At G.W.C STEM Learning Center, students started their day off with learning how to create parachutes at Camp Invention. With the help of their peers and mentors, they built parachutes made of foam cups, yarn, dish sponges, duct tape, and balloons. As a group, the students were instructed to design a parachute that could secure an egg when it goes into flight. When all the parachutes were finished, their mentor escorted them outside where they got to test their inventions. Each group waited their turn to step up on a chair and drop their parachute into the sky.
A student from each group was given an egg to put in their parachute and see if their creation worked. A few of the parachutes were not stable enough to secure the egg, and they had to use their critical thinking skills to go back and fix the problem. Other groups had parachutes that successfully carried their egg from the moment they dropped it, until it hit the ground. This activity allowed the students to work together to create a successful parachute together while brainstorming and using their imaginations. Because of STEM Camp Invention, kids are able to learn valuable engineering, social, and developmental skills that will carry them through their education year after year.
Article and Photography by: Illysia Tartan, Lancaster ISD Communications Summer Intern
A student from each group was given an egg to put in their parachute and see if their creation worked. A few of the parachutes were not stable enough to secure the egg, and they had to use their critical thinking skills to go back and fix the problem. Other groups had parachutes that successfully carried their egg from the moment they dropped it, until it hit the ground. This activity allowed the students to work together to create a successful parachute together while brainstorming and using their imaginations. Because of STEM Camp Invention, kids are able to learn valuable engineering, social, and developmental skills that will carry them through their education year after year.
Article and Photography by: Illysia Tartan, Lancaster ISD Communications Summer Intern