Define a Drone!
Design and build a safe model drone from cardboard and craft materials, label its parts, and learn how each component helps the drone fly.
Step-by-step guide to design and build a safe model drone
Step 1
Draw a simple top-down drone sketch on paper showing a central body four arms and four propellers to plan your design.
Step 2
Gather all the materials listed and bring them to a clear workspace.
Step 3
Cut a central body shape from the cardboard about the size of your hand using scissors.
Step 4
Cut four drinking straws to the same length to make the drone arms.
Step 5
Tape the four straw arms to the cardboard body in a cross shape so they stick out evenly from the center.
Step 6
Cut four propellers from cardstock by making simple rounded or blade shapes about 4–6 cm wide.
Step 7
Tape one cardstock propeller to the end of each straw arm so the propellers sit flat and can spin a little if nudged.
Step 8
Push a short piece of wooden skewer partway through each straw arm if you want extra stiffness and trim any sharp ends with adult help.
Step 9
Make small landing feet from scrap cardboard and tape them under the body so the drone can sit level on a table.
Step 10
Place your model on a flat surface to check if it tips and note which side is heavy or light.
Step 11
Add small bits of tape or tiny cardboard pieces to the light side to balance the drone until it sits level.
Step 12
Write the name of each part on sticky notes and add one short sentence on each explaining how that part helps the drone fly then stick the labels to the matching parts.
Step 13
Decorate your drone with coloring materials and stickers to make it uniquely yours.
Step 14
Take a photo of your finished labelled drone and share your creation on DIY.org
Final steps
You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!
Help!?
What can I use instead of wooden skewers, cardstock, or sticky notes if I can't find them?
If wooden skewers are missing for the step 'Push a short piece of wooden skewer partway through each straw arm', use toothpicks or short flexible cocktail sticks, substitute cardstock propellers by cutting shapes from a cereal box when you 'Cut four propellers', and write part names directly on the cardboard or use paper tape if you don't have sticky notes for the labeling step.
My drone keeps tipping to one side or its propellers won't spin — how can I fix it?
To stop tipping follow 'Place your model on a flat surface' and then 'Add small bits of tape or tiny cardboard pieces to the light side' to balance it, reinforce the joints where you 'Tape the four straw arms to the cardboard body' with extra tape, and free up stuck propellers by loosening the tape at the straw ends or adding a tiny bead between the propeller and straw so taped propellers can spin a little.
How should I adapt the activity for different ages?
For preschoolers have an adult do 'Cut a central body' and pre-cut straws so they can tape arms and decorate, for ages 6–9 let them use child-safe scissors for 'Cut four propellers' and help with the skewer step, and for 10+ encourage measuring equal straw lengths, trimming skewers themselves, and writing the full sentences for each sticky-note label before photographing.
How can we enhance or personalize the finished drone model?
To improve the model beyond the instruction 'Tape one cardstock propeller to the end of each straw arm' try mounting each propeller on a short toothpick axle with a small bead so they spin more freely, swap scrap cardboard feet for foam for softer landing gear, and add unique decorations then photograph the labeled drone to share on DIY.org as suggested.
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Facts about drone design and aerodynamics
♻️ Building a model drone from cardboard and recycled craft supplies is a safe, low-cost way to learn parts, aerodynamics, and upcycling before working with motors.
⚖️ Every extra gram of weight reduces flight time, so lightweight materials (like cardboard for models) teach important design trade-offs.
🕹️ Flight controllers use sensors such as gyroscopes and accelerometers to detect tilt and keep drones steady — even tiny toy controllers use the same ideas.
🚁 Modern hobby drones usually use four rotors — called quadrotors — because four props make balancing and control simpler.
🌀 Propellers spin in opposite directions (two clockwise, two counterclockwise) to cancel torque and keep the drone from spinning.
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