Tag Archive for 'inquiry'

Paper Helicoptor

Published in Science at Home and Lesson Plans. Tags: dynamics, helicopter, inquiry, kinematics, lab, mechanics, paper helicopter, physics.

Materials

Procedure

This is an inquiry activity where students design their own experiments. Following are general rules for making a paper helicopter.
Once the helicopter is made, the students can pick a dependent and independent variable to investigate
Take a piece of paper and cut a T shape out of the paper as shown in the diagram below

Published in Science at Home and Lesson Plans. Tags: acceleration, air resistance, free fall, inquiry, physics, rate of acceleration.

Materials

Textbook or Notebook (one per student)
Piece of paper cut to fit a size smaller than the surface area of the book or notebook

Procedure

Lead students through a series of four mini-experiments. Have students make a hypothesis as to what will happen before each experiment and have the students explain to each other why they think the way they do. It is very important for students to explain their thinking and debate about it in order to correct it.