What paper airplane design will fly the greatest distance?  What factors influence time aloft?  How can Mrs. Ewing teach kids the Scientific Method in a very sneaky way?

These questions will be answered in our first activity, The Paper Airplane Project. 

The challenge: design a paper airplane that will travel the greatest distance

The catch: You can only use a sheet of 8.5 x 11 piece of paper, and you can’t add to, nor take away from the original piece of paper.  Did I mention that you can’t research how to make a great paper airplane, either?

So far, we’ve made our planes…and….well, um….some are quite interesting!  We begin our first flight trial on Monday!!!  Check back next week for updates!

Below are links for you to use as we progress through the project:

Umm…what’s a variable?

Paper Airplanes Links  This one’s got TONS of stuff!

Paper Airplanes Theme Page

Ultra Efficient Engine Technology Kids’ Site  All about aeronautics

The National Paper Airplane Contest  If you only have time to look at one site, make it this one.

Just for Fun…

Ken Blackburn owns the record for the longest time aloft by a paper airplane.  Out of respect, you should give his site a visit.

Thinking of breaking the record?  Here are the guidelines from the Guiness Book of Records.