crayons before moving on to the next step. This adds a personal touch to their parachute.
Have your child cut four pieces of string, each about 12 inches (30 cm) in length. The length can be shorter or longer based on the size of the square, but make sure all four pieces are the same length.
Next, cut a hole in each corner of the square. Tie the string through each hole. You should have four strings attached to the corners of the square.
Gather the opposite ends of the strings and bring them together. Use a small paperclip or a lightweight plastic clip to secure the gathered ends. This will create a central point where the toy parachute will hang from.
Now it’s time for your child to test their parachute! Ask your child what they are expecting their parachute to do. Have them hold the parachute by the top of the square and drop it from a height. Observe how it descends. If the parachute is descending too quickly, you can add more strings or use a larger piece of material. If it's descending too slowly, you can try the opposite. When it lands, ask your child to reflect on what they expected. Remind your child to keep going until they reach their goal!
Author: 
Emotions & Self-Awareness
Social Skills
Character