Hover Crafts and Balloon Rockets

Our Grade 6/7 scientists have been busy exploring how things move, why they move, and what causes them to stop. This month, the class has been learning about forces and motion through hands-on experiments that bring Newton’s three laws to life.

Hovercrafts in the Classroom

Students built small hovercrafts using CDs, balloons, and water bottle tops. After inflating the balloons and placing their hovercrafts on different surfaces, they observed how the trapped air reduced friction and allowed the discs to glide. Smooth tables, carpets, and tile floors each created different results, helping students understand how surface type affects motion.

Balloon Rockets

The class also built balloon rockets and launched them across the room on strings stretched between two chairs. As the air rushed out of the balloons, the rockets shot forward—an engaging way to see action and reaction forces in action.

Connecting to Newton’s Laws

Through these activities, students are developing a practical understanding of:

• Newton’s First Law: Objects stay still or keep moving unless a force acts on them.

• Newton’s Second Law: Forces change how fast objects speed up or slow down.

• Newton’s Third Law: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction (clearly seen in the balloon rockets!).

  
  

These simple builds spark curiosity while building real understanding of scientific principles. It’s been an energetic and thoughtful start to our science learning this term.