Paper Airplane STEM Lab

A super simple paper airplane STEM Lab!

In this lab, students are given a chance to create their own paper airplane using a sheet of printer paper and paperclips. Then, it's off the airport to see who can make their plane fly the furthest.

Lab Instructions: Teacher

I usually have my students complete The Force Fours of Flight and questions first to kind of build background knowledge and to kind of get them hooked. Plus, it allows them to already be familiar with the forces of flight prior to the lab.

In addition to that, I have linked a couple of videos from Youtube that may also be helpful to you and your students. My students enjoy watching Youtube videos in class and it’s my way of getting them engaged. These videos are on the shorter side. They’re only about four minutes long each.

After doing so, ask your students if they know how to make a paper airplane and have them explain the steps to you and the ones who don’t know. If none of them know, ask them how we find out how to make one.

Then, example to the students that using the materials that they are giving, they are to design their own paper airplane. Remind them that the goal is to make an airplane that will go the furthest. Give each student one sheet of printer paper and two paper clips. You can either have them do their airplane at school or have them take it home to make.

Then have them fly their airplanes in class. This is a competition to see who can make their airplane go the furthest.

Includes:

Teacher Instructions

The Four Forces of Flight Cold Read/Informational Text and Questions

The Four Forces of Flight Answer Key

Lab Report