If you’re meandering the halls of Golden Hill, watch out for fifth graders zooming by, floating midair! Students are getting a hands-on lesson in science and math through an interactive hovercraft project that brings classroom concepts to life.

Originally launched last year, the project was designed to help students better understand one of science’s more challenging concepts: that air is matter. Through a series of investigations, students explore the properties of air and see firsthand how air pressure can generate enough force to lift the mass of a person on a hovercraft.

“We’re learning about matter and properties. The hoverboard showed us that air is matter,” said AJ Yurchuk. “It wouldn’t have been able to lift us off the ground if not!”

The project integrates multiple New York State Education Department learning standards, combining science, math and engineering into one engaging experience. Students apply measurement and data skills in math while exploring scientific concepts such as the structures and properties of matter, forces and interactions, friction, gravity and motion.

The hovercraft project also introduces students to the engineering design process, encouraging trial and error, problem-solving and prototype testing as they work through challenges.

“It was a cool science experiment,” said Madison McAteer. “My friend went on it and went so fast. But Mr. Pupola went on, and it only went up a little and was slow…the bigger the person is, the more mass they have.”

By blending creativity with hands-on learning, the project gives students a memorable way to experience the power of science in action.

“I think we need to do fun stuff like that because we all got so excited about science,” McAteer added. “We saw something cool and needed to know how it was happening!”