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Crest arrows

Crest arrows
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Design and build cardboard arrows with crest-shaped fletching, decorate them, then test and compare flight to learn symmetry, balance, and aerodynamics.

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Step-by-step guide to design and build cardboard crest arrows

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What you need
Adult supervision required, cardboard, colouring materials, paperclips or small coins, pencil, ruler, scissors, tape or glue stick, two straight shafts (wooden skewers or stiff straws)

Step 1

Gather all your materials and set them on a clear table so you can see everything.

Step 2

Draw a crest shaped template labeled A on the cardboard about 5 cm tall and 4 cm wide.

Step 3

Draw a different crest shaped template labeled B on the cardboard so it looks visibly different from A.

Step 4

Cut out both crest templates from the cardboard carefully.

Step 5

Trace two copies of template A and two copies of template B onto the cardboard.

Step 6

Cut out the four crest shaped fletchings you traced.

Step 7

Decorate each pair of fletchings so the two A pieces match and the two B pieces match.

Step 8

Attach the two A fletchings to one shaft near the back using tape or glue so they sit opposite each other.

Step 9

Attach the two B fletchings to the other shaft near the back using tape or glue so they sit opposite each other.

Step 10

Make a nock on each shaft by wrapping a small bit of tape around the back end leaving a tiny groove for your finger.

Step 11

Find and mark the balance point on both arrows by balancing each on your finger and marking the spot with a pencil.

Step 12

Take Arrow A to an open safe space and gently launch it like a glider while watching how it flies.

Step 13

Take Arrow B to the same open space and gently launch it while watching how it flies.

Step 14

Compare which arrow flew straighter farther or spun more and decide which crest shape seemed more stable.

Step 15

Share photos and what you learned about symmetry balance and aerodynamics of your arrows on DIY.org

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can we use if we don't have cardboard, shafts, or tape?

Use cereal-box or shoebox cardboard for the crest templates, pencils/chopsticks/straws as the arrow shafts, and masking tape or a glue stick in Step 8–9 to attach the fletchings and make the nock.

My arrow wobbles or veers when I launch it — what should I check and fix?

Check that each pair of A or B fletchings are matched and taped opposite each other per Steps 6–9, re-find and adjust the balance point marked in Step 10, and add or remove a tiny piece of tape near the tip if one side is heavier before re-testing in Steps 11–12.

How can I change this activity for younger or older kids?

For younger children (3–6) have an adult pre-cut larger crest templates and use straws and glue sticks for Steps 2–9, while older kids (10+) can precisely measure the balance point in Step 10 and experiment with different crest shapes and tip weights during Steps 11–13 to study aerodynamics.

How can we extend or personalize the crest arrows once they're flying?

Decorate crests with paint or markers per Step 5, add removable clay weights to the arrow tip to compare flight distances in Steps 11–12, try new crest shapes in Steps 2–4, and then share photos and your symmetry/balance findings on DIY.org as suggested in the final step.

Watch videos on how to design and build cardboard crest arrows

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Incredible Crafts You Can Do With Resin, 3D Pen and Glue Gun

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Facts about aerodynamics for kids

⚖️ Moving an arrow's center of mass forward (a heavier tip) usually makes it fly straighter and resist tumbling.

🌬️ Aerodynamics is why tiny asymmetries or rough edges create drag and turbulence that make arrows wobble or curve.

📦 Corrugated cardboard gets strength from its fluted layer, making it a lightweight, stiff material great for DIY fletching and prototypes.

🪶 Fletching (feathers or plastic vanes) makes arrows spin and stabilizes flight; small changes to fletching can dramatically change how an arrow flies.

🏹 Humans have used arrows for thousands of years — some archaeological arrowheads are over 9,000 years old.

How do I build and test cardboard crest arrows step by step?

Start by sketching a straight shaft and a crest-shaped fletching on cardboard. Cut a shaft from a rolled cereal-box strip or a hollow cardboard tube, and cut two or three crest fletchings. Attach fletchings evenly around the back end with glue or tape to ensure symmetry. Add a lightweight tip (clay or taped foam). Decorate, then test in an open area: launch gently, measure distance and flight path, and adjust fletching placement or weight to compare balance and aerodynamics.

What materials do I need to make cardboard crest arrows?

You’ll need sturdy cardboard (cereal boxes or corrugated), scissors and a craft knife (adult use), ruler, pencil, tape and white glue, lightweight clay or foam for tips, markers or paints for decorating, and a straw or thin cardboard tube for the shaft. Optional: cutting mat, sandpaper to smooth edges, clipboard or notebook to record results, and a measuring tape for flight comparisons.

What ages is the cardboard crest arrows activity suitable for?

Suitable for ages 6 and up with adult supervision for cutting and gluing; children 8–12 can handle most steps independently and run experiments. For preschoolers, focus on decorating pre-cut pieces and simple assembly. Always supervise use of craft knives, and adapt complexity: younger kids make short, blunt arrows while older kids experiment with fletching shapes and balance for more scientific learning.

What are the learning benefits and safety tips for making crest arrows?

Designing crest arrows teaches symmetry, balance, trial-and-error and basic aerodynamics, plus measuring and recording results. It also boosts creativity and fine motor skills. Safety tips: never aim at people or animals, blunt the tip (use foam or clay), supervise cutting, wear eye protection if needed, and test only in open spaces. Variations: try different fletching shapes, shaft lengths, or weights to compare flight behavior.
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Crest arrows. Activities for Kids.