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Balloon Car Activity

Newton’s Games

Time: 20-25 minutes

Materials:
• Thin cardboard (~4” x 6” / student, shirt box or cereal box)
• Lifesaver mints (4/student)
• Paper straws (2/student)
• Smoothie straws (1/student)
• Balloons (1/student)
• *Duct tape (12”/student)
• Rainbow loom bands or small elastic hair bands (8/student)
• Markers for decorating (optional)
• *Clear packing tape (use on top instead of duct take if students
decorate their cars)

Procedure:

1. Give each child a 4” x 6” piece of

cardboard.
2. Have children write their name on
the cardboard.
3. Optional: Children may use
markers to decorate the cardboard
on the top side.
4. Pass out 2 paper straws, 4 mints
and 8 rainbow loom bands.
5. Demonstrate how to loop rubber
band around the end of the straw
(about 1 1/2” from the end of the
straw) at least 4 times.
6. Insert 1 mint beside the rubber
band.

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7. Loop a 2nd rubber band on the end

of the straw to keep the mint on
the straw, allowing some space for
the mint “tire” to rotate.
8. Repeat steps 5-7 on both ends of
the 2 paper straws.

9. Place cardboard upside down.

10. Lay the paper straw “axles”

over the upside down cardboard
near the ends of the cardboard.

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11. Use 2 pieces of duct tape or
packing tape to secure the
wheel/axles onto the cardboard.

12.Pass out the smoothie straws and

balloons (1/student) and small
pieces of duct tape.
13.Demonstrate how to insert the
smoothie straw into the balloon
and secure with duct tape.
14.It is important that this is a tight
seal and no air escapes through
the tape. Test before proceeding to
the next step.

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15. Secure the smoothie straw onto

the top of the car. If students
decorated the car, use clear
packing tape. Make sure the ends
of the straw are hanging out over
each end of the car.
16.Demonstrate how to operate the
car: Blow up the balloon, pinch off
the air in the straw and place on
the floor. Let go of the straw and
the car should move as the balloon
inflates.
17. Explain: This car demonstrates
Newton’s 3rd Law of motion. When
the air leaves the balloon out the
end of the straw, it pushes the car
in the opposite direction.
18. Allow students to play with
their balloon cars.

EVALUATE:

Ask for a volunteer to explain Newton’s Third Law of Motion… For

every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.

Great job!

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