May 21, 2026

Paper Aviation: AB Studios’ Hands-On Flight Science Course for Afterschool Programs

Aviation science has a reputation. With its dense vocabulary and complicated diagrams, it feels more like it belongs in a physics class, not an afterschool program. Until now.

Paper Aviation is AB Studios’ latest course, and it’s built for the hour after the bell, when students have energy to burn and staff need something that works without a science degree or a supply order.

How Students Learn Flight Science by Throwing Paper

Why does one plane zoom while another floats? Why does a small fold change the entire flight path? Why does something that looks nothing like a plane still fly?

Paper Aviation hands those questions directly to students. Across six sessions, students learn the science behind flight by building, launching, and improving six different paper airplanes. Each session is built around one concept, one plane, and one very satisfying throw.

Staff don’t need a science background to run it, and they don’t need to prep the night before. Instead, every session opens with a short, fully animated episode that introduces the concept, walks through the build, and sets up the challenge before a staff member has to say a word. The facilitator guide handles the rest.

The staff member running Paper Aviation on a Tuesday is probably learning what lift is at the same time as their students. 

Here’s a sneak peek:

One Sheet Per Student. Ready to Run.

Afterschool is one of the few places where students can stumble into a new passion, try something they’ve never done before, and walk away calling themselves an aviation specialist. Plus, it’s where throwing something across the room is not only allowed, it’s the lesson.

What’s Included in AB Studios Paper Aviation

• Six fully animated Paper Aviation episodes
• Studio Spark version of each session for a 15 to 30 minute standalone option
• Paired session guides and student activities, ready to run
• The facilitator guides with timing cues so any staff member can lead confidently

The supply list is short: blank paper, one sheet per student. That’s it.

Check out our newest STEM course, Paper Aviation, and explore our SEL course, You Matter, Luma, to see how AB Studios supports engaging, ready-to-run afternoons. Schedule a demo to preview the courses, explore the activities, and talk through how they fit your program.