The Air of the Wolf Adventure offers Wolf Cub Scouts a hands-on introduction to the principles of aerodynamics and engineering. This adventure is designed to spark curiosity about how different designs and materials can affect the way objects fly. Through building and testing various flying objects, Scouts begin to understand the science behind air lift and the factors that influence flight.
Scouts start this adventure by constructing a simple paper airplane and testing its flight capabilities. They are encouraged to make observations about how far and how long the airplane flies. This initial activity sets the stage for further exploration and comparison. Scouts then create a second paper airplane with a different design to see how changes in shape and size can impact flight performance. This direct comparison helps Scouts develop critical thinking and analytical skills as they evaluate the differences between the two designs.
Additionally, the adventure challenges Scouts to expand their creativity and engineering skills by building a flying object that is not a paper airplane. This task allows them to apply what they have learned about aerodynamics to a new creation, encouraging innovation and problem-solving.
The Air of the Wolf Adventure provides Wolf Cub Scouts with a fun experience that enhances their understanding of STEM concepts related to flight. By engaging in this adventure, Scouts develop skills in design, experimentation, and critical thinking. These experiences lay a basis for future inquiry and exploration in the fields of science and engineering.
Requirements for the Air of the Wolf Adventure
Air of the Wolf Adventure Requirements
- Make a paper airplane and fly it five times. Record the flight distance and time.
- Make a paper airplane of a different design and fly it five times. Record the flight distance and time.
- Compare and contrast the two paper airplanes by distance and flight times.
- Build a flying object that is not a paper airplane.
Printable requirements for the Air of the Wolf Adventure
Check off sheet to keep track of your den’s progress on the Air of the Wolf Adventure
Resources for the Air of the Wolf Adventure
Taking Flight
Make a paper airplane and fly it five times. Record the flight distance and time.
Requirement 1 of the Air of the Wolf Adventure introduces Wolf Cub Scouts to the basics of aerodynamics through a hands-on activity: making and flying a paper airplane. This simple yet effective exercise not only engages Scouts in the principles of flight but also teaches them how to record data and observe the effects of design on performance.
- Choose a Design: Start with a basic paper airplane design. You can find simple folding instructions in books or online that are easy for Scouts to follow.
- Materials: Use a standard sheet of paper. This keeps the experiment consistent and fair, ensuring that the flight results are due to design and technique rather than variations in materials.
- Building the Plane: Show the Scouts how to fold the paper into an airplane. Make sure each Scout folds their own airplane to practice their fine motor skills and understand each fold’s impact on the plane’s aerodynamics.
- Flying the Plane: Find an open space where Scouts can safely throw their airplanes without interference. Each Scout should fly their airplane five times to get a good set of data.
- Recording Data: Provide each Scout with a notebook or chart to record the distance and flight time for each launch. This teaches them how to keep scientific records and introduces basic concepts of measuring and timing.
Here is an option for fulfilling Air of the Wolf Adventure requirement 1:
- Make a Paper Airplane
- Cub Scouts make and fly a paper airplane.
- Supplies: paper, Make a Paper Airplane folding instructions, Make a Paper Airplane flight distance and time tracker, pencils, measuring tape, stopwatch
- indoor, moderate energy, minimal prep
By completing this requirement, Wolf Scouts not only have fun and engage creatively but also learn valuable lessons in physics, experimentation, and record-keeping. This activity lays the groundwork for more complex projects and inspires a deeper interest in science and engineering.
Experimenting with Design
Make a paper airplane of a different design and fly it five times. Record the flight distance and time.
Requirement 2 of the Air of the Wolf Adventure encourages Wolf Cub Scouts to expand their exploration of aerodynamics by constructing and testing a paper airplane with a different design from their first. This task highlights the impact of design variations on flight performance and introduces Scouts to the concept of experimental variables.
- Select a New Design: Choose a paper airplane design that is noticeably different from the first. This could involve changes in wing shape, size, or the plane’s overall structure. Provide instructions or a template to help Scouts make consistent folds.
- Materials: Use the same type of paper as the first airplane to ensure that performance differences are due to design changes rather than material differences.
- Flying the Plane: Use the same location as the first test to keep external conditions consistent. Each Scout should fly their new design five times, just like the first.
- Recording Data: Scouts should continue to use their notebooks or charts to record the flight distance and time for each launch of their new airplane design.
Here is an option for fulfilling Air of the Wolf Adventure requirement 2:
- Paper Airplane Comparison
- Cub Scouts will make a different paper airplane design and fly it five times.
- Supplies: paper, Paper Airplane Comparison Folding Instructions, Paper Airplane Comparison tracker, pencils, measuring tape, stopwatch
- indoor, moderate energy, minimal prep
By making and testing a second paper airplane design, Wolf Scouts not only have fun but also gain a deeper understanding of how changes in design can lead to different performance outcomes. This requirement fosters critical thinking, creativity, and a scientific approach to problem-solving, skills that are valuable both in and outside of Scouting.
Flight Analysis
Compare and contrast the two paper airplanes by distance and flight times.
Requirement 3 of the Air of the Wolf Adventure guides Wolf Cub Scouts in a comparison of the two different paper airplane designs they’ve created, focusing on the distance and flight time of each model. This exercise teaches Scouts about the variables that can affect performance and how to evaluate and interpret their observations.
- Review Data: Encourage Scouts to lay out the data they’ve collected for both airplane designs. This includes the flight distance and time for each of the five flights per design.
- Calculate Averages: Help Scouts calculate the average distance flown and the average flight time for each design. This step simplifies the comparison by reducing variability in the data.
