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- Introduction to Flight Concepts:
- Begin by discussing basic aerodynamics with your students. Explain terms like lift, thrust, and drag. You can use videos or interactive discussions to engage them in understanding how airplanes fly1.
- Materials Needed:
- Regular printer paper or lightweight colored paper
- Colored pencils or markers for decorating
- Tape measure
- Stopwatch
- Large outdoor space (preferred)
- Paper Airplane Designs:
- Introduce three different paper airplane designs:
- Classic Dart: A simple dart-shaped plane.
- Speed Glider: A sleek design for speed.
- Spy Glider: A modified glider shape.
- Tips for folding:
- Line up folds before creasing.
- Make tight, symmetrical folds for better aerodynamics.
- Add tape if throwing the plane multiple times.
- Fold the paper hot dog style (portrait style) to create the base shape1.
- Introduce three different paper airplane designs:
- Testing and Data Collection:
- Have students decorate their planes and give them unique names.
- Use an Airplane Comparison Chart (similar to the one below) to record data:
| Plane Type | Trial 1 Time Aloft (seconds) | Trial 1 Distance (feet) |
|------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------|
| Classic Dart | | |
| Speed Glider | | |
| Spy Glider | | |
- Students will throw each plane three times and record time aloft and distance for each trial.
- Analysis and Discussion:
- Calculate average time aloft and distance for each plane.
- Discuss which design performed best and why.
- Encourage students to think about how they could improve their designs.
- Creative Extension:
- Challenge students to modify their planes further. Can they make a fulmar-inspired design?
- Explore other factors like wing shape, weight distribution, and balance.
- Conclusion:
- Have fun flying your very own paper airplanes! This easy and engaging STEM lesson can be adapted for all ages, and paper airplanes never get old. Let creativity take flight! 🛫
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