Paper Airplanes

Instructions:

I suggest you Google the instructions because having step-by-step imagery is most helpful. Nevertheless, I have attempted written instructions below:

• Use a regular 8x11 inch piece of copy paper

• Hold the long-end of the paper up (hot-dog) and fold down the middle

• Fold the corners into the center line (the paper will look like a house)

• Take the two top corners of your house and fold them into the center line (the paper will look almost like a perfect triangle)

• Fold the entire paper in half 

• Fold the top two corners down to the bottom line of the paper (the long edge). Smooth so that long edges align.

Modifications:

There are countless ways to construct a paper airplane. 

Praxis (why + theory):

I included Paper Airplanes because the activity is ageless, but often forgotten when the simple activity would make the most impact. If you have a few minutes, you make a basic design and test it; with more time, you color and decorate your creation before the big contest–who has the most creative design? Who can throw their plane the farthest? Or, who can hit the designated target?

When executed at just the right moment, Paper Airplanes can become a bonding moment if two people teach other the correct fold or share a new technique, a communication game if you use the airplanes to pass secret notes across the room, a math project or science experiment if, like me, you must discover the precise weight to make your airplane glide (I usually add a paper clip or two for this effect), or a gift if, after a few throws, you leave the airplane in the room or on a table for the next person.

I mastered the basic paper airplane technique as a summer camp counselor. On days I did not have a lesson plan prepared, we trashed the craft room experimenting and decorating our paper planes before we headed to the tennis court to test them out.