This document provides instructions for an activity where students make paper helicopters. It explains that gravity is the force that pulls objects towards the Earth. Students explore how to make the helicopter work and fill out a claims/evidence page about why the helicopter moves down and twirls as it falls. They then write a statement summarizing what they learned about how paper helicopters work and how forces like gravity and air resistance cause it to float down while its blades spin.

1. P.FM.03.22
Identify the force that pulls objects towards the Earth
Activity: Helicopter
http://www.funpaperairplanes.com/Plane%20Downloads.html
Question
How does the helicopter work?
Engage
Students make helicopter
Give students directions and make sure #6 and #7 are deleted
Explore
Have students find way to make the helicopter work
Explain
MEAP Assessment Clarification
• Gravity is the force that pulls objects towards the Earth.
Teacher Background – pg. 148­151
Students fill in the claims/evidence page
Talk about why the helicopter is moving down
Why there needs to have weight on the end
What happens when the blades are in different positions
Claims Evidence
my helicopter twirls the blades move around in a circle while
going towards the ground
the helicopter moves towards the the force of gravity is pulling on the
ground helicopter
the blades are slowed down by the the helicopter floats towards the ground
air
Elaborate and Evaluate
Use I learned page. Have the students use the claims/evidence page to write what
they learned and label their picture of their helicopter.
Help students come up with statement using the lesson question.
Starter Statement: I learned how a paper helicopter works.
As my helicopter twirls, I see the blades move around in a circle while going
towards the ground. The helicopter moves towards the ground because the force of

2. gravity is pulling on the helicopter. The blades are slowed down by the air which
makes the helicopter float towards the ground.
Vocabulary
Picture labels should include: blades, air, gravity, ground, direction words, motion,
and force (w/arrow)

3. Claims Evidence
I know that ... I know this because …

4. I Learned