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Have you ever wished you could capture the wind inside a tower and study its magic? Engineers do something very similar! They use special tools called wind tunnels to learn how air moves around airplanes, rockets, race cars, and even buildings. In this enchanting STEM activity, you'll build your own wind tunnel and discover how invisible forces can make objects float, spin, soar, and dance through the air! This post contain affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, The Princess Program STEM may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These funds help support our mission of inspiring future innovators through hands-on STEM experiences. Thank you for supporting our nonprofit!
Step 1: Measure Your Plastic Sheet To create your wind (tunnel) tower, you'll first need to determine how long your plastic sheet should be. The length of the sheet should match the circumference of your embroidery hoops, so it goes all the way around the hoops. The formula for circumference is: Circumference = π × Diameter, where π (called pi) is equal to approximately 3.14. For our example:
Use a permanent marker to draw a straight line and carefully cut along that line. The height of your plastic sheet will become the height of your wind tunnel. Step 2: Create Your Wind Tunnel Tower Roll the plastic sheet into a cylinder shape. Place one embroidery hoop at the top of the cylinder. Place the second embroidery hoop at the middle of the cylinder. Place the third embroidery hoop at the bottom of the cylinder. Each hoop should hold the plastic between its inner and outer rings. These hoops act like the structure of a castle tower, helping your wind tunnel keep its shape! Step 3: Tighten the Hoops Twist the screws on all three embroidery hoops until they are secure. Check that the plastic is stretched evenly and that the tower stands nicely without collapsing inward. Your magical wind tower is really beginning to take shape! Step 4: Add the Tower's Feet Clip the 4 large clothespins evenly around the bottom embroidery hoop. These clothespins act like sturdy table legs, creating a gap between the fan and the bottom of the wind tunnel. This opening will allow you to place test objects into the airflow when you finish building your tower! Step 5: Prepare the Wind Source Place your floor fan on a stable surface (preferably the ground). Tilt the fan so it blows straight upward, and then lock it into position. Optional Safety Step If you have curious little engineers who may want to touch the fan, you can cover the fan with tulle or mesh fabric before attaching the wind tunnel. This extra layer helps create a safer testing environment while still allowing plenty of airflow. Whether you choose to cover your fan with mesh or not, adult supervision is strongly recommended when playing with the wind tower! Step 6: Connect the Wind Tunnel Place your wind tunnel on top of the fan. If the clothespin feet fit into the openings of your fan's protective cover (if you use the supplies linked above they will!), gently press one side of the clothespin into an opening on the fan. You may need to adjust the clothespin spacing a little bit so they line up better with the fan's holes. If your fan has a different design, you can balance the tower on top of the fan and use twine or pipe cleaners to tie the clothes pins securely to the fan. Make sure everything feels stable before turning on the fan. And now you're ready to experiment and play!For Extra Science: Before You Begin, Make a Hypothesis
Every great scientist and engineer begins with a question! A hypothesis is an educated prediction about what you think will happen and why. Try asking:
Step 7: Let the Magic Begin! Turn on the fan. Carefully place lightweight objects into the opening between the clothespin feet at the bottom of the tower. Watch closely! You can even draw pictures of what is happening, just like scientists observe and collect data when they conduct experiments. You may see objects:
Every object will tell a different story about how air moves and how gravity (the force that pulls us down towards the early) works. Try with different materials, different fan speeds, different weights and shapes, and most importantly have fun!! Related Science Vocabulary Aerodynamics: Aerodynamics is the study of how air moves around objects. Lift: Lift is the force that can push an object upward and help it stay in the air. Gravity: Gravity pulls objects back toward Earth. Scientific Method: The scientific method is how scientists think. It starts with setting a hypothesis, includes designing an experiment, observing and collecting data, and then analyzing the data to see if your hypothesis was right or wrong! Variables: A variable is something that can change during an experiment. By changing only one variable at a time (like the size of a pom pom or the wind speed of the fan), scientists can better understand what caused a result. Reflection Questions for STEM Princesses
Remember: there are no failed experiments—only discoveries! Notes for Parents and Educators This activity encourages curiosity, creativity, observation, and critical thinking.
If you give this activity a try at home, tag us on social media @theprincessprogramstem so we can see the magic you create!! ✨
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Welcome, STEM Princesses! Let's dive into the magical world of chemistry to create our very own Love Potion No. 1! Don’t worry — this isn’t just any fairytale potion; it’s a scientific experiment in disguise! Using sparkly science, and enchanting ingredients, we’ll explore how different substances mix, just like real chemists do in their laboratories. Along the way, we’ll learn about density and polarity all while crafting a sparkly potion fit for a princess! So grab your tiaras and your safety glasses — it’s time to discover the magic of STEM!  Supplies
Instructions
Questions to ask:
STEM Vocabulary: 💖 Density – How heavy or light something is compared to its size. In our potion, liquids with different densities will layer instead of mixing—just like oil floating on water! 💖 Polarity – A property that determines what liquids mix and what stay separate. Water is polar (it likes to stick to itself), while oil is non-polar (it doesn’t mix with water). That’s why oil and water don’t blend in our potion! 💖 Solubility – How well something dissolves in a liquid. Some ingredients (like sugar or food coloring) dissolve in water, while others (like glitter or oil) do not. 💖 Viscosity – How thick or thin a liquid is. Honey and syrup have high viscosity (they flow slowly), while water and juice have low viscosity (they flow quickly). If you'd like some extra special potion activities, check out the full enchanted potions lab below! Note: Always supervise your child when playing with their love potion. Please read all warnings on ingredients to ensure you know when to contact your doctor if ingested. Supplies:
Activity:
 Supplies (affiliate links):
1) Cut a small piece or a loop from the recycled plastic bag. 2) Rub the piece of plastic bag on the piece of wool or fur for 30 seconds. 3) Run the plastic rod on the wool or fur for 30 seconds. 4) Hold the small plastic loop above the plastic rod and see what happens! Note: Plastic bags could pose a suffocation hazard to young children, so please ensure they are supervised at all times while playing with their magic wand. Note: All crafts and activities are to be done with adult supervision, and the use of any developed products should be supervised as well. Some parts may not be suitable for young children, so please follow the manufacturer's guidelines for all supplies used.
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