BMUFSD: Second Grades Create Teddy Bear Parachutes In STEAM Class

Press release from the Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District:

2024-06-12

Second graders at Todd Elementary School have been exploring gravity and aerodynamics in STEAM class using paper napkin parachutes made with either yarn or a string. Oh, and of course – a teddy bear.

Students in Jessy Vigiletti’s class cut four pieces of yarn or string of equal lengths, measuring against a ruler and then taped the four ends together. Next, they taped a small plastic teddy bear to the four ends.

“Students in older grades had a similar activity, but took measurements with the ruler and also had to cut the paper napkin to be a square,” said STEAM teacher Mindy Conciatori.

When the parachutes were ready, the students folded their parachutes and then went to the staircase to launch them.

When launching the parachutes, students had to keep them folded.

“How you fold makes a difference in how the parachute opens,” Ms. Conciatori said. “And it also makes a difference where you place the teddy bear on the napkin.”

The parachutes fell down quickly.

“You can see that objects in different sizes fall faster,” Ms. Conciatori said. “The teddy bears are heavier and fall faster than the washers that the older students used. Another difference is that the strings get tangled more easily than the yarn.”

Ava and Eleanor launched their parachutes excitedly and threw them up in the air to watch how they land. The parachute opened up like real-life parachutes.

“Look how fast mine went down!” Ava said.

This press release was produced by the Briarcliff Manor Union Free School District. The views expressed here are the author’s own.