Making a
Tumblewing Glider!
By making a Tumblewing Glider, we can explore aerodynamics and watch as it tumbles to the ground!
Making a Tumblewing Glider!
Materials
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Scissors
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Large, flat piece of cardboard
​ (optional for creating a​ Walking Tumblewing Glider!)
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Printer - if you don't have one, visit your local library for assistance.
Procedure
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Download and print the Tumblewing Template by clicking here!
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Carefully cut it out using your scissors or get help.
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Fold the side wings up at a 90 degree angle. Picture the paper on either side of the fold as two sides of a square, this is 90 degrees.
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Fold the front edge down and the back edge up.
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Hold the Tumblewing up by the back edge you bent upwards and let go. The Tumblewing will fall away from you, tumbling through the air. If it doesn’t go straight, it means the side wings aren’t perfectly 90 degrees and you can bend them into position before trying again.
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Now get your flat piece of cardboard; you can use this to create a flow of artificial draft and keep your Tumblewing in air for longer! Angle your cardboard at about 30 degrees from you and drop your Tumblewing over it.
Start walking forward to create the air flow and, if you practice a little, you can keep your Tumblewing tumbling as you go for a recharging walk around the neighbourhood.
This experiment is great for Beginner Explorers
and uses household items. Scissors are required
for cutting the glider from the template.
