Make a Parachute and Fly it!

A Simple Project to Introduce Kids to Gravity and Air Movement

Jul 23, 2006

This is a fun and simple project to keep you busy indoors or out. With just a square of cloth, string and a rock you play for hours.

Is the wind blowing today? Is it still and hot? Are you stuck inside? Here is something entertaining to play indoors or out.

You will need a piece of cloth about one foot square, like a man's handkerchief or a small bandana. You will also need a ball of string and a rock, a bus token or something similar to use as a weight.Tape or a rubber band can be used to help secure the string ends to the rock.

Lay the cloth out flat on the table. Cut 4 pieces of stout string each about one and 1/2 feet long.

Tie one string to each corner of the cloth. Secure the weight to all four strings. Be certain there is equal distance between each corner and the weight.

Now you can play with the parachute. Fold the chute into fourths and wrap the strings around it with the weight outside of the bundle. Move to a place with plenty of room and throw the bundle as high as you can.

Inside, try standing on a bench or chair and dropping the chute. Do you have a stair railing where you could launch your cloth chute? Outside, try dropping it from the porch or from other safe places.

If your parachute tangles and won't fill with air or drops slowly, readjust your strings. Experiment with your wrapping and throwing technique.Try a lighter or heavier weight. Have a high-flying good time!

The copyright of the article Make a Parachute and Fly it! in Kids Activities is owned by Elece Hollis. Permission to republish Make a Parachute and Fly it! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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Aug 29, 2008 6:58 PM

Guest :

i need help on making a parachute. science project. anyone help??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? ?????????????????????????????????????????????????

Sep 13, 2008 7:37 PM

Guest :

Haha. do you go to castle hill high school? well, to help you out, if you even read this, i used a circle cut out of a garbage bag- 30cm radius,6 pieces of 90cm string & a philadelphia cheese container. Good luck! xx

Sep 13, 2008 7:40 PM

Guest :

Haha, do you go to castle hill high school? i have the same project.
i used a circle cut out of a garbage bag, 60 cm in diameter, 6 pieces of brown string, 90cm in length
& a philadelphia cheese container. And LOTS of tape.
Good Luck! xx

Sep 28, 2008 4:02 AM

Guest :

I need tips on how to make a parachute so that it will last longer in the air...

Oct 9, 2008 12:29 PM

Guest :

dido bro i am to but my idea is to make string out of paper and atach it to a big pice of paper lol good luck

Oct 11, 2008 12:27 AM

Guest :

i have to do a project on a man made apparatus which can fly

Oct 16, 2008 10:09 PM

Guest :

I need help on making a parachute

Oct 20, 2008 5:25 PM

Guest :

I need help on my project too!!!

Oct 20, 2008 6:49 PM

Elece Hollis :

Hello Readers, I am sorry I can not help you with the project for your assignment more than the information given above. Don't worry. Making a parachute is simple. Try using a circle of thin plastic like a kitchen trash bag material for the chute.
Elece

Oct 21, 2008 11:57 PM

Guest :

i wonder if making a parachute easy lol!

Oct 28, 2008 5:22 PM

Guest :

we have to make a parachute and attach an egg and then let it go from top of staircase and the egg has to land without breaking.... any suggestions?????

Nov 3, 2008 4:40 PM

Guest :

we are hiving our r&d project.. i need help on how to choose the good parachute.. wheither cicle or...

Nov 10, 2008 10:16 AM

Guest :

yo nesesito hayuda para un proyeto de parachute haljien me puede hayudar

Jan 9, 2009 10:04 AM

Guest :

i need to make a psachute so that it falls slowly and controlled in the air

Feb 6, 2009 7:54 AM

Guest :

same here i am 2 need help plzz how many strings should i put on

Mar 10, 2009 4:50 PM

Guest :

I`m entering a cotest.I need help on makeing a paracute that will stay up in the air longer from a two yard distence.

Mar 10, 2009 4:54 PM

Guest :

how do you make a decertive paracute that flies really good?

Mar 11, 2009 9:20 AM

Guest :

me2

Mar 12, 2009 10:29 PM

Guest :

this is so easy could you posibly make it a little bit harder. make it harder please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Mar 18, 2009 8:50 AM

Guest :

i gotta do a project on how to make a parachute and i need it for today please help !!! :O

May 18, 2009 5:33 PM

Guest :

how long should the piece of cloth be??????????????????????

Jul 21, 2009 7:01 AM

Guest :

i need to see the introtion how to made a parachute!!!!

Sep 19, 2009 6:25 AM

Guest :

I am 14 and have an annoying, little 10 yr old brother who needs a small parachute for school. I've decided to help him, for a reason I have yet to find out, but I would like to know, can you use plastic bags?

Katriana

23 Comments