The purpose of this activity is for students to gather some baseline information, make one variable and test the results, make another variable and test the results, choose a paper plane design that they believe will fly the farthest and test the results, graph the longest and average distances flown for each of paper plane trails. Most elementary students do not have a good grasp of the scientific method or how to set-up an experiment, collect data, test a hypothesis, or organize the information after an experiment.
Children can do real science by asking simple 'what if questions' that can be tested.
Make and fly a paper airplane. Work cooperatively with a partner in collecting data. Be introduced to the terms hypothesis, variable, and average. Follow directions in making a complex paper plane design. Organize and graph data collected.