PowerUp 3.0 Paper Plane Hovercraft Challenge

Activity developed by Redland City Council Libraries

Details

Age group	Year 9+ (ages 14+)
Method	Small group activity
Participant to facilitator ratio	10:1
Duration	1 hour 10 mins

Aim/Key Learning

For participants to design and build a hovercraft, then successfully complete an obstacle course with a Bluetooth propeller, controlled by a tablet.

Participants will create their own hover craft following a basic design provided. They can adapt the design with the materials provided.

Each team has two chances to beat the obstacle course. The team that has saved the most amount of time on the second round wins.

Success is demonstrated by having a hovercraft run successfully through the obstacle course, based on the hovercraft not favouring one side, flipping or floating away.

Preparation and Materials Required

Paper, tape, glue, paper plates, paper clips, bull dog clips and scissors, helium balloons (to be decided)

Tables – number will depend on participants

Tablets x 2 requiring the PowerUp App

PowerUp 3.0 Bluetooth Propeller

Space with a smooth surface to create an obstacle course (wood floor, tile or tabletop)

Activity Steps

1. Instruction and Demonstration

Time: 15 min

Introductions and housekeeping

Show video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0T-AicGVXs

Explanation of PowerUp 3.0 and timeframe with PowerPoint presentation

Demonstration of PowerUp 3.0 and basic hovercraft

Explain to participants that they will be working in pairs to create hovercrafts, then using an app and motorised propeller to drive it through an obstacle course.

Split children into groups/pairs

Allocate table and pack to start creating Hover Crafts for testing

Explain rules:

Judge’s decision is final

Two attempts only per team

Participants have time between runs to make minor changes to hovercraft

Completely new hover crafts cannot be made, only alterations to original design

2. Design, Build and Test Hovercraft

Time: 30 min
At the start of the session, we will show participants a presentation of the most basic design for the hovercraft that they can create. (See picture). This design is simply taping the propeller onto a paper plate. Participants may want to:

Personalise – make it awesome to look at!

Add a tail, wings and buffer to make it easier to keep straight and steer

Experiment with different size plates and bowls to see which shape runs better

Add a stand for the propeller to stand on to keep it straight and sturdy

Create a little ‘driver’ to drive the hover craft

Prototype 1: This will be the first chance for participant’s to start creating their hovercraft. It is there chance to go crazy with their ideas, adding any features to their hovercraft that they wish to test out.

Test 1: Participants may find that their design is:

Too heavy

Does not go straight

Does not have the ability to steer

Too slow

Prototype 2: This is the participant’s chance to come up with a new design or modify their hover craft. Participants may need to:

Use lighter materials

Adjust the propeller

Test 2: This test should see a few more hover crafts being successfully driven.

Final design: This is the time for participants to add the last final touches to their designs. It is advised that participants don’t create a new design entirely as they won’t have another opportunity to test it. However if their designs 100% aren’t working they can just use the Basic Design for the obstacle course.

3. Obstacle Course Challenge

Time: 30 min
Obstacle Course: The layout for the obstacle course can be seen below (may vary on hover craft quality):

Hover crafts must start on green line and finish on the red.

No participants are allowed in the arena while course is being run

Driver will stand at green line

Time finishes when hovercraft touches red line

There will be a cap on 5 minutes

Participants will have 2 chances to complete obstacle course with each pair member having a turn at driving. The best time will be counted as their score.

15 mins – Race and Obstacle course

Place a line from one end of the tables to the other for the obstacle course.

Let pairs drive through course

Let each pair participate in obstacle course – While one group is doing the course the other groups may make adjustments on Hovercrafts

4. Evaluation and Closing

Time: 5 min
At the end of the session, ask for volunteers to share their learnings or how they found the session. Thank everyone for their participation and team work.

Additional Inspiration and Resources

Hovercraft Tutorials

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGKPCo4Ub9Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZGkv3Hy4HM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5B03gu4qsA

http://www.instructables.com/id/picoo-Z-hovercraft-case/

Loanable Kits

State Library has kits of this item available for loan to libraries within the Regional Libraries Queensland and Indigenous Knowledge Centres network. Libraries can place a reservation through the Aurora catalogue (availability is subject to existing reservations, loans and associated return dates).

The kits are for use by patrons within the library only, as part of supervised library programming. They will not be listed in the public online catalogue for personal reservation.

Please contact Access Services, or phone 07 3842 9014 with any queries.

Loanable Kits

State Library does not have kits of this item available for loan to libraries.