The Glider — Cut It Out and Fold It

Making · Paper planes · Page 1 of 3

1Cut on the dotted line
→
2Fold 1, then 2, then 3…
→
3Page 2 shows each fold
valley — fold toward youmountain — fold awaycut along this linecircled numbers = the order to fold in
123456▲ NOSE END ▲TAIL END

The Glider — The Folds

Making · Paper planes · Page 2 of 3

DIRECTIONS: Any sheet of paper works. Each picture shows the paper before the fold.
1.
Fold it in half the long way, then open it out again.
2.
Fold the top left corner in to the middle crease.
3.
Do the same with the top right corner.
4.
Fold the sharp point straight down, so the tip meets the bottom of the two triangles.
5.
Fold the whole thing in half, along the crease from step 1.
6.
Fold one wing down, wide. Turn it over and match the other.
✓
Finished, from above. Wings fold down on the dashed lines. Hold it underneath and throw it level.
Set the wings in a shallow V, not flat. Dives? Bend the back edges up a little. Stalls? Bend them down. Turns? Check the folds match.

The Glider — Flight Log

Making · Paper planes · Page 3 of 3

Name Date
DIRECTIONS: Throw it five times the same way before you change anything.
ThrowHow far (paces or meters)How long in the air (seconds)What it did
1
2
3
4
5
Now change ONE thing: the wing bend, the throw, or a paperclip on the nose.
What I changedBest distance beforeBest distance afterBetter or worse?
  1. Which throw went furthest? Was it also the one that stayed up longest?
  2. Furthest and longest-in-the-air are not the same thing. Explain how a plane could win one and lose the other.
  3. What is the fairest way to measure "how far", if you have no tape measure?