Summary

Explore how the makeup of a pterosaurs wings help it to glide even with a large body structure.

Materials

• 8-1/2 x 11 printer paper (not construction paper)
• Color markers
• Kid-safe scissors
• Adhesive tape
• Directions for folding a Pterosaur Plane (2.5MB)

Related Video Clip

Dinosaur Train: Pterosaur Plane (1 minute 59 seconds)

Procedures

1. PREPARATION: Complete a Pterosaur Plane, using the directions on the printable page, as an example for students.
2. Ask students, "Can you think of some animals that can fly?" They'll probably mention birds and bats. Tell them that millions of years ago, another group of animals also flew. This group of animals is known as pterosaurs. In Dinosaur Train, the Pteranodon family (except Buddy the T. rex) are all a kind of pterosaur called Pteranodons. Explain that while pterosaurs were not dinosaurs, they were closely related to them. You might want to mention that there are no pterosaurs around today. All pterosaurs became extinct more than 60 million years ago.
3. Next ask: "Can humans fly?" The answer is yes, and no. If humans are in airplanes, or are hangliding – then yes. But without such machines or equipment, the answer is no. Ask students, "Why can't humans fly by flapping our arms?" Have kids try flapping their arms to prove they are not able to fly, no matter how fast they move. Discuss some of the reasons we can't fly, including the facts that we don't have wings, and that our bodies are too heavy to become airborne without help. Explain that pterosaurs – like bats and birds – had hollow bones – their bones weren't as solid as ours, and contained much more air. So pterosaurs bodies were lighter than the bodies of animals that have solid bones. Light bodies combined with large wings made it possible for pterosaurs like Pteranodons to flap their wings for power, and then glide through the air for long distances.
4. Have students watch a Dinosaur Train video clip (above) featuring a pterosaur in flight.
5. Discuss the term "glide." When an animal moves smoothly through the air without flapping its wings, it is said to be gliding. Crumple up a piece of paper into a ball – then toss it in the air. Ask students to observe (watch closely) how the ball of paper moves through the air. Then, gently toss a completed paper airplane, and ask students to compare its flight through the air with the paper ball's. The plane glides, the ball does not. Why? Invite students to offer all suggestions without worrying too much about their scientific accuracy.
6. Help students use the step-by-step directions on the printable page to make the paper airplane described on it. Then have them use crayons, markers or colored pencils to decorate the plane to make it look like a pterosaur.
7. Show students how to gently lift up the wings of their Pterosaur Plane so that it forms a "Y" shape when looking at it from the back. (If the wings are pointing down, it won't glide as smoothly. They can test this out for themselves if they wish.) GENTLY throw the planes to see how far they glide.

Extensions

1. Older students can experiment by making this paper airplane with paper of different sizes and thicknesses. They may also look for other paper airplane designs in the library or on the Internet. Experiment to see which shapes and materials make the planes glide the farthest. Some planes need to be thrown forcefully to work; others require a gentle toss.
2. Older students may enjoy learning more about the four physical forces that help birds, bats, pterosaurs, and airplanes fly. These forces are: thrust, gravity, lift and drag. Thrust is the power of your throwing the plane, gravity is the invisible force pulling the plane downward, lift is the air pushing up on the wings, and drag is the air pushing back, against the front of the plane.