How To Make A Paper Airplane For Cub Scouts

Learn how to make a paper airplane for the Wolf Cub Scout elective adventure, Motor Away. These fun activities could be done at a pack meeting too And they count toward the Cub Scout Nova award, Swing! The Motor Away elective adventure for Wolf Cub Scouts teaches the Scouts about propulsion which means to push forward or drive an object forward. In this adventure, the kids learn about propulsion by making paper airplanes, model boats, and self-powered cars. Today, we’re going to focus on airplanes. I’m sure all of us have wondered how those huge airplanes can stay in the air.

I know I have! That can all be explained by something called Bernoulli’s principle which says that as air moves around an object, it creates different amounts of pressure on that object. Faster air means less pressure. Slower air means more pressure. When there’s more pressure underneath the object than on top of it, the object rises. To show this, cut a piece of paper into 1″ strips so that each child can have one. Demonstrate holding the paper right below the edge of your bottom lip, then ask him what he thinks will happen if you blow out a big breath.

It’ll be interesting to hear what answers you get. Next, give a strip to each child, and have them hold it right below their bottom lip and blow out. Ask if they’re surprised by what happens. This is the same principle that keeps an airplane in the air! 1. I recommend using a 1″ strip of paper rather than an entire piece of paper because the strip will move more rapidly. It’s also a bit easier to move the strip than the entire piece. You could try it with both as you’re preparing for the den meeting. 2. The reason I recommend asking them what will happen before you give them the paper is to keep that inquisitive kiddo from blowing before anyone has answered!

The Motor Away adventure doesn’t require using the Scientific Method, but it’s simple to turn your paper airplane project into an “official” scientific inquiry. I found this document that shows you specifically how to do this. If your pack offers the Cub Scout Super Nova award program, it makes sense to use the scientific method because it will satisfy one of the Super Nova requirements. Cub Scout Super Nova Requirement 8: Learn about the scientific method (or scientific process). Discuss this with your mentor, and include a simple demonstration to show what you learned. Wolf Elective Adventure Motor Away Requirement 1: Do each of the following.