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How to Make a Toy Car Go With a Balloon

Making a balloon-powered car is an interesting way to create a toy out of recyclable materials available around your home. It will teach children lessons about science and what is necessary to makes things move. You can show groups of children how to make the car and then allow them to make their own. They will enjoy racing the cars and seeing whose car can go the farthest and fastest during the competition.

Things You'll Need

Hand or power drill
Four soda or water bottle tops
Two bamboo skewers
Scissors
Sturdy cardboard
Two straight plastic straws
Cellophane tape
Bendable straw
Balloon
Rubber band

Instructions

- 1
  Drill a small hole in the center of each of the four bottle caps. You want it to be small enough that the bamboo skewer can fit into it tightly.
- 2
  Cut a sturdy piece of cardboard into a rectangular shape that is approximately 15 by 10 centimeters.
- 3
  Attach the plastic straws to the cardboard with the cellophane tape. This will form the axles of your car. You want them directly across the narrow ends. Make sure they are straight and parallel to each other for the wheels to move efficiently.
- 4
  Stick the bamboo skewer into one of the bottle top holes and push the skewer firmly into it.
- 5
  Slide the bamboo skewer into a straw on the cardboard. Attach the other bottle cap to the other end of the skewer. Do the same thing to create the other wheels and axle.
- 6
  Cut the bendable straw so that the straight portion is the same length as the bendable portion.
- 7
  Stretch the balloon out with your hands a couple of times or blow it up twice to loosen it.
- 8
  Place one end of the bendable straw about an inch and a half into the neck of the balloon. Wrap the rubber band around it a few times to secure it. Blow up the balloon to ensure that it will not fly off when you blow it up to power the car and then allow it to deflate.
- 9
  Attach the balloon and straw combination to the car with some tape. Allow the open end of the straw to stick out over the cardboard, so that you can use your mouth to blow it up. Hold the car, blow up the balloon and then squeeze the neck of the balloon so that no air will escape. Set it on a tabletop or floor, release the balloon, and watch your car take off.

Toy Vehicles