A low-cost flying machine is easy to make right at home that even kids can do it. All you will need are paper and helium balloons. Make a boat shape out of paper, and you can even use old newspapers or comic books. Glue the folds together so they don’t fall apart, and so it’s strong enough to hold small pieces of toys. Attach the boat’s ends to a couple of balloons and watch it fly around. You can even experiment with heavier or lighter ships, and more balloons for double the fun.
For a more intricate project for older kids, try the following: Get a small machine that runs on double A batteries, printer paper, a compass, foot-long ruler, can lid, scissors, and toothpicks. Use a pencil to draw a spiral 1 ½ inch from the edge of the paper, and cut it out. Use the ruler and toothpicks to ensure that the spiral is stable enough. Next, use the lid of a can which will serve as the base of the spiral, and work on stabilizing the motor. The motor should be on the center of the spiral, put the ruler in the center, and start the motor. Practice will make perfect, you may discover in the first few trials if your motor and spiral are well stabilized and light enough. Practice on a non windy day for best results.
There are many different kinds of flying machines you can make at home for a low cost. They come in different shapes, sizes, and difficulty levels, so be sure that you are working with an adult especially for more difficult projects. When testing out their durability or weight, never use anything valuable, resort to old stuffed toys or small objects if these are designed to carry things. It’s a great deal of fun and science at the same time!
For a more intricate project for older kids, try the following: Get a small machine that runs on double A batteries, printer paper, a compass, foot-long ruler, can lid, scissors, and toothpicks. Use a pencil to draw a spiral 1 ½ inch from the edge of the paper, and cut it out. Use the ruler and toothpicks to ensure that the spiral is stable enough. Next, use the lid of a can which will serve as the base of the spiral, and work on stabilizing the motor. The motor should be on the center of the spiral, put the ruler in the center, and start the motor. Practice will make perfect, you may discover in the first few trials if your motor and spiral are well stabilized and light enough. Practice on a non windy day for best results.
There are many different kinds of flying machines you can make at home for a low cost. They come in different shapes, sizes, and difficulty levels, so be sure that you are working with an adult especially for more difficult projects. When testing out their durability or weight, never use anything valuable, resort to old stuffed toys or small objects if these are designed to carry things. It’s a great deal of fun and science at the same time!