Release a Bouncing Cardboard Disc

Fling a lightweight disc to bounce along surfaces. Invent a compass made of Strawbees beams, then draw circles on a sheet of cardboard. After cutting the disc, attach a rubber band and release to project the aerodynamic disc through the air!

• Blue 1-leg connector x 4
• Yellow 2-leg connector x 1
• Yellow straw (4 cm) x 1
• Orange straw (8 cm) x 1
• Rubber band x 1
• Corrugated cardboard box to be cut down into sheets
• Scissors
• Thin marker
• Optional: Ruler

If you don't have Strawbees connectors and straws, use a compass to draw 2 circles on the cardboard sheet. The inner circle's radius is 7 cm. From the edge of the outer circle's radius measures at 10 cm.

To get Strawbees connectors and precut straws, you can purchase the STEAM School Kit (for up to 30 students) or STEAM Starter Kit (1 per student).

Vocabulary

• Radius - A line segment extending from the center of a circle

Step Pieces

• Blue 1-leg connector x 3
• Yellow 2-leg connector x 1
• Yellow straw (4 cm) x 1
• Orange straw (8 cm) x 1

This beam made from Strawbees straws and connectors transforms into a drawing compass. The orange straw is longer and will be used to draw the outer circle of the disc. Leaving the yellow straw for drawing the inner circle.

Click the 1-leg connector into the 2-leg connector for the center of the beam. Then fit the straws on the legs of the 2-leg connector. Attach the remaining 2 blue 1-leg connectors on the ends of the straws.

Step Pieces

• Cardboard sheet
• Scissors

Poke a hole in the center of the sheet. Then stick the compass with the leg of the blue 1-leg connector through.

Step Pieces

• Blue 1-leg connector x 1

Secure the compass by locking a blue 1-leg connector on the other side of the sheet.

Step Pieces

• Marker x 1

Point a marker down through the hole of a 1-leg connector attached to the yellow straw. Then draw a small circle. The hole should be parallel to the surface as the hole for the marker to clearly draw down through.

Step Pieces

• Marker x 1

Point a marker down through the hole of a 1-leg connector attached to the orange straw. Then draw a small circle.

Step Pieces

• Scissors x 1

Cut the cardboard from the inner circle and the outside of the disc out.

Step Pieces

• Marker x 1

Step Pieces

• Scissors x 1

Drawing this tiny triangle is going to be a notch for holding the rubber band to release.

Step Pieces

• Rubber band x 1

Hook a rubber band on the notch. Then launch your disc!