Building paper areoplanes is another great craft idea that requires minimal planning and materials, but will provide both fun and learning for your puddlestompers. Choose your design below and see which one you can make fly the furthest! Enjoy!

Materials Needed:

• A4 Paper
• Child Safe Scissors
• Coloured Pens or Crayons
• Paper Clips

 The Classic Dart - This design never fails, it’s easy to build and easy to fly.

1. Fold the paper lengthways, and open it back out.
2. Fold the top 2 corners over so that they meet in the middle.
3. Make another 2 creases longer than the first ones on both sides and fold in to the middle.
4. Fold in half so that the folds are hidden on the inside.
5. Make the wings by folding the slanted edges over, leaving about one inch from the bottom.

The Eagle - This design flies well and its large wing span makes it more stable in the air.

1. Fold the paper lengthways, and open it back out.
2. Fold the top 2 corners over so that they meet in the middle.
3. Fold the triangle over towards you, then fold over the top corners so that they meet in the middle but leave a straight edge at the top.
4. Fold the straight edge away from you, and then fold the paper in half so that all the folds are visible on the outside.
5. Make the wings by folding the slanted edges over, leaving about one inch from the bottom.

 The Dragonfly - If thrown hard enough, this plane will do loops in the air just like a real dragonfly.

1. Make small folds along the length of the paper until you have folded about an inch over.
2. Fold the paper in half width ways then cut a tall hill shaped curve from one corner to just before the other corner.
3. Make the wings by folding the cut edges over, leaving about one inch from the bottom.
4. Fold the tip of the bottom wings down, and the tip of the front wings up.

Helicopter - You can make 5 of these from 1 sheet of A4 paper. They probably won’t fly as far but they’re fun to watch!

1. Cut the paper into 5 roughly equal sized strips.
2. Make a slit lengthways and stop just before the halfway point.
3. Make 2 small slits at the halfway point at 90 degrees to the long slit.
4. Fold the paper away from you using the smaller slits, so that the paper is in a T shape.
5. Fold the bottom of the T up and secure with a paperclip.
6. Make the wings by bending the top of the T so that the strips are in opposite directions.

For some added fun, create a runway along your garden or hall way and put names on each of the planes to compete for the furthest flight or best landing.