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.
About this activity
Design and build a safe model drone from cardboard and craft materials, label its parts, and learn how each component helps the drone fly.
What you need
Step by step
- 1
Step 1
Draw a simple top-down drone sketch on paper showing a central body four arms and four propellers to plan your design.
- 2
Step 2
Gather all the materials listed and bring them to a clear workspace.
- 3
Step 3
Cut a central body shape from the cardboard about the size of your hand using scissors.
- 4
Step 4
Cut four drinking straws to the same length to make the drone arms.
- 5
Step 5
Tape the four straw arms to the cardboard body in a cross shape so they stick out evenly from the center.
- 6
Step 6
Cut four propellers from cardstock by making simple rounded or blade shapes about 4–6 cm wide.
- 7
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.
- 8
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.
- 9
Step 9
Make small landing feet from scrap cardboard and tape them under the body so the drone can sit level on a table.
- 10
Step 10
Place your model on a flat surface to check if it tips and note which side is heavy or light.
- 11
Step 11
Add small bits of tape or tiny cardboard pieces to the light side to balance the drone until it sits level.
- 12
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.
- 13
Step 13
Decorate your drone with coloring materials and stickers to make it uniquely yours.
- 14
Step 14
Take a photo of your finished labelled drone and share your creation on DIY.org
Fun facts
How do you design and build a safe cardboard model drone step-by-step?
Start by sketching a simple drone layout, marking where propellers, body and payload sit. Cut cardboard pieces for a sturdy frame and glue or tape them together. Make safe propellers from thick paper or recycled bottle caps and attach with pins or straws so they can spin freely. Balance the model by adding small weights and label each part with sticky notes. Finish by explaining lift, thrust, weight and stability. Always supervise cutting and hot-glue use.
What materials do I need to make a cardboard model drone?
Gather corrugated cardboard, scissors and a craft knife (adult use), ruler, pencil, masking tape, white glue or hot glue (adult use), straws or wooden skewers, bottle caps or stiff paper for propellers, small weights (coins or washers), markers, sticky labels, stickers, and colored paper. Optional: foam sheets, a small hobby motor (only with adult supervision), and safety goggles. Use recycled materials to keep it budget-friendly and creative.
What ages are suitable for a cardboard drone activity?
This activity suits preschoolers (5–7) for basic decorating and labeling with close supervision, elementary kids (8–11) for cutting, assembling and simple balance tests, and tweens/teens (12+) for more precise construction or optional small motors under strict adult supervision. Always supervise use of sharp tools, hot glue, and small parts, and adapt tasks—like drawing or labeling—for younger children to keep it safe and fun.
Is building a cardboard model drone safe and what safety steps should we follow?
Yes—when done as a model project with supervision. Use blunt scissors for young kids, reserve craft knives and hot glue for adults, and keep small parts away from children under three. Work on a clear surface, wear safety goggles for cutting, and test moving parts slowly. Avoid full-power motors unless experienced and supervised. Emphasize learning about parts and physics rather than making a flying machine to reduce risk.
Watch & Learn
Need 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.