Halloween STEM: Rockets, Gliders, and Catapults (Ages 6-8)

This four-class Halloween STEM series uses themed, hands-on projects to teach basic ideas about forces, motion, air, and balance. Each session is a predictable, kid-friendly routine so learners know what to expect and stay engaged. Classes last 45 to 55 minutes and combine a short prompt, a teacher demonstration, guided building or observation, and a quick group reflection. Each class includes a welcome and warm-up science question, a materials check and safety reminder, a close-up demonstration so every child sees a clear result, a guided activity (with an observer option for kids who prefer not to handle materials), and a short group discussion plus an optional challenge to extend learning at home. Activities are tactile and low-stress: students fold and modify paper ghost gliders, make balloon rockets on a string, build simple spoon catapults to launch soft targets, and test balance points on bat cutouts using small weights. Through building and testing, children explore how escaping air can push or lift objects, how angle and force change distance and speed, and how weight placement affects stability. This course is best for kids ages 6 to 8 who enjoy building, testing, and making small design changes. It works for beginners and for children who prefer to observe; observers remain actively involved by predicting outcomes, answering questions, and describing results.