Lab - Following Directions
Much of what you learn in science
will depend on your ability to read and
follow written directions. To be able to
complete an activity or experiment
successfully, you must be able to
understand and follow directions.
Part 1 Making a Paper Model
In this part, you will follow a set of
written directions for making a paper
model. Complete each step in
alphabetical order. Do not skip a step.
Answer any question as you come to it.
The answer to each question should be
“yes.” If you cannot answer “yes” to a
question, go back to your last “yes”
answer. Repeat the steps following that
answer. Do not go on to the next step
until you can answer “yes.”
Materials
1. Paper - 21.5 cm x 28.0 cm
2. scissors
3. metric ruler
Procedures
A. Obtain a piece of paper 21.5 cm
x 28 cm.
B. Cut out a square section 21.5 cm
x 21.5 cm.
C. Keep the remainder of the paper.
You will use it in a later step.
Make an X on the square paper
with a pen or pencil. The side
with the X is the front of the
paper.
D. Starting at the top, fold the lefthand corner of the square
diagonally from left to right.
 Do you now have a triangle?
E. Undo the fold.
 Does the square now have a
crease running from the top
right corner to the lower left
corner?
F. Starting at the top, fold the righthand corner of the square
diagonally from right to left.
 Do you have a triangle?
G. Undo the fold.
 Does the square now have
two creases forming an X?
H. From left to right, fold the paper
in half lengthwise.
 Do you now have a rectangle
that is longer than it is wide?
I. Undo the fold.
J. Turn the paper face downward
on the desk.
K. Bringing the top two corners
toward you, fold the paper in half
from top of bottom.
 Do you now have a rectangle
that is wider than it is long?
L. Undo the fold.
M. Turn the paper face up. As the
paper lies flat on the desk, push
in the center so that the edges of
the paper stand up from the
desk.
 Does your paper look like
Figure. 2-1?
N. Label the two ends of the
horizontal fold “d” and “b” and
the center of the bottom edge of
paper “c” as in Figure. 2-1.
T. With a pair of scissors, cut the
folded paper into the shape shown
in Figure. 2-3 so that it will unfold
after the cut.
O. Fold “d” and “b” inward to “c”
and flatten out the top layer.
 Do you now have a doublelayered triangle?
U. Unfold this piece.
P. Folding only the top layer, bring
the right and left corners of the
triangle to the top point of the
triangle.
 Do you now see two small
triangles in the center of the
large triangle?
Q. Pick up the right corner of the
right-hand triangle and fold it over
toward the center so that the top
edge is parallel to the base of the
large triangle.
R. Do the same with the left corner of
the left-hand triangle.
 Does the triangle now look
like Figure. 2-2?
S. Fold the piece of paper left from
step B in half lengthwise.
V. Insert the rounded end of the paper
into the slot formed at the base of
the large triangle.
W. With a pair of scissors, cut
through all layers of the large
triangle along the short line (a-b)
as in Figure. 2-2.
X. Pick up the points of the cut layers
and fold them back into the slots
formed by the folds you made in
step Q and R (cb and bd in Fig. 22).
Y. Fold in half upward along the
center fold.
Z. The model you have made should
have an obvious function.
CAUTION: BE CAREFUL NOT
TO HIT ANYONE IN THE
FACE WITH YOUR MODEL.