Paper Airplane Competition

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A paper airplane contest is a simple yet enjoyable activity that can engage your youth group's creativity and sense of competition. It's a fantastic game to promote teamwork, encourage participants to think critically about design, and have some lighthearted fun. Here's how you can organize a paper airplane contest with some additional tips:

Materials Needed:

Paper: Provide each participant with a standard sheet of paper (8.5 x 11 inches or A4 size). You can use plain white paper or colored paper for added flair.

Markers and Decorative Supplies: If you want to encourage creative designs, offer markers, stickers, or other decorative supplies for participants to use in customizing their airplanes.

Measuring Tools: You'll need a measuring tape or a marked-out flying distance to determine the winner.

Steps for Organizing a Paper Airplane Contest:

Design Phase: Begin by explaining the rules and objectives of the contest. Participants are tasked with designing and constructing their paper airplanes within a set time limit. They can fold, cut, and decorate the paper as they see fit.

Time Limit: Set a reasonable time limit for the design phase, typically 10-15 minutes, depending on the complexity of your contest.

Design Categories (Optional): You can introduce different design categories for the contest to add variety. For example, categories might include "Longest Flight," "Most Accurate Landing," "Best Trick," or "Most Creative Design." This allows participants to choose a category that aligns with their interests and skills.

Test Flights: After the design phase, allow participants to test-fly their airplanes in a designated area. Make sure they don't throw their airplanes too close to each other to avoid collisions.

Judging: Depending on the categories you've established, you may need judges or specific criteria for evaluation. For "Longest Flight," you'll need a measuring tape to determine the distance. For "Best Trick" or "Most Accurate Landing," judges can score each flight based on creativity, style, or landing accuracy.

Multiple Rounds (Optional): To keep the contest engaging, consider having multiple rounds. The first round could be a standard flight competition, and subsequent rounds can focus on specific challenges or categories.

Grand Finale: Conclude the contest with a grand finale, such as a "Champion of Champions" round where the best-performing airplanes from each category compete for an overall winner.

Awards and Prizes: Recognize winners and award prizes. You can have certificates, small trophies, or even simple rewards like candy or snacks.

 

Tips for a Successful Paper Airplane Contest:

Encourage participants to experiment with different folding techniques and designs during the design phase.

Promote creativity by allowing participants to decorate their airplanes.

Emphasize safety, ensuring that participants are mindful of others while test-flying their airplanes.

Consider involving the youth group in the judging process to make it more engaging and inclusive.

Use a large open space outdoors to conduct the contest, as paper airplanes can travel significant distances.

Take photos or videos of the flights to capture the fun moments and share them with the group later.

A paper airplane contest is not only a great way to engage your youth group but also an opportunity to teach them about design, physics, and creativity while fostering teamwork and friendly competition. It's an activity that can be enjoyed by participants of all ages and skill levels.

 

 



Features
  • Sharing, Get to know you
  • Night
Objectives
  • Ice breaker
  • Team Building Teamwork
Space
  • Indoor
  • Large area
  • Outdoor
Age
  • Primary or Elementary School
  • Teens (Age 12-15)
  • Teens (Age 16-18)
  • Young Adults

Group Size
  • Small Groups (1-9 people)
  • Medium (10-29 people)

Duration
  • Medium (11-29 mins)
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