Fall STEM Activity: Ghost Parachute Drop Challenge (FALL04) | Middle School Physical Science (Grades 6-8)

? FALL STEM ACTIVITY: GHOST PARACHUTE DROP CHALLENGE (FALL04)

3-Page STEM Activity | Print-Ready PDF Format

Master air resistance, drag forces, and terminal velocity! The Ghost Parachute Drop Challenge (FALL04) challenges middle school student teams to act as aerospace engineers, designing a lightweight ghost parachute out of tissue paper or plastic and string to slow down payload descent from a 2.5-meter drop.

Students explore air resistance (drag), terminal velocity equilibrium, canopy surface area dynamics, stability venting, and average velocity calculations (v = d / t)!

? WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THIS 3-PAGE PACKET?

• ? Page 1: Teacher Guide & Lesson Plan: NGSS alignment (MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-2), target science concepts, setup guide, expected student outcomes, answer keys, and math troubleshooting tips.

• ? Page 2: Student Mission Card & Blueprint: Real-world aerospace engineering scenario hook. Clear material limits box (plastic/tissue canopy, string, ghost payload, tape, max air-time rule). Dedicated Ghost Parachute Canopy & Vector Schematic sketching zone.

• ? Page 3: Testing Log & Scientific Reflection: Structured Data Testing Table (canopy surface area, suspension line length, drop height, hang-time s across 3 trials). Applied Math Connection (calculate average descent speed in m/s across testing trials). Physics reflection questions.

? CORE STEM SKILLS COVERED:

• Aerospace Engineering & Fluid Resistance Physics

• Terminal Velocity, Air Resistance Drag & Canopy Surface Area Mechanics

• Data Logging, Precision Timing (s), and Descent Speed Math Calculations (m/s)

• Suspension Line Balance and Structural Flight Stability Optimization

? WHY TEACHERS LOVE THIS RESOURCE:

• 3-Page Professional Layout: Includes a complete Page 1 Teacher Guide for seamless prep, keeping student lab sheets clean and ready to print!

• Low-Cost Materials: Uses simple plastic trash bags or tissue paper, string/yarn, tape, and a stopwatch.

• High-Impact Physics Lab: Makes drag force equations and terminal velocity concepts visual, measurable, and highly engaging for Grades 6-8!

• Format: High-resolution, print-ready PDF format (3 Pages).

Target Grades: 6th, 7th, 8th / Middle School

Subject Area: Physical Science, Physics, Forces and Motion, Fluid Dynamics, Fall / Halloween STEM Labs

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