NEW 2015 RESOURCES
Paper Airplanes Theme Page
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 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.

Note: The sites listed above will serve as a source of curricular content in Paper Airplanes. For other resources in Science (e.g., curricular content), or for lesson plans and theme pages, click the "previous screen" button below. Or, click here if you wish to return directly to the CLN menu which will give you access to educational resources in all of our subjects.