Paper plane

A traditional model: mark the centre, bring the corners and the edges to it, fold in half and fold down the two wings. A rectangular sheet is all you need.

1. Get your paper ready.

   Lay a rectangular sheet upright, with one short side at the top. If one side is coloured, keep it face down.

   A bigger sheet makes a bigger plane.

2. Fold the sheet in half lengthways.

   Bring the left side over to the right side, lining up the edges. The fold runs vertically, down the middle of the sheet.

   Line up the top and bottom corners well before you press the fold.

3. Unfold the sheet.

   Open the sheet out again. A vertical crease is left down the middle: it is your guide for the next folds.

   Run a fingernail along the crease so it shows clearly.

4. Bring the top left corner to the crease.

   Fold the top left corner down until the top edge lies exactly on the central crease. The fold starts at the middle of the top edge and runs diagonally down to the left.

   Press the fold from the centre out to the edge to keep it straight.

5. Bring the top right corner to the crease.

   Do the same on the other side: fold the top right corner down until the top edge lies on the crease. The two flaps meet in the middle.

   Check that the two points end up at the same height.

6. Bring the sloping left edge to the crease.

   Fold the sloping edge on the left in to the centre, until it lies on the crease. The fold starts at the top point. The sheet and the flap fold together.

   Hold the top point with one hand while you press the fold with the other.

7. Bring the sloping right edge to the crease.

   Do the same on the right: the sloping edge goes onto the crease, with the fold starting at the top point. The two edges meet in the middle.

   Compare the two sides: they should match.

8. Fold the plane in half, backwards.

   Fold the left half backwards, behind the right half, along the central crease. The flaps stay on the outside.

   This is a mountain fold: the paper moves away from you. Line up the edges before you press.

9. Fold down the front wing.

   Fold only the front layer: bring its sloping edge to the left, onto the folded edge in the middle. The fold starts at the top point and runs down to the bottom edge.

   Make sure the sloping edge sits right on the folded edge, with no gap.

10. Fold down the back wing.

    Make the same fold with the back layer, but backwards and along the same line, so it matches the front wing.

    This is a mountain fold. When you finish, the two wings should match.

11. Open out the wings.

    Open both wings out to the horizontal, one on each side of the folded edge in the middle, which becomes the body of the plane.

    Hold the plane by its body, from below, and check that the two wings match.

12. Your plane is ready.

    The drawing shows the plane open, seen from above: the body in the middle, with the nose pointing forwards, and the two wings spread to the sides.

    Throw it forwards with a gentle push.