ED2500
Janice Wardle
Lesson Plan: Paper Airplane Building
General Learning Outcomes: Students will be able to construct and throw a paper plane
Specific Learning Outcomes: students will be able to identify the main aerodynamic forces affecting
paper plane flight, and test them with their own models.
-Learning Objectives1. Identify the terms drag, thrust, weight, and lift
2. Build and test a paper plane
-AssessmentsKey Questions: Explain key concepts (drag, thrust, weight, lift)
Written/Performance assessments: students will first complete a crossword puzzle activity, and then
successfully fly their planes across the classroom at the end of the lesson
-Materials and Equipment8.5’x11’ activity sheet for each student
Tape
Writing utensils
-ProcedureIntroduction: By show of hands, who has ever made a paper plane? Even though paper planes are not a
teacher’s favorite thing to see in class, today we are going to learn how to transform a simple piece of
paper into a mini aircraft. We will talk about what makes paper planes fly, and then we will test our
own. Sounds like fun!
Body: Before we get started with our planes, let’s talk about something called aerodynamics. Can
anyone guess what aerodynamics is? Aerodynamics is a broad term for the study of airflow and its
principles. So for our paper planes, there are four main principles we should know (at this point
students should be paying attention to their sheets). As I explain them to you, you should be able to fill
in the crossword puzzle on your sheet. The four principles work in pairs: two work up and down, and
two work side to side.
The first pair of opposing forces is drag and thrust. Thrust keeps the plane moving forward after
it has been set in motion, and drag is what counteracts thrust, using gravity and resistance to slow the
plane down. Thrust has to be greater than drag in order for a plane, even a paper one, to stay in flight
(basic example: hand out car window). The next two principles are lift and weight. Weight is a product
of both gravity and mass, and acts downward. Each of us has a specific weight, and so will our paper
planes. Lift is an upward force, and holds the plane in the air. If your airplane had a propeller, it would
help generate lift. But instead, your plane will rely on its wings to hold it in the air. (At this point fill in
the diagram on the board):
ED2500
Janice Wardle
Label each arrow with drag, thrust, lift and weight
This is a brief explanation of some of the forces of aerodynamics. At this point, who has
completed the crossword? (Walk around and assess).
Before we build our planes, we will go over the answers.
Begin plane building. NOTE: have students put their names somewhere on the planes to identify whose
plane goes farthest. Encourage students to use their own designs.
***SAFETY: Do not throw planes if someone is standing in front of you.
Closure: Award student with winning plane. Clean up. Done.
ED2500
Janice Wardle
NAME___________
1
3
2
4
5
ACROSS
DOWN
3. Uses gravity and resistance to slow
down the plane. Opposite of thrust
4. Opposing force to weight; holds plane
in the air
5. The study of airflow and its principles
1. Keeps the plane in motion by resisting
the force of drag
2. Downward acting force, product of
gravity and mass. Opposite of lift.