Kōkiri Lab · Community science
Community science · Flight & biomimicry
Design, fly, and learn from NZ nature
Record glider and wing tests — launch conditions, distance, stability — and build a flight school picture from fair tests across Aotearoa.
How it works
Design → Build → Test → Analyse
Design
Sketch one wing change — broad, narrow, or biomimicry-inspired.
Build
Paper or card — fresh creases between profile comparisons.
Test
Three launches, same force, calm weather — measure horizontal distance.
Analyse
Median distance and flight path — stability counts as much as metres.
Show, don't just tell
Example flight log
- Profile
- Broad glider
- Launch
- Medium · calm day
- Distance
- 8.4 m · straight glide
Three throws with identical launch — log median distance, not your luckiest throw.
Borrowed from MaramaTrap's example-photo pattern — works for every platform.
Aerodynamics & biomimicry
Kererū, kārearea, and harakeke seeds inspire real engineering questions.
Bird flight
Broad wings glide slowly; pointed wings trade stability for speed.
Fair tests
Change one variable — usually wing shape — and keep launch identical.
Biomimicry
Name the natural flyer or seed that inspired your profile in notes.
Good to know
Broad glider
Slow and stable — often shorter distance.
Long narrow wing
Can glide far if balanced well.
Distance ≠ best design
Stability and repeatability matter too.
How this pairs with school inquiry
Open here: Paper glider flights with fair-test notes. At school instead: Elastic cars, forces, friction, and energy transfer in class investigations
The primary paired unit is the paired school inquiry world— VOICE tools, portfolio, and teacher guidance. No class code is needed for open uploads on this platform.
Also try community science
The same fair-testing habits work across platforms — honest notes, repeat visits, no street addresses.
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