Materials
Small electric fan or blow dryer Masking tape Assortment of lightweight items, such as: Cottonballs Ping pong balls Wads of paper Styrofoam cups Packing nuts Feathers Leaves Paper cups
Long smooth table or other flat surface
Marker
Assortment of heavy items
Instructions
Note: Constant adult supervision is required for this activity.
1. Place fan or blow dryer at one end of table.
2. Place masking tape across the other end of table for the "Finish Line."3. Ask the children to place objects in a row in front of vortex of fan while the fan is turned off.
4. Have the children guess which object will cross the finish line first.
5. Turn the fan on and observe.
6. Discuss wind force versus the weight and density of the objects.More to doFine motor skills: Encourage children to create their own fans out of half sheets of construction paper folded back and forth.Games: Create mazes and obstacles for objects to be blown through, over, under, around, etc. to encourage concepts of spatial relationships and construction.
