Mini Minds Hub · Free printable

DIY Paper Aeroplane

    • StageEarly Years
    • CostFree
    • FormatPrintable PDF
    Download free PDF Open and print

    DIY Paper Aeroplane is a free printable activity for children aged 2 and over. Children make their own paper aeroplane, then fly it and see what happens. It is hands on and easy to repeat. Younger children just need a grown up to help.

    It comes from the Mini Minds Hub, the free library of printables from Jaques of London, the British games and toy company that has been making games for families since 1795. Print both pages, give page 1 to your child and keep page 2 for yourself. Page 2 has notes on using the sheet, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea.

    What is on the sheet

    This is a make and play activity. Children work on their own DIY paper aeroplane, using their hands to fold, press and shape it. Once it is ready, they can fly it and watch what it does. Then they can change something and fly it again. Younger children will need a grown up to do the trickier parts with them. Older children can work more independently and test their ideas.

    Ideas for making and testing

    Decorate first

    Colour the plane with crayons or felt tips before flying it. Stripes, stars and bold patterns are easy to spot in the air. Choose a name for your plane and write it on a wing.

    Fly from the same spot

    Pick one starting spot and fly the plane from there each time. This makes it easier to see whether a change has made any difference.

    Change one thing

    Try a small change, such as bending the back edges slightly up or down. Fly the plane again and talk about what looks different.

    Make a runway

    Lay a strip of paper or a skipping rope on the floor as a runway. Children aim for the plane to land near it. Move a marker to show the best flight.

    Why make paper aeroplanes?

    Paper aeroplanes are one of the simplest ways to explore how things move through the air. They need very little, they are quick to fix when something goes wrong, and children can see the results straight away. A plane that dives or wobbles is not a failure. It is something to look at, talk about and try again.

    Folding also builds hand control. Children line up edges, press creases flat and use both hands together. For younger children this is good practice. For older children it opens the door to testing, comparing and explaining, which are useful habits in design and science.

    Fly paper aeroplanes away from faces, pets and breakable things. Pointed noses can be sharp when thrown. Choose an open space and fly planes in the same direction, so nobody is in the way.

    Fun facts about flight

    • Real aeroplanes have wings that help lift them into the air.
    • A paper aeroplane has no engine, so it starts moving when you throw it.
    • Gravity is always pulling a flying plane towards the ground.
    • Air pushes against a plane as it moves. This is called drag.
    • Many real aeroplanes have a tail at the back to help them fly straight.

    Skills and curriculum link

    • Folding
    • Fine motor control
    • Hand and eye coordination
    • Testing ideas
    • Creative thinking
    • Listening and following directions

    Helpful ideas about flight

    • WingsWings are the flat parts that stick out from the sides. They help a plane stay up as it moves through the air.
    • GravityGravity pulls things down towards the ground. A plane glides for a while, but gravity brings it back down.
    • AirAir is all around us, even though we cannot see it. A plane has to move through it, and the air pushes back a little.
    • TestingTesting means trying something, watching what happens and then trying again. Scientists and designers do this all the time.

    Key words

    • FoldBend paper over so one part lies on top of another.
    • CreaseThe sharp line you make when you press a fold flat.
    • WingThe flat part on each side of a plane.
    • NoseThe pointed front of a plane.
    • GlideMove smoothly through the air without an engine.
    • GravityThe pull that brings things down to the ground.

    How to use it

    1. Print both pages. Page 1 is for your child. Keep page 2, which has notes for you, help ideas and a stretch idea.
    2. Look at page 1 together and talk about what a paper aeroplane is and how it might fly.
    3. Let your child do as much of the folding and pressing as they can. Younger children can have a grown up do the tricky parts.
    4. Find a clear space and fly the plane. Watch where it goes and talk about what you notice.
    5. Try a small change, then fly it again. Ask your child which flight they preferred and why.

    Help, stretch and game ideas

    If it feels too hard

    Let a grown up do the tricky folds while your child presses the creases flat. Say what you are doing as you go. Praise a plane that looks a bit wonky, because it can still fly. If your child gets tired, take a break and come back later.

    To stretch confident children

    Make two planes with different choices, such as different wings or a different nose. Fly each one three times from the same spot and compare how far they go. Ask your child to say which flew better and why. Change one thing at a time.

    Make it a game

    Set a start line. Each player flies their plane and a grown up puts a marker where it lands. Take three turns each. The plane that lands furthest on each turn scores a point. The player with the most points wins. Swap planes for a fresh round.

    Talk about it

    • What do you think will happen when we throw the plane?
    • Why do you think some planes fly further than others?
    • What could we change to make it fly better?
    • Have you ever seen a real aeroplane? What did it look like?
    • What shape are the wings on your plane?
    • Which flight was your favourite and why?

    Take it off the page

    Distance chart

    Fly a plane several times and measure each flight in footsteps. Write the numbers in a simple chart and see which was the longest.

    Sky watching

    Look up on a clear day and spot birds, planes and clouds. Talk about how each one moves and draw what you saw.

    Paper test

    Make planes from different kinds of paper, such as thin and thick. Fly them and talk about any differences you notice.

    Who it is for

    Parents

    Sit beside your child for the folding, then let them take the lead with flying. Younger children will enjoy decorating and flying the plane as much as making it. Keep the focus on playing and trying again, not on getting a perfect plane.

    Teachers

    Use it as a calm making activity, an early finisher task, or a starter for talking about flight. Children can test and compare their planes, which links to design, make and evaluate in design and technology. Clear a safe flying space first.

    Home educators

    It suits mixed ages well. Younger children can colour and fly, while older children can test changes and measure results. Use it as a rainy day activity or a short break between more focused work. Fly planes outdoors or in a clear room.

    Where this fits

    Before this, children are building skills such as using their hands to hold, press and manipulate paper. Simple making activities, like tearing, scrunching and basic folding, all help.

    After this, children can try other folds and designs, and begin comparing and explaining their results. At primary level this links to design and technology, where children design, make and evaluate, and to working scientifically in science.

    Questions parents and teachers ask

    Is this activity free?

    Yes. It is a free printable from the Mini Minds Hub by Jaques of London. You can print it as many times as you like for use at home or in the classroom.

    What age is it suitable for?

    The page says it is suitable for ages 2 and over. Children under five will need a grown up to do most of the folding. Older children can often manage more on their own.

    What do I need?

    You will need the printed sheet. Crayons or felt tips are useful if your child wants to decorate their plane. You will also need a clear space to fly it.

    What is on page 2?

    Page 2 is for the grown up. It has notes on how to use the sheet, help for children who find it hard, and a stretch idea. Your child does not need it.

    Where should we fly the plane?

    Choose an open space with nothing breakable nearby. Make sure nobody is standing in the flight path. Avoid throwing planes towards faces or pets, as pointed noses can be sharp.

    Why does my plane keep diving or crashing?

    Planes often dive when the folds are uneven or the nose is too heavy. Check that both sides match, then fly it again. Small changes can make a big difference, so try one at a time.

    Can I use this in a classroom?

    Yes. It works as a calm making task, an early finisher activity or a starter for talking about flight. Plan a safe flying space and set a simple rule that planes only fly in one direction.

    Preview the full PDF

    Made by Jaques of London, making games for families since 1795. A printable supports classroom learning and does not replace a teacher.

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