I’ve been following this blog with interest for a long time now, but never had the inspiration to actually participate in any of the weekly Unplugged Projects until now. I can think of lots of fun things to do, but none that might interest an almost two year old. Last week’s theme was transportation. I happened to have this book on my desk and flipped through it to find a helicopter and an airplane project. It’s maybe a loose interpretation of the theme, but hey, it works, and we had fun. I actually did this and took pictures last week, but am just now getting the post up.
We did the “helicopter” first. I gave her several sheets of paper as well as crayons and stickers, but she chose to decorate solely with a pencil. She had a lot of fun helping me measure for cutting.
The helicopter was made by cutting a strip of paper, and then some folds and cuts, and a paper clip gets put on one end. I did that part and I didn’t get pictures of it in progress. Once it was done, I showed Meredith how to use it and she had a blast throwing it up in the air and watching it spin slowly to the ground. I gave her some other things to try and throw, and pointed out that the helicopter fell a lot slower than something like her bouncy balls.
Meredith holding the finished helicopter
Not sure what to do yet
Getting ready to throw it
Watching it fall to the ground
Dismantling it afterwards was half the fun!
Next we made an airplane from the same book. She wanted to use the same paper we had used for the helicopter. Basically, you make a regular paper airplane, and then thread an elastic band through a hole under the wing. It is supposed to demonstrate different types of energy. Meredith couldn’t really fly the plane on her own, so I did it for the most part. I showed her what happened when I threw it with and without the elastic band. I think she just had fun watching it go flying and then running after it. Kris had more fun than she did when he got home from work later. 
The finished airplane
Playing with the elastic
She pulled the elastic tight and snapped it back a few times, as well as experimenting with what happened if she let go of the plane instead of the elastic.
I have an idea for something I’d like to try for this week’s theme, which is science. I think it would be fun to do with someone else though, so I’m going to see if Kyre and her son want to join us for that one.
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Good Stuff! I think I will have to get that book next time I order some books.
That’s so fun! We’ve never done airplanes like that. The next time I have an elastic in my hands we’re going to have to make one.
I love doing the unplugged projects but I don’t always have together to get it done on time!
It was a lot of fun! Jen, there are a lot of great ideas in that book. Annie actually ordered a similar one that came today that I think I’m going to have to get next time too that has even more fun looking experiments.