How to make a paper glider
Where the classic dart is fast, the glider is slow and floaty. A folded nose adds weight at the front and wide wings give lots of lift, so it glides gently a long way.
- Medium
- Age 6+
- About 10 minutes
- 8 steps
- No scissors
Lesson at a glance
- You need
- A sheet of A4 or US Letter paper. No scissors or glue.
- Time
- About 10 minutes (allow longer the first time)
- Level
- Medium · age 6+
- How to teach it
- Show the 3D folder on the board and pause after each step, or print the step sheet for each table. Both show the same folds.
Finished!
Step 1 of 8Start with the paper upright, colored side up. Fold it in half from left to right and open it again.
Keys: left and right arrows go back and forward, Space plays or pauses, R plays the step again, B shows the back. On the 3D picture, the arrow keys turn it and + and − zoom.
How to fold a glider: step by step
You need: one sheet of A4 or US Letter printer paper. Thin paper glides best.
Start with the paper upright, colored side up. Fold it in half from left to right and open it again.
Fold the top edge down to make a strip about a quarter of the way down.
Fold the strip down again. This makes a heavy nose, so the glider flies steadily.
Fold the top corners down to the center crease.
Fold the glider in half along the center crease, left side over to the right, with the folds inside.
Fold the front wing down, close to the bottom edge, to make a wide wing.
Turn the glider over and fold the other wing to match.
Open the wings so they are flat and level. Throw it gently and watch it glide!
Finished!
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What kids learn
- Forces: lift, weight, thrust and drag – the folded nose moves the weight forward.
- Fair testing: compare the glider with the dart: same paper, same throw, measure the distance.
- Measuring: meters and centimeters; record and compare results.
- Symmetry: both wings must match for a straight flight.
Classroom tips for teachers
- Science: fly the glider and the paper airplane three times each and compare the average distance.
- Math: record flights in a table and draw a bar chart of the class results.
- Trimming: if it dives, bend the back edges of the wings up a tiny bit; if it climbs and stalls, bend them down.
- Group challenge: which team’s glider stays in the air longest? Time it with a stopwatch.
- SEND tips: pre-crease the center line and use a ruler to help with the nose folds.
Standards links
- Science (NGSS 3-PS2-1): investigate balanced and unbalanced forces on a moving object.
- Engineering (NGSS 3-5-ETS1-3): run fair tests to improve a model.
- Math (3.MD.B.3, 4.MD.A.2): measure distances and show the data in graphs.
- Math (4.G.A.3): find a line of symmetry.
Links to the Common Core State Standards, NGSS and the National Core Arts Standards. Check against your own state’s standards.
Safety
No scissors needed. Fly gliders across an open space, never at people’s faces, and take turns.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a glider and a dart?
A dart is narrow and fast. A glider has wider wings and a heavier nose, so it flies more slowly and floats further.
Why does my glider dive?
Bend the back edges of both wings up very slightly and throw it gently and level, not hard.