1. Santa’s sleigh race KS2/3 activity You will need: A long balloon
A template of a sleigh
A balloon pump
Scissors
A peg
Colouring pens/pencils
A straw
A race track (a piece of string tied across the room)
Some double-sided sticky tape
What to do:
Cut out the sleigh pictures from the template and decorate.
Cut a straw in half so you have two shorter pieces.
Take one of the pieces and cut along it so you have a slit.
Blow up a long balloon with a balloon pump and secure with a peg to stop it deflating.
Use double sided sticky tape to stick the straw onto the top of the balloon so the slit is facing upwards.
Use more tape to stick the sleighs onto the sides of the balloon.
Open the slit in the straw to place onto the string. Remove the peg and watch your sleigh go! Whose went the furthest?
The science:
Draw a diagram of your sleigh whizzing across the room and draw on arrows to show the forces involved.
Suggest some things you could change about your sleigh to make it go further and explain how they would work. ©

2. © www.snapshotscience.co.uk, 2010