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The Axes of Flight

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A paper model of an airplane attached to pencils that run across the wings and along the fuselage

Audience

Students

Grade Levels

Grades K-4, Grades 5-8

Subject

Physical Science, Flight and Aeronautics

Type

Hands-on Activities

Cut out and assemble a paper airplane, and then learn the three ways airplanes can move. Airplanes can move in three directions: left to right, forward and backward, and up and down. Use pencils connected to your cut-out airplane to see how it moves in the three directions. Then, read about airplane motions and which airplane parts help the airplane to move.

The Axes of Flight

This activity is adapted from the “Axes/Control Surfaces (K-4)” and “Axes/Control Surfaces (5-8)” educator guides.