Make a Flying Dragon!

What can we use instead of cardstock, drinking straws, or a paper clip if we don't have them?

Use cereal-box cardboard cut to the dragon shape and folded down the middle as the center spine instead of cardstock, a clean wooden skewer or rolled paper under each wing instead of drinking straws, and a small washer or a tightly folded piece of aluminum foil taped to the nose in place of a paper clip.

My dragon keeps tilting, diving, or spinning—what should I check and change?

Check that the straws are taped symmetrically under each wing for even stiffness, then adjust the paper clip a tiny bit along the nose or trim a small sliver off a wing tip as described in the instructions to correct balance and steady the flight.

How can I change this activity for different ages?

For younger kids, pre-draw and pre-cut the dragon and help tape the straws and tail flap (steps 2–6), while older children can design varied wing shapes, experiment with balloon versus ramp launches, and make fine balance adjustments themselves (steps 7–12).

What are some fun ways to improve or personalize our flying dragon?

Try varying wing span and straw placement to increase glide distance, add a movable tail flap for steering, decorate with paint and scales before cutting (steps 2 and 13), and record flight times or tricks to share on DIY.org.