PAPER FLUTE

WHAT IS STEAM? DISCOVER.MAKE.

STEAM is the abbreviation for
Scien ce, Technology, Engineering,
Art, & Math.
PLAY.LEARN.
It’s an integrated approach to
learning that encourages studen WHAT’S INSIDE: PAPER FLUTE
ts Make a working flute with this fun and hands-on craft
to think more broadly about real-
world problems. project.
Why do we need the A in STEAM? Inside this printable pack is:
Because art makes STEM better • Easy-to-follow instructions for making a paper flute
!
Here are some of the concrete • A summary of the story of the Pied Piper
benefits of incorporating the art
s • Sheet music with finger positions for Mary Had a Little
into science: Lamb and Hot Cross Buns
• It helps remove idea inhibition • What’s the STEAM Behind It? helpful information about
(there’s no wrong answer in how flutes make sound
art!).
• It focuses on the process which
helps drive innovation.
• It teaches the power of What is ?
observation, of people and your
surroundings. This activity is a sneak peek into the STEAM Explorers
• It helps hone spatial awarenes Fairy Tales Ebook and subscription. STEAM Explorers is
s a monthly digital magazine plus kid-safe online project
and mathematical concepts like
geometry. portal filled with STEAM. Each issue has a monthly
activity calendar, fun articles to read, jokes to tell,

SAFETY FIRST!
projects to do, printables to color, & more. Kids will
love making, playing, discovering, & learning their way
through each month’s issue!
STEAM Explorers projects are
intended to be perfor med under adult You can learn more about STEAM Explorers here:
supervision. Although making a we leftbraincraftbrain.com/exploresteam
paper flute is a low risk activity, e
like to leave this here... Appropriat
and reasonable caution is
recommended when activities
call for any items that could be of
How to Join the STEAM Explorers
risk, including, but not limited to: & Left Brain Craf t Brain Community
sharp tools, hot glue, chemicals,
batteries, scissors, and small g STEAM Explorers (and Left Brain Craft Brain, too) is
items that could present a chokin a global community! Come get activity ideas, chat
hazard. If you are unsure of the about STEAM, and share your pictures with us on both
safety or age appropriateness of
an activity, please consult your Facebook and Instagram. We love to see all of the ways
child’s doctor. you incorporate STEAM into your kids’ worlds!

Except for individual classroom use, no part of this book

may be reproduced or used, in any form or by any means,
Left Brain Craf t Brain Facebook Page
electronic or mechanical, without prior permission in
writing from the publisher and authors. For permissions
contact anne@leftbraincraftbrain.com.
Left Brain Craf t Brain on Instagram
Copyright © 2021 Left Brain Craft Brain
 PAPER FLUTE
A FLUTE MADE OUT OF PAPER?
IT’S STEAM MAGIC!

DIFFICULTY:
DURATION: 30 minutes
SUPPLIES:
• 8 1/2” x 11” cardstock • Ruler
• Clear tape • Scissors

WHAT’S THE STEAM BEHIND IT?

