Riding on Air

• CD (one per team)
• plastic straw
• rubber band
• balloon
• scissors
• Pencils
• masking tape
• 3–5-cm piece of foam or sponge (with flat sides)
• stop watch

Prior to the activity, use a pencil to poke a hole in the center of the foam or sponge (whichever you are using). This will not only be safer for students but will speed up the building portion of the activity. A large, flat area on a table or a section of floor should be cleared to race the hovercraft. Use the masking tape to create a starting line. Then measure 75 cm and also mark a finish line for the race.