- Discuss Differences: Facilitate a discussion about the observed differences in performance between the two designs. Ask Scouts to think about how the design might have influenced the results, considering aspects like wing size, plane shape, or weight.
- Make Predictions: Based on their data, ask Scouts to predict which design might perform better under different conditions, such as a windy day or a longer runway.
Here are some options for fulfilling Air of the Wolf Adventure requirement 3:
- Paper Airplane Derby
- Cub Scouts participate in a paper airplane derby.
- Supplies: paper, pencils, measuring tape, stopwatch, Paper Airplane Derby scoresheet
- indoor, high energy, 1 to 3 days prep
- Paper Airplane Golf
- Cub Scouts will play paper airplane golf.
- Supplies: paper, markers, colored pencils, tape, scissors, items for holes such as hula hoops, laundry baskets, buckets, etc, Paper Airplane Golf scorecard
- indoor, high energy, 1 to 3 days prep
- Paper Airplane Obstacle Course
- Cub Scouts participate in a paper airplane obstacle course.
- Supplies: paper, markers and colored pencils, tape, scissors, supplies for obstacles such as pool noodles, cardboard boxes, paper, hangers, etc, Paper Airplane Obstacle Course time sheet
- indoor, high energy, 1 to 3 days prep
By comparing and contrasting two paper airplane designs, Wolf Scouts develop analytical skills that are fundamental to scientific inquiry and engineering. This requirement not only makes learning about flight engaging and interactive but also instills a foundational understanding of how to approach problem-solving and experimentation.
Crafting Flight
Build a flying object that is not a paper airplane.
Requirement 4 of the Air of the Wolf Adventure challenges Wolf Cub Scouts to stretch their creativity and engineering skills by building a flying object that isn’t a paper airplane. This activity encourages Scouts to think outside the box and explore different principles of flight through hands-on construction.
- Simple Kite: Scouts can build a simple kite using a single sheet of paper, string, and lightweight sticks for the frame. They can decorate their kites with markers or stickers and test how well they fly in a gentle breeze.
- Rubber Band Helicopter: Using a popsicle stick, a small propeller, and a rubber band, Scouts can construct a basic helicopter. Or use a kit. The rubber band powers the propeller, creating lift as it unwinds and sending the helicopter into the air.
- Gliders: Using balsa wood or thick cardstock, Scouts can create gliders. Kits are also available for gliders. These models rely on aerodynamic shapes to glide through the air and can be an excellent way for Scouts to learn about stability and control surfaces.
Here are some options for fulfilling Air of the Wolf Adventure requirement 4:
- Balsawood Airplanes
- Cub Scouts build and fly balsawood airplanes.
- Supplies: Balsawood airplane kits
- indoor, high energy, minimal prep
- Paper Kites
- Cub Scouts make and fly a paper kite.
- Supplies: bamboo skewers, tape, string, scissors, hole punch, party streamers
- outdoor, high energy, 1 to 3 days prep
- Alternative: use a kite kit
- Wolf-Copters
- Cub Scouts make and fly Wolf-Copters.
- Supplies: Wolf-Copter template, pencils, scissors, paper clips
- indoor, moderate energy, 1 to 3 days prep
By building a flying object that is not a paper airplane, Wolf Scouts engage in an exciting exploration of aerodynamics and flight technology. This requirement not only enhances their understanding of how different objects can fly but also sparks interest in further scientific inquiry and engineering.
Forces of Flight Game: This game is like Ships and Sailors, except it has an airplane theme. Use it to get up and move during your meeting.
Before any activity, check the SAFE Checklist to make sure everyone is safe. Everyone involved in Scouting America activities should know the Guide to Safe Scouting and other relevant guides or books. Also follow any state or local rules that are more strict than Scouting America rules and guidelines.
Before starting a craft activity, watch the Craft Tips video.
Frequently Asked Questions for the Air of the Wolf Adventure
What do I need to make a paper airplane?
You just need a sheet of paper. Follow simple folding instructions to create your airplane.
What should I do if my paper airplane doesn’t fly well?
Try adjusting the wings or making sure the folds are sharp and even. Sometimes a little tweak can make a big difference.
What are some ideas for non-paper airplane flying objects?
Try making a simple kite, a rubber band helicopter, or a balloon rocket. These can all fly and are fun to make.
Soaring into Science
The Air of the Wolf Adventure offers Wolf Cub Scouts a thrilling introduction to the principles of flight and aerodynamics. Through engaging, hands-on activities, Scouts explore how different designs and materials affect an object’s ability to fly. Starting with the construction and testing of two distinct paper airplanes, Scouts record flight distances and times, gaining a practical understanding of aerodynamic principles.
This adventure encourages Scouts to compare the performance of their airplanes, helping them develop critical thinking skills by analyzing why different designs result in varied flight patterns. By engaging in this investigative process, Scouts learn to make observations, record data, and draw conclusions based on their experiments.
Further expanding their exploration of flight, Scouts are tasked with creating a flying object that isn’t a paper airplane. This challenge pushes them to think creatively and apply the concepts of lift, thrust, and aerodynamics to new types of flying models, such as kites or balloon rockets. This activity not only broadens their understanding of how different objects fly but also enhances their problem-solving and construction skills.
Overall, the Air of the Wolf Adventure fosters a deep curiosity about science and engineering, equipping Scouts with the knowledge and skills to explore the world of aerodynamics further. This adventure is an exciting blend of education and fun, designed to spark a lifelong interest in STEM fields.
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