Carbon Dioxide Cars

Carbon Dioxide Cars is a STEM activity in which students create and construct a car from balsa wood which is then raced using CO2 cylinders as a propellant. Long before the F1 in Schools program took the STEM world by storm, teachers around the world were using the same principles to engage students with this engaging and educational integrated project.

There are numerous benefits to the Carbon Dioxide Cars program. Most notably for schools and community groups, there is flexibility in the possible modes of delivery of the program. I’ve delivered the program as:

  • Whole class/year group STEM activities (Lilydale District School, Beaconsfield Primary School)

  • After-school STEM Club Sessions (Launceston Grammar/Double Helix)

  • ‘Options’ or ‘Short Courses’ (West Launceston Primary School)

Other opportunities to engage in the program include:

  • Staff professional learning activities

  • Pre-service teacher experiences

  • Youth/Scouts/Guides groups

  • Facilitated child-parent (guardian/carer) sessions - Year 3 to Year 6

Carbon Dioxide Cars is suitable for students from Year 5 to Year 10 as a stand-alone program however, several students who’ve completed the program in Year 5 or 6 have gone on to compete in the F1 in Schools in high school.

  • Student safety.

    The goal of Hands-On STEM is to ‘learn by doing’. Students use hand tools including saws, rasps and files to shape their balsa wood. Sand paper and paint (including spray paints) are used to finish the job. Depending on the age of students, a drill press, ‘Dremel-style’ power tool and file sander are useful additions. These materials can be supplied.

    The safety of your students is paramount. Appropriate supervision, student conduct, eye protection, ventilation and Material Safety will be discussed to ensure a safe and enjoyable learning experience.

  • Cost of consumables.

    Students design and create a CO2 powered race car which is theirs to keep. Indicative costs for basic consumables:

    1 x Balsa ‘blank’ & wheel kit $15.70 ea

    50 x Balsa ‘blank’ & wheel kit $14.30 ea

    10 pack CO2 cylinders ($9.15) $0.95 ea

    360 pack CO2 cylinders ($295) $0.82 ea

  • Assessment of learning.

    The program can be delivered with, or without, explicit assessment in mind. Pro forma documents are available which can be used as part of an Assessment Portfolio.

    Most groups run ‘Knock-Out’ races in which two cars compete and the winner goes to the next round. A group with 32 cars requires five rounds and 62 CO2 cylinders to run a competition this way. A student whose car is knocked out in Round 1 in this style of competition only sees their car race once.