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CO₂ Dragster – 50 Student Class Pack
Design. Build. Test. Race. Learn.
Bring engineering, design, skilled trades, science and technology together in one highly engaging classroom project!
The Kidder CO₂ Dragster 50 Student Class Pack gives educators the materials needed for 50 students to design, build, test and race their own CO₂-powered dragster. From a simple basswood blank to a finished high-speed vehicle, students experience the complete design-build-test-improve cycle while developing practical skills they can apply far beyond this project.
This is an excellent hands-on project for STEAM, Exploring Technologies, Science, Design & Technology, Transportation Technology, Manufacturing and Makerspace programs.
Check out this FREE C02 Dragster Unit resource to help get your C02 program started!
A Natural Fit for Exploring Technologies
CO₂ Dragsters provide an exciting way to support the goals of Ontario's Exploring Technologies curriculum by giving students an opportunity to explore technological processes through an authentic, hands-on project.
Students move from ideas and planning to fabrication, testing and refinement as they create their dragster. Along the way, they can develop experience with technical design, measurement, materials, tools, safe work practices, problem solving and technological systems while making connections to skilled trades and technology-related careers.
Rather than simply learning about technology, students get to use the technological design process themselves.
One Project. Multiple Areas of STEAM.
SCIENCE — Turn physics into something students can actually see. Students can investigate Newton's laws of motion, inertia, thrust, CO₂ gas expansion, friction, rolling resistance, aerodynamics, drag, mass and acceleration and then see how these principles affect the performance of their own vehicle.
TECHNOLOGY — Students experience the complete technological process: designing, selecting materials, measuring, shaping, assembling, testing, troubleshooting and improving a working product. The project also creates opportunities to introduce safe and responsible use of classroom tools and equipment.
ENGINEERING — Challenge students to solve a real engineering problem: How can I design a dragster that is fast, stable and efficient? Students must balance variables such as weight, wheel alignment, friction, aerodynamics, structural integrity and overall vehicle geometry.
ART & DESIGN — Every student begins with a basswood blank, leaving enormous room for creativity. Students can sketch concepts, develop profiles, consider form and function, choose colours and finishes, and create a dragster that reflects their own design ideas.
MATHEMATICS — Incorporate measurement, dimensions, scale, mass, distance, time, speed, averages, ratios, graphing and data analysis. Students can record race results, compare designs and use actual performance data to evaluate which design decisions worked.
Perfect for the Engineering Design Cycle
The project naturally encourages students to:
ASK → IMAGINE → PLAN → CREATE → TEST → ANALYZE → IMPROVE
Instead of every student trying to produce the same result, encourage experimentation. What happens when the car is lighter? Does a narrower profile reduce drag? How important is wheel alignment? Which design produces the fastest time?
Then race them and let the data answer the questions.
Enough CO₂ for Testing AND Racing
The class pack includes 100 CO₂ cartridges — two per student. This gives students the opportunity to move beyond a single launch. Use one cartridge for initial testing and another for a final race, or have students compare performance after making design improvements.
It turns race day into more than just fun — it becomes the culmination of the design, build, test and improve process.
Build Practical Skills & Introduce Skilled Trades
CO₂ dragsters are also a great way to introduce students to the satisfaction of working with their hands. Depending on the tools available in your classroom, students can develop skills in measuring, marking, sanding, shaping, drilling, finishing, assembly and inspection.
These experiences can help students make connections between classroom STEAM learning and careers in engineering, manufacturing, automotive and transportation technology, industrial design, machining, construction and the skilled trades.
50-Student Class Pack Includes
| Qty. | Component | Cat. # |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | Rear Racing Wheels | 19-1016 |
| 100 | Front Dragster Wheels | 19-1015 |
| 100 | CO₂ Cartridges – 2 per student | 19-1018 |
| 50 pkgs. | Steel Axles – 2/pkg (100 axles total) | 19-1023 |
| 20 pkgs. | Brass Washers – 10/pkg (200 washers total) | 19-1021 |
| 5 pkgs. | Straws – 10/pkg (50 straws total) | 19-1022 |
| 50 | 12" Basswood Dragster Blanks | 19-1013 |
| 4 pkgs. | Screw Eyes – 25/pkg (100 screw eyes total) | 19-1024 |
| 1 | CO₂ Dragster Idea Sheet | 80-5766 |
From Basswood Blank to Race Day
Students don't simply assemble a predetermined model. They create their own.
Give them the materials, establish the design criteria and let them imagine, design, build, test and race.
The result is a memorable classroom experience that combines STEAM learning, technological problem solving, creativity, hands-on skills and a little friendly competition — exactly the kind of project that can get students excited about technology and the skilled trades.
50 Students. 50 Unique Designs. One unforgettable STEAM challenge.
