Parachute Parade

Your challenge is to make a parachute for a toy figurine that descends the slowest using only the materials provided. (You can work as a group to make at least two different parachutes, or help each child make their own.) Take 10 minutes to brainstorm designs before beginning.

Design a test to see which parachute falls the slowest (has the most drag). Remember to make a prediction before testing. Here are some ideas: Stand on a chair and use a stopwatch to time each parachute’s descent. Then, compare. Hold both parachutes from the same height and drop them at the same time.

Look at your results. Was your prediction correct? Why did one parachute fall slower than another?