Helicopter

This craft will keep friends hovering around. Visit the ATV garage and learn how to create a fun helicopter toy.

Wood tongue depressor
Wood dowel or skewer
Colored markers
Glue
Scissors
Tray
Water
Paper towel
Tongs

REMEMBER THAT IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS WORK UNDER ADULT SUPERVISION. SOMETIMES WE USE THINGS THAT CAN BE HARMFUL, LIKE SCISSORS, SO DON'T EVER ATTEMPT TO MAKE THESE CRAFT PROJECTS ALONE.

1. Have your adult helper boil a tray of water and place your tongue depressor into it. It needs to sit in the water for about 30 seconds to absorb some of it. Use your tongs to hold the tongue depressor under the water because it will be hot. When the wood absorbs the water, it will become soft and easy to bend.
2. After 30 seconds, remove the tongue depressor from the water with the tongs and place it into the paper towel. Wrap the towel around the tongue depressor and twist it about a quarter turn. Hold it twisted like that for about a minute so it will stay that way. This will be your helicopter blade.
3. Next, take a wooden skewer and cut it to about five inches. Use a ruler if you have to. This will be the handle for your helicopter.
4. Place a dab of glue in the middle of the convex side (or the outer curve) of the twisted tongue depressor. Set the top of the skewer down into the dab of glue so it sticks straight up from it. Hold it in place for about a minute or until the glue sets and the skewer stays in place on its own.
5. Decorate the blade of the helicopter however you want using markers. Thread the twist ties through the holes and twist them together to fasten and secure the top and bottom of the hat.
6. To make your helicopter fly, press your hands together around the handle of the helicopter with the blade facing up. Push one hand forward against the handle while pulling the other one back while throwing the helicopter up at the same time. It’s that easy!