Home

Inventing a Spacecraft

Grades: K-1

What you'll need:

a children's book about space travel:

Journey into a Black Hole
A Let's-Read-And-Find-Out Science Book
by Franklyn Mansfield Branley
ASIN: 0690045441

Big Silver Space Shuttle
by Ken Wilson-Max
ISBN: 0590100815

paper of various weights

paper clips

What to do

Create a paper helicopter by cutting a paper rectangle halfway down the top and folding the flaps in the opposite directions. Attach a paper clip to the bottom for weight. Drop the helicopter from different heights and observe its motion. Experiment with different wing configurations, types of paper and weights to determine the best design for flight.

So what?

Which designs "flew" better? What does this say about the principles behind flying. Different models should be grouped depending on their similar flight motions. Observing the different groups should help to provide a visual of the best flight designs. Perhaps a follow-up of on-line research on aerodynamics will explain the reasons why.