Ages 6+ | 10-15 min | Craft | Screen Free
Hold the flyer on the bottom where the paperclip is and drop it from shoulder height.
What happens if...
Plants use the wind to move pollen, spores, and seeds. This allows for more plants and trees to grow and spread.
Red maple seeds, called samaras, spin like tiny helicopters when they fall from the tree. The wind can carry them farther because of this.
Some aircraft use spinning blades to move through the air.
An early example is an autogiro. The picture shows pilot Amelia Earhart with her autogiro.
Today, you're more likely to see a helicopter move with rotating blades.
You can also make whirligigs following these instructions.
Age: 6+
Grade: K-5
10-15 mins
You are free to use this resource for personal and educational purposes, with attribution. (CC BY-NC)
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.
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.
Ages 5-10 | 60 mins | Craft
Make your own helicopter.
Ages 6+ | 5-10 min | Craft
Make a model of a parachute.
Make your own (model) airplanes with these easy craft activities for kids, using household materials and no screens.
