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Quick to make, this fun toy can fly
surprisingly well with just a little practice. If only we understood why it flies so well!
Materials needed A4 sheet of paper
sellotape
ruler
felt tips, paints etc to decorate
Draw a line parallel to the long edge of the paper about 2 cm form the edge. Score this line gently with a coin to make it easier to fold.
Keep folding the paper over until about 6cm of the cylinder reamins unfolded.
With the folds on the outside, roll up the paper lengthways and secure with some sellotape.
It can then be decorated.
Fling it like you spin an American football with the folded edges facing away from you.
How it works Spinning gives it stability and air passing through it gives it a force called lift.
Other ideas Your pupils can try different sized pieces of paper to see if larger ones fly better.
Also different weights of paper can be tried. Which goes further, a paper cylinder or a card one?
Try using the centre of a 2 litre plastic drinks bottle instead of paper.
As this can't be folded, let your pupils experiment with wire, string etc wound or stuck on the rim to give the weight needed on the top. Does it fly better than the paper one?
This toy is best flown outside due to its extra weight.
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