Paper Airplane Challenge, Aviation & Aeronautics STEM Activity

Are you ready to take flight with the power of STEM education? Get ready to undertake an exciting journey into the world of paper airplanes! In this STEM challenge, we'll explore the art of crafting paper airplanes while integrating science, technology, engineering, and mathematics concepts. Whether you're a teacher looking to engage your students or a curious individual seeking a fun and educational project, this activity promises to be a thrilling adventure. 

Paper Airplane Challenge, Aviation & Aeronautics STEM Activity 

Paper Airplane Challenge, Aviation & Aeronautics STEM Activity

Paper Airplane STEM challenge with free pdf at the bottom of the post

What You'll Discover:

Aerodynamics: Learn about the forces that make paper airplanes fly through the air, including lift, gravity, thrust, and drag. Learn about the effects of wing shape, weight distribution, and other elements on flying.

Engineering: Experiment with different paper airplane designs, from classic styles to innovative creations. Discover how to optimize your airplane's performance by adjusting variables like wing size, wing shape, and paper type.

Mathematics: Apply mathematical concepts to measure flight distances, angles, and speeds. Calculate averages and make data-driven decisions to improve your paper airplane's performance.

Bring the excitement of aviation into your classroom with this Paper Airplane STEM Challenge! This engaging aeronautics activity introduces students to the science of flight through hands-on learning and engineering design. Learners explore the four forces of flight—lift, thrust, drag, and gravity—while testing different paper airplane designs. Perfect for elementary and middle school classrooms, this aviation STEM activity builds critical thinking, teamwork, and data analysis skills as students hypothesize, experiment, and record results. Whether you’re teaching science, engineering, or aeronautics, this interactive STEM experiment makes aviation fun, accessible, and memorable for every learner.

Read-Aloud Books to Pair with the Paper Airplane Challenge

Read-Aloud Books to Pair with the Paper Airplane Challenge

Violet the Pilot by Steve Breen – An inspiring story about a girl who dreams of flying and invents her own planes.

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty is A perfect STEM connection about creativity, failure, and persistence.

The Boy and the Airplane by Mark Pett is A wordless picture book that sparks imagination about flight.

Wind Flyers by Angela Johnson is a lyrical tale inspired by the Tuskegee Airmen.

The Glorious Flight by Alice and Martin Provensen is A Caldecott-winning book about Louis Blériot, the first man to fly across the English Channel.

Papa Put a Man on the Moon by Kristy Dempsey. A great tie-in for kids curious about flight and its connection to space travel.

Flight School by Lita Judge: A fun, lighthearted book about perseverance in learning to fly.

Amazing Airplanes by Tony Mitton is Rhythmic, engaging, and great for younger readers.

The Noisy Airplane Ride by Mike Downs brings real-life flight experience to kids.

Taking Flight: The Story of the Wright Brothers by Adam Hancher – For older elementary kids, linking history with your activity.

Get Your Free PDF:

To assist you on this STEM adventure, we're offering a free PDF and also a PPT or slide that includes step-by-step instructions, design templates, and tips for organizing a Paper Airplane STEM Challenge event. 

Simply click the link below to download your free PDF  and get started on this exhilarating journey into the world of paper airplane engineering:

Teacher Tested:
“My students had a blast with this one! Who knew paper planes could teach so much science? Such a fun way to sneak in aeronautics and aviation into our STEM block.”

Download from here

What’s Included (10 Pages):

Cover Page

 

Introduction to Flight 
 

Vocabulary Page

 

ASK

 

Imagine & Plan

 

CREATE: Paper Airplane Building

 

TEST: Flight Data Chart

 

Reflection

 

Paper Airplane Template

 

More STEM Lesson Plan Template With Free PDF

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