Foldable Flight Virtual Workshop - Outline
Students will tackle the physics of flight in this interactive and challenging session, through the folding
of paper gliders. As they test and refine their designs they will explore the effects of centre of gravity,
drag and thrust.
What to expect during the workshop
Running time: 60 minutes
Time
Segment Description and Teacher Notes
Additional Instructions
5 min
BEFORE
Audio Check
Teacher to adjust camera and
microphone.
Zoom in/out to ensure the whole class
is visible.
microphone NOT on mute (we’ll be
asking questions throughout the
session)
0-5 min
Introduction
Welcome to QTLC
Innovation process
Foldable Flight
5-10min
10-13 min
Let’s make a plane
Hand out 3 sheets of paper per student
Encourage students to make the best paper
plane they can
Keep time and assist presenter to
regain attention after time.
Try out your plane
Keep time – 3 minutes only – and assist
presenter to regain attention after time.
What is ‘best’?
13-20 min
Design reflection and investigation
Teachers to select students to answer
Discuss lift, weight, thrust and drag in relation questions and encourage students to
describe what
aspects of the
to planes
plane/flight were desired or achieved.
20-23 min
Dart v Glider
23-40min
Let’s make a glider
Step by step making of a plane
Thinking, predicting and testing each phase
of the build to investigate the physics
involved
1. Air resistance, lift, stability. Find
Centre of Gravity (CG) and Centre of
Air Pressure (CA)
2. Changing CA in relation to CG
3. Creating wings, air resistance
4. Change drag
5. Increase stability
40-45 min
Launching the glider
Arrange students and facilitate launch
Different launch techniques, define ‘success’
Keep time and assist presenter to
regain attention after time.
Challenge
45-50 min
Stunt planes
How do flaps interact with the forces?
50-55 min
Outro
Summarise concepts, real world links
What you need to supply


A teacher to be present at the workshop to act as a supervisor/facilitator
3 x A4 sheets of (preferably recycled) paper per student – can be handed out before the
workshop starts
Australian Curriculum Links
Year 5:
ACSIS231, ACSIS086, ACSIS087, ACSIS088, ACSIS218, ACSIS093
Year 6:
ACSIS232, ACSIS103, ACSIS104, ACSIS105, ACSIS221, ACSIS108, ACSIS110
Year 7:
ACSSU117, ACSIS125, ACSIS126, ACSIS131, ACSIS133
Year 8:
ACSIS140, ACSIS145, ACSIS146, ACSIS234, ACSIS148
Year 9:
ACSIS16, ACSIS169, ACSIS174
Year 10: ACSSU190, ACSSU229, ACSIS199, ACSIS205, ACSIS208