Fifth Grade Activity for International Dot Day

International Dot Day, celebrated on September 15th, is a global event that encourages creativity, courage, and collaboration. Inspired by Peter H. Reynolds' book The Dot, this day is all about making your mark and exploring where your creativity can take you.

In The Dot, a young girl named Vashti discovers her artistic potential when she starts with a simple dot on a piece of paper. This act of bravery leads her on a journey of creativity and self-expression. International Dot Day inspires children and adults alike to embrace their creativity and share their unique talents with the world.

For fifth graders, International Dot Day provides the perfect occasion to blend creativity with hands-on STEM learning through the Balloon Hovercraft experiment.

In this activity, students will explore the principles of air pressure and friction by constructing a simple hovercraft using everyday materials. This engaging experiment not only ties into the themes of exploration and discovery found in The Dot but also introduces students to important scientific concepts in a fun and interactive way.

Materials Needed

• CD or DVD (to serve as the hovercraft base)

• Balloon

• Plastic bottle cap (with a 1/2 inch hole in the center)

• Hot glue gun or strong adhesive

• Clothespin (optional)

• Tape (optional)

• Pencils and science journals

Steps for the Science Investigation

1. Read Aloud: Begin by reading The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds to the class. Discuss the themes of creativity, experimentation, and discovery. Explain that today, students will use their creativity to explore the principles of air pressure and friction by building their own hovercrafts.

2. Formulate a Hypothesis: Ask students to predict how well their hovercraft will glide over different surfaces. Encourage them to consider how air pressure and friction will affect the movement of their hovercraft and to record their predictions in their science journals.

3. Conduct the Experiment:

   • Prepare the Base: Start with a clean and dry CD or DVD, which will serve as the base of the hovercraft.

   • Attach the Bottle Cap: Use a hot glue gun or strong adhesive to securely attach the plastic bottle cap (with the hole) to the center of the CD or DVD. Make sure the hole faces upward.

   • Prepare the Balloon: Inflate the balloon and twist the end tightly to prevent air from escaping, but do not tie it off. A clothespin can be used to hold the balloon closed. Stretch the balloon’s neck over the bottle cap’s opening and secure it with tape if necessary.

   • Test the Hovercraft: Place the hovercraft on a flat surface, such as a table or floor, and release the balloon’s neck to allow the air to escape through the hole. Observe how the hovercraft glides over the surface.

4. Observe and Record: Have students observe how the hovercraft moves and note the distance it travels. Encourage them to test the hovercraft on different surfaces, such as smooth and rough, and record how these surfaces affect the hovercraft’s movement.

5. Analysis: Discuss the results with the class. Ask students to compare how the hovercraft performed on different surfaces and consider why it glided better on some surfaces than others. Explain how the air cushion created by the balloon reduces friction, allowing the hovercraft to move more smoothly.

6. Conclusion: Reflect on the experiment and whether the students’ hypotheses were correct. Discuss the importance of air pressure in reducing friction and how this experiment demonstrates the principles of physics in action. Encourage students to think about how they might improve their hovercraft designs or test other variables in future experiments.

Simplifying Your Planning Process

The STEM Teachers Club Membership not only provides high-quality lesson plans but also offers a structured approach to implementing them. With weekly themes and suggested read-alouds, you can easily integrate STEM into your daily schedule. The detailed planning samples and customizable templates help you stay organized and ensure that your STEM activities are aligned with educational standards.

New Membership resources now include editable Canva Slides! We also host monthly STEM planning parties to help you plan your K-5 STEM lessons.

Watch the replay from our September STEM Planning Party here!

While this resource is available on Teachers Pay Teachers, the Carly and Adam STEM Teachers Club Membership offers the best value for educators. With this membership, teachers gain unlimited access to Carly and Adam's extensive library of STEM resources, including ready-to-use lesson plans, activities, and challenges like the International Dot Day STEM activity.

The membership is flexible, allowing educators to download as many resources as needed and cancel anytime without any hassle. This makes it a cost-effective solution for teachers looking to continuously inspire their students with high-quality, creative STEM activities. Don't miss out on the opportunity to enrich your classroom—join the STEM Teachers Club today and take your teaching to the next level!

*This resource can also be purchased on Teachers Pay Teachers, but the STEM Teachers Club Membership is the Best Deal.

Have more questions or need additional resources?

You can get all 500+ STEM Challenges by Carly and Adam as part of the STEM Teachers Club Membership. Save $5 on your first month using coupon Code: CarlyAndAdamBlog.

We hope you have found this blog post helpful. To stay connected with Carly and Adam's teaching tips and classroom freebies be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, Teachers Pay Teachers, and subscribe to our blog!