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Description

A range of options for Brownies to make their own parachute for a small toy or item
Added by the GGNZ Programme Team

Resources

The resources you need will depend on your chosen parachute design from below

As to what the girls attach to their parachute, a small figurine toy typically works well. Other options could be other small and light items such as a peg, a bottletop, a lego figure, a washer, etc.

Instructions

Some notes about parachutes:
- Remember to tie all the parachute's strings together before attaching to your chosen object that is acting as a weight. When you pull your strings together, aim to keep the strings all equal lengths
- To hold your parachute ready for release, pinch the top of your parachute, hold it up and let it go
- Hopefully your parachute will descend slowly to the ground, giving your weight a comfortable landing. When you release the parachute the weight pulls down on the strings and opens up a large surface area of material that uses air resistance to slow it down. The larger the surface area the more air resistance and the slower the parachute will drop.
- Cutting a small hole in the middle of the parachute will allow air to slowly pass through it rather than spilling out over one side, this should help the parachute fall straighter.
- Did you know that on April 19, 1919, Leslie Leroy Irvin made the world's first premeditated freefall parachute descent using a rip cord, rather than using a canister or tether line attached to the aircraft to pull open the parachute
- Parachutes are used to drop from high altitudes to help people or cargo slowly descend to the ground.


> Tissue Paper or Plastic Parachute - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6RA9x4wlnW8

The youtube clip shows how to make the parachute from tissue paper. Remember to use your tape to reinforce the corners.
The tissue paper can be swapped out for a plastic bag

Resources:
tissue paper - enough to have a square about the size of a serviette or 30cmx30cm
scissors
ruler
tape
hole punch
string/twine
small object to act as the weight e.g. action figure/small toy


> Dinner Napkin Parachute

Resources:
dinner napkin
string/twine
small object to act as a weight

This one is made like a tissue paper or plastic parachute, but instead of making holes for your parachute strings - just scrunch up the corner and tie on
Make the length of your string to be a length and a half of your parachute


> Octagon Parachute

Resources:
a plastic bag
scissors
string
tape
small object to act as the weight

Instructions:
1. Cut out a large square from your plastic bag or material.
2. Trim the edges so it looks like an octagon (an eight sided shape).
3. Place tape on the plastic where you are going to cut a small hole or use a hole punch to make a hole near the edge of each side
4. Attach 8 pieces of string of the same length to each of the holes.
5. Tie the pieces of string to the object you are using as a weight.
6. Use a chair or find a high spot to drop your parachute and test how well it worked, remember that you want it to drop as slow as possible.


> Paper Parachute - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UE98Un7AWQ0

Resources for this parachute are paper, ruler, pencil, scissors, glue and a bottletop.
It uses a rectangle piece of paper, and with a few cuts and glue you have your parachute shape.
This parachute is best made with the use of a hot glue gun to be able to attach the bottletop - or choose a different weighted item that does not require hot glue gun use


> Coffee Filter Parachute - https://www.wikihow.com/Make-a-Paper-Parachute

Number 3 on this WikiHow gives instructions on making a parachute using a coffee filter and dental floss

Tags

• parachute

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