1.
SWBAT define the force known as drag.
SWBAT perform their our experiment pertaining to the force known as drag.
N/A
A. Warm-up: Excuse Me, What Are You Doing? (5 min)
A game where you say one thing but do another. This game is for 4 or more
people. To play, you pretend to do an action like washing your hair or
drinking tea. The person next to you then asks, "Excuse me, what are you
doing?" You have to say something other than what you are really doing.
So if you were pretending to brush your teeth, you could say "I'm eating
pizza."
Then that person has to pretend that he's eating pizza and say something
different when the next person asks him, "Excuse me, what are you doing?"
If a player makes a mistake, he's out. Try to keep it going around the circle
and see how fast you can go!
B. Introduction of New Material (10 min)
Drag is the force produced by the resistance of the air to the forward motion
of an object. Swish hand rapidly side-to-side and you will feel that resistance
on your hand.
C. Practice/Activity (20 min)
1. Cut the index card or stiff paper into 3 separate pieces that measure 1 inch
(2.5 cm) by 5 inches (13 cm.)
2. Take 2 of the pieces of paper and tape them together into a hoop as
shown. Be sure to overlap the pieces about half an inch (1 cm) so that they
keep a nice round shape once taped.
3. Use the last strip of paper to make a smaller hoop, overlapping the
Lesson Name: The Incredible Hoop Glider!!
Program Name: Science Club Date of Lesson: Thursday, November 10
Theme or Unit: N/A Corps member name: Cathy, Hannah, Gwen, Noel
Learning Objectives
Learning Standards
Procedure: Overview

2. edges a bit like before.
4. Tape the paper loops to the ends of the straw as shown below. (notice that
the straw is lined up on the inside of the loops)5. That's it! Now hold the
straw in the middle with the hoops on top and throw it in the air similar to
how you might throw a dart angled slightly up. With some practice you can
get it to go farther than many paper airplanes.
This is why it works: Can we really call that a plane? It may look weird, but
you will discover it flies surprisingly well. The two sizes of hoops help to keep
the straw balanced as it flies. The big hoop creates "drag" (or air resistance)
which helps keep the straw level while the smaller hoop in at the front keeps
your super hooper from turning off course. Some have asked why the plane
does not turn over since the hoops are heavier than the straw. Since objects
of different weight generally fall at the same speed, the hoop will keep its
"upright" position.
D. Debrief/Reflection (10 min)
- What is the drag?
- How did we construct our mini planes/gliders?
- Is our experiment similar to how an airplane flies?
Grades K-2
20 Students
45 min
Classroom/space where appropriate science experiment can be conducted.
Regular plastic drinking straws
3” X 5” index card or stiff paper
Tape
Scissors
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Grade/Age Level
Ideal Group Size
Length of Time
Setting + Room Set-Up
Materials
Handouts

3. None
Facilitate experiments and discussion among students.
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Background/Prerequisites
Role of Team Members/Volunteers
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