A photograph of the black of a child modeling brown cardboard flapping wings.

Ages 5+ | 10-20 min | Craft | Screen Free

Make your own set of wings and learn about the forces of flight.

What You'll  Need: 

  • A large piece of cardboard or poster paper (about 12" by 36")
  • Scissors
  • Tape
  • Yarn, string, or ribbon
  • Stickers or markers to decorate it
  • Optional: Electric fan

1. Cut out two wing shapes from paper or cardboard.

Our example wings are shaped like dragonfly wings.

2. Attach string or ribbon to each end of one wing using tape to make arm straps and hand straps.

3. Repeat for the second wing.

4. Flap your arms slowly and then quickly.

Optional: Try it in front of a fan to feel the air pushing against the wings.

  • What happens when you flap faster?
  • Can you feel the air pushing back?
  • Do others around you feel the air around your wings?
  • Decorate your wings any way you like!

We want to hear from you!

Optional
The Lilienthal Glider at the Museum

Air and Space Connection

  • Otto Lilienthal was a German engineer from the 1800s.
  • He was inspired by birds! He studied how they fly and used that knowledge to build gliders.
  • He used what he saw to build gliders with curved wings, just like birds, so people could try flying too.
  • He flew almost 2,000 times. 

About This Learning Resource

Age and Grade

Age: 5+

Grade: Pre-K-5

Subject and Topics

Physical Science

Duration

10-20 mins

Usage Rights

You are free to use this resource for personal and educational purposes, with attribution. (CC BY-NC)

A young man shows off his eclipse viewing mask, created by adding a paper plate to eclipse glasses.

Soar Together

Soar Together offers family days at the National Air and Space Museum's two locations, as well as activities like this one for families to do anywhere.

Soar Together is made possible by the generous support of the Northrop Grumman Foundation.

More About Soar Together

Related Activities and Videos

A tree branch full of red maple leaves, sometimes called helicopters, in the foreground. The National Air and Space Museum in the background.

Nature Walk Seed Hunt

Ages 6+ | 30 mins | Observation

Walk around your neighborhood and nearby parks and see if you can find these plants and seeds that depend on the wind for survival.

A diagraph of a parachute. The parachute part is labelled the canopy, followed by the string, holding the load.

Design a Parachute

Ages 6-12 | 30-60 mins | Design Challenge

Test out different homemade parachutes to figure out which one could be used to make a successful air drop.

A piece of paper folded half and half with a paperclip on the bottom.

Make a Whirligig

Ages 6+ | 10-15 min | Craft

This craft will spin like a helicopter or a seed.

An illustrated thumbnail that reads "Story Time presents, make a wish on the wind."

Story Time: Make a Wish on the Wind

Ages 4+ | 5 min story, 4 min craft | Story Time Video and Craft

Explore the connection between parachutes and seed that travel on the wind in this original story.