This "Theme Page" has links to two types of resources related to the study of Paper Airplanes. Students and teachers will find curricular resources (information, content...) to help them learn about this topic. In addition, there are also links to instructional materials (lesson plans) which will help teachers provide instruction in this theme. Please read our disclaimer.

dmoz Paper Airplanes

From the volunteer editors at dmoz, The Open Directory Project, comes this extensive list of paper airplane links.

Build the Best Paper Airplane in the World

This model is the DC-3 of paper airplanes. The author provides detailed, illustrated instructions on how to build it. Also included are specific instructions on how to fly the plane and make modifications to its flight path.

Flights of Fancy

Bob McDonald, host of the CBC radio science program Quirks and Quarks, provides instructions on making a new paper airplane each month. Previous planes are archived in this CBC4Kids site.

How Things Fly Resource Center

Check their section titled "Science Activities" for a number of activities to help demonstrate the various characteristics of air and how they are important to flight. Also, there are links to aerospace websites and information.

Making Paper Airplane Gliders

A lesson for elementary/middle students who first are challenged to make a paper glider that will fly and then to experiment with the design to improve its flight.

Mcshane's Planes

This designer of paper airplanes, who originally learned to make origami, has decided to share six of his designs over the Internet. He includes instructions on how to build and fly them.

Off to a Flying Start

From NASA, the K-4 telecommunications project challenges students to build paper airplanes, fly them, and share data with other classes. Instructional materials provided within the site enable young students to learn about the basics of flight, construct a "Falcon Flyer", and create their own design.

Origami Kamikaze Water Flyer

Online instructions (requires Java) for building a flying paper waterbomb

Paper Airplane Experiments

Instructions on how to run experiments to determine how some variables will affect the flight of paper airplanes.

Joseph Palmer Paper Airplanes

No Cutting, no weights, no glue or tape. His planes are folded from a single sheet of 8 1/2" X 11" paper. These planes are designed to fly and they actually do.

Paper Airplanes "Fliers Club"

Instructions for building for different types of airplanes and tips for flying them

Paper Airplanes

Considered the leading authority on paper airplanes, Ken Blackburn is an aeronautical engineer, the author of three paper airplane books, and the Guinness record holder for time aloft. His main web site is full of information (above button) but teachers and students may be particularly interested in the following three sections in his site.

• Build a Simple Paper Airplane Clearly illustrated instructions on how to build a simple paper airplane.
• Paper Airplane Aerodynamics Some of the issues discussed include tail and wing shape, weight distribution, launching, ascent, and details for attempting a world record for time aloft.
• Paper Airplane History The history section is a brief discussion because he has found little documented references.

Paper Airplane Science

A grade 2-7 lesson plan designed to encourage students to set-up an experiment, collect data, test a hypothesis, manipulate a variable and test the results, and organize the information after an experiment.

Paperplane Flying Circus

In this lesson plan, intermediate students investigate the streamlined shape of aircraft. Caution: expect a slow response from the server before you can download the page.

Roto-Copter

Similar to some of the airplanes, this plan allows students to easily experiment with different design characteristics. The page includes an explanation of how it works with air and how to play a game with roto-copters.

Sabertooth

This design of paper airplane that has been around for 30 years. The author describes it as "the best paper airplane there is ... no hassles like paper clips, scissors, or tape" and he provides easy-to-follow illustrated instructions for its construction.

Spinning Blimps

The spinning blimp is a simple design of flying aircraft and allows students to quickly and easily test a hypothesis. Make a change on the blimp, predict how it might fly, then test it.

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