Flutes are a type of woodwind
instrument that gets its sound from
the vibrations of air blown through
them. Other wind instruments include
reed instruments like clarinets and
saxophones and brass instruments like
trumpets and trombones.
This paper flute plays just like a real
flute or recorder. This kind of flute
is called an internal duct flute. The
sideways flutes you typically see are
called transverse flutes. You blow
through the mouth area and the
air travels through the
windway which directs the
wind across a gap called
the window. The wind
THE PIED PIPER OF HAMELIN inside the flute behaves
The Pied Piper is the tale of a man who like a vibrating string and
offered his services to the city Hamelin the pitch of the note you
during a rat infestation. He promised the play depends upon the
mayor that he could play his pipe and lead speed of the wind inside.
the rats away. The mayor promised to pay When you cover the finger
him and the Pied Piper led the rats away. holes, the vibrating length
But the mayor didn’t hold up his side of of the air column in the
the bargain and refused to pay the Pied Piper his full sum. So in flute is longer, creating
revenge he played his pipe and led Hamelin’s children away too. lower notes. When you
uncover a hole, the air
This tale is believed to date back to the Middle Ages when rats column escapes through
were a major cause of the spread of a deadly virus called the the hole, shortening the
Plague. vibrating length of the air
column in the flute. This
makes it play higher notes.
STEAM EXPLORERS - FAIRY TALES STEAM EXPLORERS - SPACE 3
INSTRUCTIONS: MAKE THE FLUTE
1. Roll the paper from short side to short side into
a 1” diameter roll. Tape along the entire seam to
secure.
2. Cut the Flute Window: Flatten the cylinder slightly.
Measure 2” down from the end and cut a 1/4” slit
into the side of the flute. Measure 2 3/8” down
from the same end and cut a second 1/4” slit into
the side of the flute. De-flatten the cylinder. Insert
the scissors through the two slits and cut out
the paper between them to create a 1/2” x 3/8”
rectangular hole.
3. At the end of the flute closest to the hole that you
just cut, pull apart the layers of paper in the roll.
Leave one layer on the outside, then fold down the
inside slightly. Create a gap between the layers by
inserting the point of the scissors under the top
layer to the hole you cut in Step 2. Do not cut the
paper.
4. Wrap a piece of clear tape over the edge of the
outside layer from step 3 to protect the paper
while playing. Wrap the edge of the inside layers
from step 3 with a separate piece of tape.
5. Flatten the cylinder slightly again. Measure 2”
further down the flute from the first hole and cut
a diamond shape by making a 1/4” long upside-
down v-shaped cut in line with the first hole.
6. Measure 1” further down the flute and make
another 1/4” upside-down v-shaped cut in the
flute.
7. Measure 1” further down the flute and make a final
1/4” upside-down v-shaped cut in the flute.
8. De-flatten the flute and remove the diamond-
shaped pieces of paper.
INSTRUCTIONS: PLAY THE FLUTE
1. To play the flute, gently place the taped portion of
the flute in between your lips and cover the three
small diamond-shaped holes with your fingers.
Then blow. Play around with different methods of
blowing, like quick bursts of air and long sustained
air like you’re blowing up a balloon. What sounds
best?
2. To change the notes that you play, lift up your
fingers from the diamond-shaped holes. Different
patterns of covered holes and open holes will
make different notes.
3. Try playing Mary Had a Little Lamb or Hot Cross
Buns from the music on the next page. To play
these songs, cover the finger holes where the
circles have been filled in black. Leave the white
circles uncovered. Blow into the flute and move
your fingers according to the diagrams.
STEAM
STEAM
EXPLORERS
EXPLORERS
- FAIRY
- SPACE
TALES 4
SONGS Mary Had a Little Lamb
FOR
THE
PAPER
FLUTE Mar-y had a lit-tle lamb, lit-tle lamb,
This paper
flute finger
chart shows
which finger
holes to cover
on the paper
flute. Lit-tle Lamb, Mar-Y had a lit-tle lamb,
To play these
songs, cover
the finger
holes where
the circles
have been
filled in black.
Its Fleece was white as snow.
Leave the

HOT CROSS BUNS

white circles
uncovered.
Blow into the
flute and move
your fingers
according to
the diagrams.

HOT CROSS BUNS, HOT CROSS BUNS.

ONE A PENN-Y, TWO A PENN-Y.

HOT CROSS BUNS.

Copyright © 2021 Left Brain Craft Brain
 MA GI CA L FU N TO YO UR DA Y WI TH ST EAM EXPLORERS!
ADD MORE
IS FU N PR OJ EC T IS A SN EA K PE EK INTO OUR FAIRY TALES ACTIVITY
TH
ED WI TH HA ND S- ON FUN LIK E FIR E- BREATHING DRAGONS,
EBOOK FILL
S, & MORE.
FAIRY TALE COMIC BOOKS, MAGIC BEAN

SAVE 25% OFF OUR FAIRY TALES ACTIVITY

EBOOK FILLED WITH HANDS-ON FUN!
USE THE CODE PAPERFLUTE
SHOP.LEFTBRAINCRAFTBRAIN.COM
 This FAIRY TALES edition
of STEAM Explorers is a
sneak peek into the STEAM
Explorers digital magazine
subscription. Get a brand
new issue every month
filled with fun projects,
printables, recipes,
& more!

SUBSCRIBE TO STEAM EXPLORERS & SAVE!

Explore with us for 25% off!
Use the code PAPERFLUTE
leftbraincraftbrain.com/exploresteam/

CHECK OUT SOME OF OUR PAST ISSUES!