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Maple seed helicopter
This is a very easy model that entertainingly spins quickly when falling.
I frequently teach at "open workshops" and inevitably some small children (4-6) will come; or some adults with only five minutes left. My goto-model for this has been a traditional helicopter from a strip from cutting A6 into four. I spin a story around the steps. The model is perfect for a group, or for the last model for some people I want to go to make space for the next who are waiting: When folded, everybody stands op in a circle, hold the helicopter high up, I count to three, and they let go.
However, the model requires three small cuts, and I've been itching for how that might be avoided.
Then a couple of weeks ago I woke up and knew how to do it, and immediately made the diagram.
So far it is easy to teach, and both children and adults find it fun. I yet have to develop an entertaining story around the folding, and also I yet have to experiment with teaching it to children younger than 6 years. 4-years olds find it fun to play with, they played with it for quite some time.
I frequently teach at "open workshops" and inevitably some small children (4-6) will come; or some adults with only five minutes left. My goto-model for this has been a traditional helicopter from a strip from cutting A6 into four. I spin a story around the steps. The model is perfect for a group, or for the last model for some people I want to go to make space for the next who are waiting: When folded, everybody stands op in a circle, hold the helicopter high up, I count to three, and they let go.
However, the model requires three small cuts, and I've been itching for how that might be avoided.
Then a couple of weeks ago I woke up and knew how to do it, and immediately made the diagram.
So far it is easy to teach, and both children and adults find it fun. I yet have to develop an entertaining story around the folding, and also I yet have to experiment with teaching it to children younger than 6 years. 4-years olds find it fun to play with, they played with it for quite some time.
