Simple Engineering Projects for Kids: An Indoor Frisbee

Hello, hello! As the holiday season gets into full swing, I thought I’d load up the blog with a lot of gifts for you and your family. I’m going to sharing a lot of simple engineering projects for kids that do not require any special materials.

A good engineering project starts with a good question. Since it’s getting colder outside, I wondered about bringing outdoor games inside. As I thought about simple projects that are also fun, I asked, “What if we could create an indoor frisbee?”

Two part image. On the left: A young child plays outside with an orange Frisbee. On the right: Text reads Everyday Curiosity - Design an indoor Frisbee above the Opportunity Unlocked logo

Getting our inventing juices flowing by combining two different ideas (being inside and Frisbee) helps us continue to think outside of the box. What can I use to make my Frisbee? The traditional hard plastic is out because it won’t work well inside. I want to throw something that can float through the air. I might practice by seeing if other lids fly well around the house. I may try covering cardboard with different materials. I might test throw different kinds of pillows to see if any of them have frisbee potential. I could experiment with different kinds of paper. Engineers work with the materials that they have to explore their ideas. Actively brainstorming ideas does not need to be a pen-and-pencil activity.

After testing a bunch of different materials, we can choose the material combinations that seem the most promising and work to refine the design. I chose to use paper plates and tape in my design, just because that seemed like the most fun. The difference between a good engineering project for kids and a great engineering project for kids is that the great projects encourage kids to keep exploring. You know a kid is unto something good when they ask a question, tinker with different materials, ask another question that builds on earlier questions, and start tinkering again.

As I continued to work on my indoor frisbee, I explored questions like:

  • What happens if I cut out different shapes from the middle?
  • How will adding weight to one side change how my frisbee flies?
  • Can I attach plates in different ways?
  • Is a smaller frisbee better for indoor play?

I’d love to hear more about your indoor engineering adventures in the comments! If you’re looking for more great ways to encourage kids to go from big idea to doable project, grab a copy of Every Parent’s Guide to Creative Projects.

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