Paper Helicopters
Preparation
CLASS LEVEL First – sixth class
OBJECTIVES Content Strand and Strand Unit
Energy & forces,Forces
Through investigation the child should be enabled to come to appreciate that gravity
is a force,SESE:Science Curriculum page 87.
In this activity children explore how some things fall and how varying the size of the
rotor blades, the shape of the rotor blades and the weight of a paper helicopter affect
the way a helicopter spins.
Skill development
Through completing the strand units of the science curriculum the child should be
enabled to design, plan and carry out simple experiments, having regard to one or two
variables and the need to sequence tasks and tests, SESE:Science Curriculum page 79.
This activity helps them understand fair testing by
changing only one variable (i.e. shape only or length
only) at a time.
Investigating;experimenting;observing; analysing;
measuring/timing; recording and communicating.
CURRICULUM LINKS Mathematics
Data / representing and interpreting data
SESE: History
Continuity and change over time/ technological and
scientific developments over long periods
BACKGROUND A previous activity on how things fall (i.e. the weight of
the object is not a factor – Galileo and the Leaning
Tower of Pisa) would help understanding of this activity,
but not essential.
MATERIALS/EQUIPMENT Paper, Ruler, Paper Clips, Scissors
Templates of different sizes
PREPARATION Test out a few thicknesses of paper/cardboard first to
see that some of them spin.
BACKGROUND The shape of the helicopter rotor blades make it spin
INFORMATION when dropped from a height. Gravity pulls the
helicopter down.The air resists the movement and
pushes up each rotor separately, causing the helicopter
to spin.