How to make a paper hoop glider
Paper Hoop Glider (All Paper): try all 7 steps in the 3D player. Turn and replay every move. Print the complete diagram sheet or save it as PDF.
An Origami Tutor hoop glider made all of paper: a small hoop and a large hoop joined by a paper stick, cut from one sheet. Throw it gently, small hoop first, and it glides straight.
- You need
- One sheet of letter paper (A4 works too), scissors, a ruler and a little glue or tape.
- Start
- Lay a sheet of letter paper in front of you sideways, long edge at the top. Mark a strip about half an inch wide down the left edge, and a 1 in strip along the top and the bottom.
- Tips
- Keep the hoops round: a dented hoop makes the glider turn.
- Launch it gently. Thrown hard, the hoops bend and it dives.
- Try moving the hoops closer together or using wider strips and compare the glides.
Your model is ready
Let the glue dry. Hold the stick under the middle with the hoops on top, small hoop in front, and push it gently forward and level: it glides straight across the room. The finished hoop glider, a small hoop and a large hoop on their paper stick. Turn it round to see it from every side.
Step-by-step diagrams
- 1
Cut out the glider
Cut the glider out in one piece: the narrow strip down the left edge is the stick, the top strip to about halfway across is the small hoop, and the whole bottom strip is the large hoop. Throw away the rest.
- 2
Curl the small hoop
Curl the short strip up and over into a ring, bringing its end round inside the ring toward the stick. Curve it smoothly; do not crease it.
- 3
Close the small hoop
Lay the end of the strip flat over its start, next to the stick.
- 4
Curl the large hoop
Curl the long strip at the other end of the stick into a larger ring the same way, its end coming round inside.
- 5
Close the large hoop
Lay its end flat over its start, next to the stick.
- 6
Glue the small hoop
Put a dab of glue where the end of the small hoop overlaps its start and press until it holds. Tape works too.
- 7
Glue the large hoop
Glue the end of the large hoop over its start in the same way.
- ✓
Finish
Let the glue dry. Hold the stick under the middle with the hoops on top, small hoop in front, and push it gently forward and level: it glides straight across the room. The finished hoop glider, a small hoop and a large hoop on their paper stick. Turn it round to see it from every side.
Fold next
Paper airplane ↗
The classic dart: a sheet of letter paper, a sharp nose and two wings, ready to fly across the room.
Easy paper airplane ↗
An Origami Tutor paper airplane with the fewest folds: two corners, one fold in half and two wings. A good first plane for kids, with broad wings that glide gently.
Paper glider ↗
An Origami Tutor paper glider with a blunt nose and broad, straight-tipped wings. Thrown gently, it floats slowly across the room instead of darting.
Distance dart ↗
An Origami Tutor distance dart: a slim dart whose point is folded down to lock the nose folds, so the weight sits up front and the nose stays shut on a hard, long throw.