These patriotic flying eagle STEM challenges will be fun to explore. The first challenge invites children to build an eagle that will glide through the air. The second flying eagle challenge explores launching straw rockets. While they are being shared just before the Fourth of July, you could explore them while studying American history, before Memorial Day, or even on Flag Day.
The set shared below includes three sizes of stars and stripes-themed eagles. While the two larger eagles were created for the glider activity, you could use the small eagle to make a mini glider. If you choose to do that, you will probably need to use toothpicks instead of straws as support. However, the small eagle was created for the straw rocket activity.
Both of the patriotic flying eagle STEM challenges have a recording sheet. They display the supplies needed, a distance flown chart, and a place to record their thoughts. It will be up to you to decide if you would like to have your children use them.
Building Background
Before starting the STEM challenges, you may want to read a book about patriotic symbols or the 4th of July. It will give your children some background knowledge on how our symbols came to be.
The book American Symbols: What You Need to Know will give kids an inside scoop on each of the American symbols and how they came to be.
Children will learn why we celebrate the people, places, and things America is known for when they read the book A is for America. It will be fun to see what the authors have chosen for each letter of the alphabet.
The book America The Beautiful also explores famous landmarks, people, and symbols. The pictures and maps in this book are gorgeous!
Downloading the Patriotic Flying Eagle STEM Challenges
First, you will need to download the set.
Second, if you don’t have Acrobat Reader you will need to download it. The algorithm page is an Acrobat Reader PDF file.
Third, you must go to your download file and open the page.
Supply Lists for the Eagle STEM Challenges
Straw Rocket
- Large Straws
- Drinking Straws
- One Flying Eagle Picture
- Scissors
- Tape
- Measuring Tapes
- Pencils
- Crayons, Markers, or Color Pencils
Eagle Gilder
- Straws
- Tape
- Flying Eagle
- Scissors
- Tape
- Measuring Tapes
- Pencils
Building Directions for the Eagle STEM Challenges
Straw Rockets
- Children will need to cut off a piece of the large straw about 2 and a half inches long. They will need to tape one end of the straw closed.
- Then children will need to color their eagles.
- Next, the flying eagle can be glued or taped to the section of the large straw. The eagle’s eyes should be facing the taped end of the straw.
- Finally, the eagle on the straw will need to be placed on the smaller straw so it can be blown off the straw.
Eagle Glider
- Children will need to color their eagles.
- Then they will tape straws on the back of the eagle in an arrangement that will help it fly the farthest.
- Finally, children will explore ways to launch or glide the eagle to get it to go the farthest.
More STEM Flying Activities
Baseball Bat Straw Rocket Activity
