Lots of kids learn how to make paper airplanes at a young age. Grab some paper, paperclips, and tape. If your kids know how to make a paper airplane, give your kids these items and tell them to test out different methods of building a paper airplane. If they’re too young to make them, make a few of the same kind of paper airplane for them and let them experiment with the other categories. The goal is to figure out which method and model flies the furthest.
Have them write down the different things they try and the distance the airplane reaches after each attempt (you can use a tape measure for this or just place markers in the room).
Categories of things to try:
- Ways of folding the paper
- Quantity of weights (use paper clips to add differing weights)
- Locations for weights (try attaching the paperclips at differing locations on the plane)
- Angles for release (release parallel to floor vs nose slightly angled up, etc.)
After observing and attempting several models and methods, determine the best combination for distance of flight.
You can ask these questions:
- How did you arrive at the best combination?
- Could you have determined the best combination without trying different things?
- How did you feel after an unsuccessful flight?
- Why did you keep going?
- How were the failed flights helpful to you?
Encourage your kids to keep learning and growing even through failure. Failures can be used to the advantage of a courageous person who pushes through the fear of failure!