In this instructible I will be demonstrating a step by step process on how to make a gliding paper airplane. This demonstration serves as a fun assignment that highschoolers from grades 9-12 can do to begin thinking about aerodynamics when it comes to different forms of transportation we use.

Objectives (Grades 9-12)

Students will be able to make an paper airplane that can glide for up to 2 seconds
Students will be introduced to the concept of airflow and how it affects the performance of their plane
Students will learn and understand the importance of attention to detail in a design setting

STELs

Standards

Design in Technology and Engineering Education: Focusing more on the design aspect of having varying results based on criteria and constraints, through this activity students will be experiencing what its like having make paper airplane that can meet the criteria of gliding for at least 2 seconds. They will also experience the human side of designing in the form of possibly getting inspiration throughout the activity to alter the paper plane in a way that could possibly make it surpass the criteria of 2 seconds of air time.

Practices

Creativity (TEP-2): As mentioned above, through this activity students can gain inspiration to modify the paper airplane to aid in its gliding capabilities to surpass the criteria of 2 seconds of air time.

Context

Transportation and Logistics (TEC-3): This assignment is aimed to get students to think about some of the elements that have to be considered when designing the various methods of transportation that exist within the world.

Supplies

1 Sheet of printer paper (8.5 in x 11in)

Any paper of the same size can also work (results may vary)

Total Price Estimation: You can get 500 sheets of 8.5" x 11" printer paper on amazon for $7.41

Step 1: Fold in Half

I will be using 1 sheet of 8.5" x 11" printer paper. Start by ensuring that the is fresh and clean with no prior creases, tears or any form of deformation. Then write 1, 2, 3 and 4 on the paper as shown in the above image. Then bring edge 4 to edge 3 to fold the paper and create a crease as shown in the picture above. Make sure that the the crease is directly in the middle of the paper. To check for this, edge 4 and edge 3 of your paper are equal when folded alongside the crease. If that is not the case you need to redo your fold until the edges are even.

Step 2: Another Fold

Next bring edge 1 to edge 2 and make another crease after ensuring that both edges are aligned and equal to each other. Your paper should look like the image above. If it does not look like the image above you need to redo your fold until it does.

Step 3: Another Fold

Now take your edge 1 and fold it to the middle horizontal fold. After ensuring your edge is aligned with the middle horizontal fold, create a crease. Your paper should look like the image above. If it does not look like the image above you need to redo your fold until it does.

Step 4: Another Fold

Rotate your paper so that edge 1 is closest to your body. Now fold edge 2 to the bottom most horizontal crease. Ensure that edge 2 is aligned equally with that crease and create another crease. Your paper should look like the image above. If it does not look like the image above you need to redo your fold until it does.

Step 5: Fold and Label

Keeping your paper in the same orientation as the picture above. Fold along the crease that you JUST made. This should be the horizontal crease closest to edge 2. After folding along the crease, hold you paper in the orientation shown above and label it accordingly. Your paper should look like the image above. If it does not look like the image above you need to redo your fold until it does.

Step 6: Triangles

Now fold your corner 6 to corner 8 ensuring that they are aligned and equal with each other, then make a fold as shown in the image above. Replicate the same process with corners 5 and 7. Your paper should look like the image above. If it does not look like the image above you need to redo your fold until it does.

Step 7: More Folds

Fold edge 10 to make it parallel to edge 11, then create a crease that goes up to the middle vertical fold that you made in step 1. Repeat this process for edge 9 ensuring it is parallel with edge 11. You can reference the above image for how to do the fold. At the end your paper should look like the image above. If it does not look like the image above you need to redo your fold until it does.

Step 8: Pointy Triangle in the Middle

Fold your edge 9 and 10 down to edge 11 to form the pointy triangle in the middle. Then fold the triangle to the left and right then let it stand upright again. Stick your thumb in the slit of the pointy triangle and spread it wide. Press down along the spine of the pointy triangle to replicate the 2nd image above. Then fold the extended part in underneath itself to replicate the 2nd image above. Your paper should look like the image above. If it does not look like the image above you need to redo your fold until it does.

Step 9: Fold in Half

Maintaining the same orientation as the final image of step 8 fold your paper in half to match the image above. To help with this fold label your bottom right edge 12 and bottom left edge 13 then fold in half downward so that they are back to back with each other. Ensure that when you fold in half that they are equal to each other. Your paper should look like the image above. If it does not look like the image above you need to redo your fold until it does.

Step 10: Wing

To create your wing you will need to fold over point number 14. Reference the images above to aid in your fold and what it should look like. Replicate the fold to the other wing and you can use the same images to create the same fold. At the end of this process ensure that both wings align with each other. Your paper should look like the final two images above. If it does not look like the image above you need to redo your fold until it does.

Step 11: Final Adjustments to the Wing

For final adjustments to the wings, fold the ends of them to match the picture above. The folds should be equal to each other.

Introduction: Paper Airplane