Paper Helicopter STEM Project: Gr 5-7 Scientific Method Mini Unit

Here's a great science mini-unit for the start of the year to help your middle school or intermediate students learn about the scientific method, design, and independent variables in a fun and hands-on way! This is also a great project to complete before a science fair unit!

How to Use:

Print a booklet (double-sided) for each student with pages 2-9. Print a single page 10 for each student.

o Types of Variables: Read through as a class, give students time to identify the mistake, and teach students the three types of variables.

o Designing Experiments: Students can work in pairs or small groups to think of how they would design experiments for the following situations. Come back together and share as a class, then ensure students complete the bottom section on their own to assess comprehension.

o Paper Helicopter STEM Activity: Carefully go through the instructions. Choose a date in a couple of weeks for Registration Day (students will need at least 3 hours of class time to test models). The class after that can be Finals Day.

Next, students use their single sheet (p. 10) to make the initial design and test it several times to see how long it takes to fall.

o Helicopter Logbook: Students make at least three new designs. Each time they should only change one variable from the previous design. So, they could first change the wing length.  After that, they could change the type of paper, and finally, they could change the size of the model, etc. Each time they explain, predict, make the model, observe 3 trials, and reflect.

o Registration Day: Once students have tested at least 3 designs and have their best one, they make a fresh template of that design to hand in.

Finals Day: Students have 10 minutes to create their final helicopter from their template. Everyone tests three times, and the class winner can be determined!

[Note: The best design usually ends up being a simple, tiny square of paper!]

o Reflection: Students complete the three questions and put all their pages together to be marked out of 50.