Hovercraft Class Kit

SKU #AIR-520

(10 reviews)

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Includes everything you need to make your own hovercrafts.

Description

The principle behind the Hovercraft's levitation is that when the air is released from the balloon, the air hits the ground and rushes outward in all directions. The air flowing from the balloon through the holes forms a layer of air between the Hovercraft and the table. This reduces the friction (the resistance that occurs when two objects rub against each other) that would have existed if the Hovercraft rested directly on the table. With less friction, your Hovercraft scoots across the table.

This kit includes everything you need to make your own balloon Hovercrafts, including one dozen pre-drilled film canisters, one dozen balloons, one dozen CDs, one strip of poster putty, and assembly instructions. Instructions can also be seen in our short video. Colors may vary.

Video

Lesson Ideas

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Reviews

10 reviews

Not perfect for younger kids, but easy to modify

Apr 25, 2023

I've been making these with 6-8 year olds for the past 9 years, and while it's challenging it's not impossible. If you're doing this with younger students, don't even use the putty to attach the film canister - just hot glue the film canisters to the CDs for them. Then have them (or you) use balloon pumps to inflate the balloons, holding a finger over the CD hole to prevent it from escaping too soon. The kids do love it though!

Jacob Stump

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unfortunate

May 14, 2019

very disappointing--students who couldn't blow up balloons couldn't do this

mary

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Meh!

Aug 27, 2018

Project needs two people per hovercraft in order to set up. Really hard to blow up the balloons if you follow the instructions and try to do so once they are attached to the CD. We will try again following the suggestion to blow up the balloon first and then attach to the film canister. Finding the right amount of putty to anchor the canister to the CD is also problematical. Not a project for elementary students.

Cathy

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Missing step in the video!

Sep 1, 2016

My question is ; How do you fill the balloon with air after attaching it to the film canister and CD? You didn't show this step in the video so I am curious as to how it's done. Having students place their mouths on the bottom causes a problem of reusing the hovercraft for different classes. I am the Science Lab teacher and service K-3rd grades. That's about 500 kids. Of course I would not do this with every grade level but, you get the idea. Thanks in advance for your answer.

Donna Denney

Owner Response: There are a few different ways to inflate the balloon. You can use a balloon pump and inflate the balloons before attaching them to the film canisters. You can also have children inflate by mouth and use alcohol wipes to disinfect the canisters, or you can buy extra balloons and give each student his/her own and have them inflate by mouth.

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Hovercrafts

Feb 3, 2016

great activity! all materials included. Pretty easy for older students, challenging for the little ones. Everyone enjoyed making and "driving" them.

Jennifer Phillips

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What a lift

Sep 29, 2015

these things are terriffic

Mark A Evans

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Excellent Workshop Materials.

Apr 16, 2014

I am very pleased with this purchase. Works great for my workshop that accompanies my science show for elementary schools.

Dennis Regling

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Love These

Apr 15, 2014

My students loved these hovercrafts! We followed the instructions on the blog and conducted tests on collisions and completed activities on force, motion and friction. Easy to make and great instructions! Thanks

Susan

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hover craft no

Apr 10, 2014

Was disappointed at the performance. Decided to cannibalize the kits and do another project. Save your money.

Patty

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hovercraft

Dec 28, 2013

My inattention in assuming a classpak would be more than 12(though that's a nice class size). I also think your instructions would benefit from pictures. Thank you

Mary Hughes

Owner Response: Thank you, Mary. We will take that into consideration. We do have a video on our website that carefully details the construction process in the mean time.

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NGSS

This product will support your students' understanding of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)*, as shown in the table below.

Elementary

Middle School

High School

2-PS1-1

Students can use the Hovercraft to plan and conduct an investigation to describe and classify different kinds of materials by their observable properties.

3-PS2-2

Students can use the Hovercraft to make observations and/or measurements of an object's motion to provide evidence that a pattern can be used to predict future motion.

5-PS1-1

Students can the use the Hovercraft to develop a model to describe that matter is made of particles too small to be seen.

5-PS1-3

Students can the use the Hovercraft to make observations and measurements to identify materials based on their properties.

MS-PS1-4

Students can use the Hovercraft to develop a model that predicts and describes changes in particle motion.

MS-PS2-2

Students can use the Hovercraft to plan an investigation to provide evidence that the change in an object's motion depends on the sum of the forces on the object and the mass of the object.

HS-PS2-1

Students can use the Hovercraft to investigate and analyze data to support the claim that Newton's Second Law of Motion describes the mathematical relationship among the net force on a macroscopic object, its mass, and its acceleration.

Suggested Science Idea(s)

2-PS1-1
5-PS1-1
5-PS1-3
MS-PS1-4
MS-PS1-4
HS-PS2-1

Students can use the Hovercraft Class Kit in a number of investigations on states of matter, air friction, and air pressure. Newton's Laws of Motion become tangible when using the Hovercraft. First Law (inertia, momentum, Second Law (force equals Mass time acceleration and Third Law (action-Reaction) can be demonstrated and investigated when using two or more of the Hovercraft. Adding variables in surface materials, weight to the Hovercraft and collisions allow students to explore.

* NGSS is a registered trademark of Achieve. Neither Achieve nor the lead states and partners that developed the Next Generation Science Standards were involved in the production of, and do not endorse, this product.

Q & A

Hovercraft Class Kit

NGSS

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