Natural Selection with Paper Airplanes

Students model directed evolution by making and testing paper airplanes. The best flyers are selected each round, and their designs are modified and re-tested. Over time, the average flight distance improves, simulating natural selection and directed evolution.

1. Give each participant paper and ask them to make their favorite paper airplane design.
2. Mark a starting line and have everyone fly their planes in the same direction.
3. Measure the flight distances and calculate the group average.
4. Select the top three longest-flying designs and have their creators demonstrate their methods.
5. Everyone builds a new plane based on one of these top designs, adding small modifications.
6. Repeat the flight test, measure distances, and calculate the new group average.
7. Continue for several rounds, each time selecting the top flyers and modifying their designs.
8. Observe how the group’s average flight distance changes over time.

📄 Evolution in Plane Sight - Julie Yu: http://www.exo.net/~jyu/activities/evolution%20in%20plane%20sight.pdf

📄 Evolution in Plane Sight - The Exploratorium: https://www.howtosmile.org/resource/evolution-plane-sight

🎞️ Paper Airplane Takes Flight at Soccer Stadium in Germany - ViralHog (doesn't show the activity, but is worth a watch): https://www.youtube.com/shorts/pLllc6pBv70

• Use additional materials (e.g., straws, index cards, tape, scissors, paper clips) to expand the range of possible plane modifications.
• Replace airplanes with “Hoopsters” (straw and paper ring flyers) for a different model of evolution.
• Change the selective pressure by testing for accuracy (closest to a target) instead of distance.

• Ensure enough space for safe throwing—avoid aiming planes at people.
• Keep scissors and small objects (paper clips) safely handled and accounted for.

• How did the group’s average flight distance change with each round?
• What role did “mutations” (small design changes) play in improving flight?
• How is this similar to natural selection in biology?
• How does this model differ from real evolution in living organisms?
• What might happen if a different selective pressure (accuracy, stability, or aesthetics) was applied instead of distance?