We are quickly approaching the days when spring break has passed, Memorial Day seems far away, and everyone is looking forward to May flowers. The games that got you through the winter have become mundane and the mere mention of them makes staff shudder. As many programs do, my program also ran on a shoestring budget, and we had to make due with what we had available to us. The easiest commodity to get our hands on was paper…all types of paper. Copy paper, construction paper, cardstock of all sizes and weights. We also had a lot of tape from somewhere, but the two together made for a week of creativity, expanded learning, and adventure.
In early May, the heat begins to creep in and the field and playground call. It’s easy to get the gator balls, basketballs, jump ropes, and playground equipment. One rule at our site was that staff were actively engaged with the kids, playing and working alongside each other in all aspects of the program. Our site had a fenced playground and a large field that offered lush-green grass and sea breezes from the water four blocks away. As the other staff grabbed the basketballs, jump ropes and equipment, I went for the paper and tape.
Setting up shop at the table, put a rock on the pile of paper, spread out some markers and put rolls of tape around. Before everyone got to go to their choice for the afternoon, we had an opening circle for checking in with the kids and telling them about the day’s activity choices. In addition to the usual, I presented a paper airplane design workshop. I had gotten a book of paper airplanes from the library and made copies of some of the models they could build. Sleek planes, box planes, trick planes, racing planes of all colors, shapes, and sizes started to take shape.
We were able to expand the learning by talking about wind direction and speed, air pressure, and aerodynamics. Each day of that week, we dove a little deeper into the design and kids started talking about having a paper airplane race day at the end of the week. Designs were tweaked, paper airplanes scrapped and remade with a fresh paper, and they designed a test course in the field with cone markers for distance, all within the course of a week. Friday came and the anticipation was palpable, staff had gotten prizes for the winners and ice pops for everyone to celebrate Race Day.
One at a time planes flew. Some would only go a foot, while others reached 10 feet or greater. Parents would come for pickup and make an airplane to enter in the races. In the end, the kids came up with categories (best in show, most tricky, fastest, and the duds) to judge. At the same time, they didn’t realize that with simple paper and tape they got to learn and apply STEM concepts in a real world way.