Materials
Strips of construction paper, 3/4 " x 7" (19 mm x 17.5 cm)Paper clips
Instructions
1. Give each child a strip of construction paper and show them how to fold their twirlybirds, following the steps below. (Twirlybirds can be premarked with fold lines, prefolded or even premade for very young children.)2. Each paper is folded in half. The strip is now 3/4 " by 3 1/2 " (19 mm x 8.
75 cm).
3. About 1" of one end is folded down at a 45 degree angle.
4. About 1" of the unfolded end is folded in the opposite direction at a 45 degree angle.
5. Attach the paper clip to the middle fold and open the two end "wings" slightly.
6. Invite the children to toss their twirlybirds in the air and see them swirl to the ground.More to doMore science: If double maple seeds have been collected in advance, their whirling descent can be compared to the children's twirlybirds.Original poemFive little helicopters starting to soar,One took a trip and then there were four.Four little helicopters zooming past a tree,One zoomed away and then there were three.Three little helicopters twirling in the blue,One landed on the ground and then there were two.Two little helicopters flying just for fun,One flew away and then there was one.One little helicopter moving toward the sun,It flew so far that then there were none!
