Building Parachutes to Explore Air Resistance

SciShow Kids

This engaging educational video from SciShow Kids introduces young learners to the physics concept of "drag" (air resistance) through the lens of how parachutes work. Hosted by Jessi and her robot friend Squeaks, the video explains that air is made of tiny particles that push back against moving objects, creating a force that slows them down. It uses clear animations and relatable examples, like the feeling of wind on a swing, to make this invisible force concrete for students. The second half of the video transitions into a practical STEM activity where viewers are guided step-by-step to build their own miniature parachutes using household items like coffee filters, string, and cups. The host demonstrates the scientific method by conducting controlled drop tests: first dropping the cup without a parachute, then with one, and finally testing the parachute's load-bearing limit with a heavy toy. The experiment concludes with a "failure" when the heavy toy falls too fast, providing a perfect setup for discussing engineering iteration and variable testing. This resource is highly valuable for elementary science classrooms as it seamlessly blends conceptual physics with hands-on engineering. It encourages inquiry-based learning by modeling prediction, observation, and the importance of refining designs when they don't work as expected. Teachers can use this video to launch units on forces and motion, properties of matter, or the engineering design process.