Author:
William Allred, Carrie Robledo
Subject:
Science
Material Type:
Activity/Lab
Level:
Upper Primary
Grade:
4
Tags:
  • 35-AP-02
  • 35-ap-02
  • K-5 Design Thinking
  • K-5 Engineering
  • K2-AP-08
  • STEM
  • k-5-design-thinking
  • k-5-engineering
  • k2-ap-08
  • k5engineers
  • stem
  • License:
    Creative Commons Attribution
    Language:
    English

    Education Standards

    4th Grade: The Candy Bomber

    4th Grade:  The Candy Bomber

    Overview

    After learning about Gail Halvorsen, the World War II pilot who created tiny parachutes from handkerchiefs and string to deliver chocolates and other candy to the children of Berlin, students will engineer parachutes to deliver their own packages using Parrot Mambo Drones.

    Instructor Directions

    Engineering Design Process

    4th Grade:  The Candy Bomber

    Driving Question / ScenarioCan you engineer a parachute to deliver candy to the children of Berlin?
    Project SummaryAfter learning about Gail Halvorsen, the World War II pilot who created tiny parachutes from handkerchiefs and string to deliver chocolates and other candy to the children of Berlin, students will engineer parachutes to deliver their own packages using Parrot Mambo Drones.
    Estimated Time1.5 hours
    Materials / Resources
    • Coffee Filter
    • Yarn
    • Scotch tape
    • Index cards
    • Dixie cups
    • Candy
    StandardsNC.4.NF.3: Understand and justify decompositions of fractions with denominators of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 100. • Understand addition and subtraction of fractions as joining and separating parts referring to the same whole.• Add and subtract fractions, including mixed numbers with like denominators, by replacing each mixed number with an equivalent fraction, and/or by using properties of operations and the relationship between addition and subtraction. • Solve word problems involving addition and subtraction of fractions, including mixed numbers by writing equations from a visual representation of the problem.
    Project Outline
    AskWorking in groups of 2-3, can your team engineer a parachute to deliver candy to the children of Berlin?
    ImagineWhat does a parachute look like?  What are the main functions of a parachute? What will you need to consider when building a parachute to be attached to your drone?
    PlanStudents will create a plan for how they will create their parachutes using the supplies provided.  Students have a $10.00 budget to purchase materials.
    CreateFollowing the plans created by your team, build your parachute. After building the parachute, it’s time to test!  One at a time (or more, depending on the size of the space available), groups will test their parachutes by attaching to the grabber, and dropping the candy on the map.
    ImproveAs students drop their parachutes, they should make improvements and continue testing if time allows.  
    Closure / Student Reflections
    • Which part of your design worked well and WHY?
    • Which part of your design did not work well and WHY?
    • How did you IMPROVE your design?
    Possible Modifications / ExtensionsStudents share out their successes and failures of their parachute build and drop.
    Tags (Subject, robot used, literature)4th grade, math, fractions, Parrot drones, Valentine’s Day

     

    Sample Pictures / Video

     

     

    Creative Commons