how to play

Children work in groups of 2-3 to make a simple flying glider using a long straw, a short straw, and two paper loops. Tell the kids a story about inventing a flying machine that uses air to fly without fuel. They roll the paper strips into loops and tape one big loop to one end of the long straw and a smaller loop to the other end. If kids find it hard, give hints like where to put the loops for balance or how the loops help it fly. After building, kids throw their gliders and try different ways to see how far and straight they can fly.

Questions to be asked

1. Which shape do you think makes something fly the best?
2. What happens if we use the same size shapes in a glider?
3. Why do we use one bigger and one smaller shape?
4. What other things could we use instead of a straw for the glider? Could a stick work?
5. What do you think is more important for flight, the straw or the paper?