Bimba Landmann’s picture book biography In Search of the Little Prince introduces young readers to the fascinating life of pilot, adventurer, and author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Help children experience the love of flying that infused de Saint-Exupéry’s life and writing with this fun and easy craft.
(Bonus: This is also a great summertime activity that will encourage children to go outside and play.)
Materials:
- Scissors
- Glue
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry template
- Large rubber band
- One-hole punch
- 8 ½ x 11 sheet of printer paper (any color)
Step 1: Print out, color, and cut out both pieces of the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry template.
Step 2: Spread a thin layer of glue on the blank sides of the template pieces and stick them together, being careful to line the edges up perfectly.
Step 3: While the glue dries, you can begin making your airplane. First, fold your 8 ½” X 11” piece of paper in half along the long edge so that you get a long skinny rectangle.
Step 5: Unfold the paper and fold the top left corner down so that the top edge of the paper lines up with the crease you just made to form a triangle. Repeat on the right side. Then fold the outer corner of the triangle you just created in to the center crease. Make sure that the bottom of the triangle you just created lines up with the center crease. After doing that you should have a long triangle that looks stretched and is nearly the length of the page.
Step 6: Flip the piece of paper over and fold the bottom left corner of the rectangle up so that the corner is about an inch past the crease in the center of the paper. Make sure the bottom edge of the corner lines up with the bottom edge of the paper.
Step 7: Move to the right side of the center crease and mirror what you did to the left side on the right side.
Step 8: Congratulations! You have finished folding the plane. Now would be a good time to color or decorate the plane if you wish. (I chose to keep things simple, but you certainly don’t have to follow my lead here!)
Step 9: Place a thin line of glue along the bottom edges on both sides of your Antoine de Saint-Exupéry figure. Place him between the two sides of the plane about an inch behind where the wings start, and pinch the two sides together to help the glue bind to the edges of the aircraft and hold your pilot securely in place.
Step 9: Using a one-hole punch, make a hole in the side of the plane just behind where the wings of the plane start. Make sure the hole is at least a ¼” from the bottom edge of the plane to help prevent ripping.
Step 10: String a large rubber band though the hole and then back though itself, pulling on the long end of the rubber band to tighten it onto itself. This will secure the rubber band to the plane.
Step 11: (Word to the wise: this step is best done outdoors.) To launch the airplane, loop the end of the rubber band around the end of a craft stick or your finger, pull the plane back until the rubber band is stretched tight, take aim, release, and watch Antoine de Saint-Exupéry fly through the air.
