STEM Sparks December 2025
Exploring Aerodynamics with a Paper Mars Helicopter
Bring NASA-inspired engineering into your classroom with a simple, hands-on activity that sparks curiosity and creativity. The Paper Mars Helicopter project, adapted from NASA’s educational resources, invites students to design, build, and test their own paper helicopters—while learning about aerodynamics, iteration, and problem-solving.
What Is the Paper Mars Helicopter Project?
This activity simulates the principles behind NASA’s Mars Helicopter, Ingenuity, using everyday materials. Students construct a basic paper helicopter, then experiment with design modifications to improve flight performance. It’s an engaging way to connect STEM concepts to real-world space exploration.
Why Educators Should Try It
- Hands-On Learning: Students actively apply engineering design principles—planning, building, testing, and refining.
- Critical Thinking: The project encourages observation, hypothesis-making, and iterative improvement.
- Accessible Materials: All you need is paper, scissors, and a few optional items like tape or ribbon.
- Cross-Curricular Connections: Links physics (gravity, lift, rotation), math (measurement), and technology/engineering standards.
How It Works
- Make: Students draw or print the helicopter template, cut along solid lines, and fold according to instructions.
- Test: Drop the helicopter from a height and observe its rotation and flight time.
- Experiment: Modify one variable—wing length, fold depth, or shape—and compare results.
- Iterate: Challenge students to achieve specific goals, such as longer flight time or faster rotation.
For an advanced twist, attach a lightweight ribbon to track rotations by counting twists after landing.
Learning Outcomes
- Understand how design changes affect flight dynamics.
- Practice the engineering design process: Ask → Imagine → Plan → Create → Improve.
- Explore real-world applications, like how NASA engineers solved challenges for Mars flight.
Get Started
Download the instructions and template. This activity is perfect for classrooms, STEM clubs, or family science nights.
Review step-by-step instructions.
Follow along with the JPL Education team as we build a model Mars helicopter using only paper and scissors. In this expert talk and demo for grades 4-12 educators and their students, the JPL Education team discusses how engineers built the first helicopter for Mars and answers student questions before kicking off a standards-aligned engineering activity.
