Not sure why most of our summer fun activities end up being related to science. But there you have it. And here is another: Make a Mars Helicopter.
This activity from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab includes a Student Project page with step-by-step illustrated and animated instructions for building a paper helicopter.
NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover launched in July 2020, carrying the first helicopter to the surface of Mars! This helicopter has to be lightweight and have large blades to fly on Mars. These large blades rotate so quickly that they generate enough lift to overcome the gravity of the Red Planet and lift off the ground.
In this project, students will build a paper helicopter. Then, just as NASA engineers had to try out different versions of the Mars helicopter before coming up with a final design, students will experiment with the design of their helicopters to see what works best.
Make a Paper Mars Helicopter
The helicopter worksheet includes the template students cut out and instructions for assembly.
There is also an Educator Guide with background, videos, and discussion questions. The materials needed are common unless you wish to include the optional ribbon or smartphone camera.
Perfect for summer outdoor fun! And a great way to keep ’em learning!
Free Resources
Additional Resources
Illustration of Mars Helicopter
For reference or notebook, if desired.
