A fun project to teach kids about flight, air pressure, and the science of how an airplane flies is to create a glider or a paper airplane. You and your children will have a lot of fun if you follow these paper airplane instructions. They’ll be making their own paper planes in no time.
All you will need for this activity is a piece of paper. And the amount of excitement you can create is priceless: I promise!
Kids’ Paper Airplane Book (Paper Airplanes)
Paper Airplane Instructions
- start with an 8×11 piece of paper and fold it in half the long way
- fold the top corners to meet in the middle of the folded paper
- make one more fold, right on top of the first fold
- then flip it over and fold the paper once more lengthwise to make the airplane wings
This is the easiest way to make a paper airplane. Here’s a 6 year old boy making this:
Here’s another one made by an adult, but with easy instructions for kids.
Once you made your paper plane, have your child experiment with air. Explain the difference between gliding and flying.
Gliding is coasting freely on the air while being pulled down by gravity.
Flying on the other hand needs a sustained power source.
Experimenting With Paper Airplanes
To extend your child’s learning have your child experiment with the glider and air by thrusting it forward and by merely dropping it.
Have them test it three times and record their results.
What happens when they thrust it harder? When the plane is perfectly made they will find that the harder they thrust the farther it goes because there is more air moving over and under the wings.
You can challenge your child by having them create different glider styles and see which ones will glide farther, questioning why they do so.
Here’s how to make one of the fastest paper airplanes. It’s more appropriate for older kids, as it;s a bit more complicated to make. But you cna always make it for your little one.
Once your child learns how to make a basic paper airplane, encourage them to let their imagination loose, and see what they come up with. you’ll be surprised!