Make a Mini-Glider

Step 1: Take the cotton swab and pull the cotton off of one end. 

Step 2: Make the wings

• Get your colored paper and scissors, and cut a strip for the wings and elevator.
• You can decide how wide or skinny you want your wings to be.
• Use your cotton swab to measure the wings. The wings should be to be 1/2 inch longer than the swab—if you don't have a ruler, this is about as long a dime.

Step 3: Attach the wings

• Use your cotton swab to find the center of your wing.
• Add glue to that center area of the wing
• Then press the cotton swab on the glue, with the edge of the cottony end touching the wing.
• Next fold the wings up around the cotton swab so they're even.
• Hold this and count to 5 to make sure the glue dries a bit.

Step 4: Make a tail

• Take another strip of colored paper and measure it to be the length of one side of the wing.
• Cut this piece to make the tail.
• Glue the tail on the same way you glued the wings on, but at the tail end.
• Don't forget to hold and count to 5 for the glue to dry!

Step 5: Finish up your glider and fly it

• Fold the wings and tail down so they resemble a glider.
• Hold the glider between the wings and the tail and throw it gently. See it fly!

Adapted from Soar Together at Air and Space. Soar Together is made possible by the generous support of the Northrop Grumman Foundation.