HOW TO MAKE AN ASIAN LONGHORNED BEETLE (ALB) ORIGAMI GLIDER

The Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB) is an invasive insect pest from Asia that is destroying trees at an alarming rate in the United States. In real life, they're pests that need to be stopped from taking over our ecosystems. But they make great origami gliders that kids and their parents can enjoy!

As you make your glider, you'll learn more about the ALB, and how invasive species affect our ecosystems. By the end, you'll have your very own ALB glider, ready to take to the skies! Click the link below to download the PDF, and print it out to get started. All the instructions are printed on the PDF, or you can follow along with the instructions below.

ALB_plane [personal use].pdf

Download PDF • 724KB

BONUS STEAM-LEARNING ACTIVITY

When you're finished making your glider, have your kids measure and record how far their paper planes glide.

How can they make the glider fly further with each try? Does adjusting the height or angle of their throws affect how far it flies? What about wind currents and direction?

After a few tries, ask them which techniques worked the best. Send their notes and pictures of their farthest throws to ideacollectivelearning@gmail.com or use the hashtag #ideacorner for your chance to win a MakerKid Kit from our shop!

STEP 1

Turn the paper over so the white side is facing up. Fold the paper diagonally as shown. Cut off the bottom and set aside for later use. Cut on the dashed line.

STEP 2

Fold the left top corner down to the bottom right corner to create an 'x' crease.

STEP 3

Next, turn the paper over so the illustrations are facing up. Using the picture as shown, accordion fold the sides in to create a triangle shape.

STEP 4

Following the dotted guidelines, fold both bottom corners up to the peak.

STEP 5

Take the piece you set aside and cut the end off on the dashed line. Then fold the top corners to the center to form an arrow, and slightly crease the entire piece lengthwise.

STEP 6

Insert the arrow into the body so that both peaks match up.

STEP 7

Next, fold the innermost peak of the plane down.

STEP 8

Following the dotted lines, fold the left and right flaps in towards the center.

STEP 9

Next, fold the final peak of the plane down to secure the inner arrow.

STEP 10

Finally, slightly crease the plane in half.

Congratulations - you just made your very own origami glider! Now get outside and let it fly!

HELP OUR SCIENTISTS STOP THE ALB!

Your origami ALB is fun and all, but in real life, the invasive pest is causing all kinds of trouble in our forests. As ALBs grow from eggs to full size, they chew through the trees and make wider and wider tunnels, making the trees weak and filled with holes.

This is killing thousands of trees, which disrupts ecosystems for countless plant and animal species that depend on them to survive. Our scientists need your help to stop them!

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

• Take pictures of the infestation signs as described above (include something for scale such as a coin or ruler);

• Note the location (intersecting roads, landmarks or GPS coordinates); then

• Use the USDA ALB reporting tool at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/asian-longhorned-beetle/report-it/reportit; OR

• Call the free national ALB hotline at 1-866-702-9938

LEARN MORE ABOUT ALBs AND INVASIVE SPECIES

If you enjoyed this activity, check out our Attack of the ALB Maker Kit. It teaches kids all about what an invasive species is, and how they affect our ecosystems. The kit includes a 3D wooden ALB puzzle that kids can make as they learn about the ALB.

All of our kits follow the STEAM learning curriculum that includes Art and creativity to help solidify traditional educational concepts of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

Explore our growing selection of kits here, and happy learning!

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Thank you for understanding!

Lindsey & Sam

Co-Founders

IDEA Collective, LLC