Kristy Soltmann

ELD 376
Professor Gallo
February 8, 2015
Lesson Plan 1: Physical ScienceAerodynamics
PAPER AIRPLANE ACTIVITY
Objectives:
Students will be able to measure different forms of aerodynamics by documenting
and reporting the data.
Materials:
Three sheets of paper
Scissors
Ruler
Measuring Tape/ Yardstick
Pencil
Data sheet
Directions
Tape
Procedure:
I will start by gathering the student to the carpet,
Yesterday I was outside and noticed the airplanes flying up in the sky. I thought
of when I was your age; my cousins and I would make paper airplanes and race
them. Whos ever airplane went the farthest won! Something that I thought would
be fun would be if we made our own paper airplanes and learn more about the
basic principles of aerodynamics.
We as a class will review the definition of aerodynamics and give some examples to
insure assess the students knowledge.
Today as a class we will build our own paper airplanes and race them. Wherever
the planes land we will then measure how far they have go.
I will then model how to the students will make their airplanes and hand out the materials
and directions. The students will then make and decorate their airplanes while I walk
around assisting any students that need it.

Assessment:
Assessments will be made through the lesson by observing the students during the
activity while the students are working. Formative assessments will be made
throughout the lesson while I will be monitoring the students work as they
continue to work. The students will be assessed on their listening skills, their data
and as well their post activity talk. Assessments of the completed worksheets will
be based on the same standards.

Directions for Airplane:

1. Take a sheet of letter-size printer paper and fold it in half vertically, lengthwise.
2. Run your finger along the fold to create a well-defined, reinforced crease.
3. Unfold the piece of paper and fold down the two top corners until it meets the
center crease that you made in the previous steps.
4. The top of the paper should now form a split triangle. Now fold the two outer
edges of the triangle down towards the centerline once more.
5. Your paper should be shaped somewhat like a pyramid at this stage. Valley fold
the paper in half so that the folds are inside the plane.
6. Now turn the plane 90 degrees and create the wings by folding the sides down
outwards starting from about 1.5 inches from the base of the plane.
7. Okay, now you should have your first paper airplane.
8. To make the second airplane, we are going to cut the piece of paper shorter so that
you will now have an 8.5 x 8.5in square to fold with.
9. *Repeat steps 1-6 on this shorter piece of paper.*
10. To make the third airplane, we are going to narrow the piece of letter-size paper to
the dimensions of 6 x 11in. Repeat steps 1-6 after you have cut the paper to the
new dimensions.
Directions for activity:
1. Stand with both feet behind the tapeline.
2. Hold the base of the airplane in front of you and in a quick motion, throw the
plane forwards and observe where it lands.
3. Measure the distance from the tapeline to where the airplane lands.
4. Record the distance in your chart.
Airplane #1
Airplane #2
Airplane #3
5. Repeat several trials with the different variables of width and length of the planes.
(The more trials, the better.)
6. Record your results.
Trial 1

Trial 2

Trial 3

Trial 4

Trial 5

Trial 6