Helicopters? Whirlybirds? Whirligigs? Spinning Jennies? Wingnuts? Maple ‘copters? As a child, what name did you use to describe the spinning maple seeds known by scientists as samaras?
Whatever you call them, these seeds are the way that maple trees travel. The winged shape of maple samaras allows the wind to carry them away to a place where they can sprout with less competition from the parent tree.
Make and fly your own maple seed helicopter!
All you need is a sheet of paper, or use the template by printing this page.
- Color the paper or template.
- Cut along the solid lines.
- Fold on the dotted lines.
- Fold D toward you.
- Fold E away from you.
- Fold A and B over each other so they overlap.
- Fold the bottom C up and crease it.
- FLY YOUR SEED: Toss the helicopter in the air and watch it spin!
For more stories like this, check out Green Islands magazine, a bi-monthly publication from Summit Metro Parks. Summit County residents can sign up to receive the publication at home free of charge.