Bat Wing Glider Physics STEM Lab FALL05

Middle School Physics Fall STEM Lab: 3-page packet on Bernoulli’s principle, aerodynamic lift vs drag, center of mass ballast, & flight math.

Soar into aerodynamics, Bernoulli’s Principle, and bio-inspired flight mechanics! The Bouncing Bat Wing Glider STEM Challenge (FALL05) challenges middle school student teams to act as aeronautical engineers, designing a bat-inspired paper glider using cardstock, straws, craft sticks, and paperclip nose ballast for maximum horizontal glide distance.

Students explore Bernoulli’s Principle, aerodynamic lift vs. drag, center of gravity, wing aspect ratios, and biomimicry!

What Is Included in This 3-Page Packet?

Page 1: Teacher Guide & Lesson Plan: NGSS alignment (MS-PS2-2, MS-ETS1-2), target science concepts, setup guide, expected student outcomes, answer keys, and math troubleshooting tips.

Page 2: Student Mission Card & Blueprint: Real-world aerospace engineering scenario hook, clear material limits box (construction paper/cardstock, craft sticks, paperclips, tape, flight distance rule), and a dedicated Bat Wing Aerodynamic Schematic & Vector sketching zone.

Page 3: Testing Log & Scientific Reflection: Structured Data Testing Table (track wing modifications, ballast placement, and flight distance in centimeters/meters across 3 trials), Applied Math Connection (calculate average flight distance across testing trials), and physics reflection questions.

Core STEM Skills Covered:

Aerospace Engineering & Aerodynamic Lift/Drag Mechanics

Center of Mass Stabilization, Surface Area & Pitch Control

Data Logging, Precision Metric Distance Measurement, and Average Math Calculations

Airfoil Design and Flight Path Optimization

Why Teachers Love This Resource:

3-Page Professional Layout: Includes a complete Page 1 Teacher Guide for seamless prep, keeping student activity sheets clean and ready to print!

Low-Cost Materials: Uses inexpensive construction paper or cardstock, craft sticks, paperclips, and tape.

High-Impact Physics Lab: Makes aerodynamic forces and center of mass concepts hands-on, visual, and highly competitive for Grades 6–8!

Print-Ready: High-resolution, 3-page PDF format ready for instant printing.