No.204
Bamboo Helicopter Flight
Japanese name: 竹とんぼ飛ばし
Materials
- A finished bamboo helicopter inspected by an adult
- Markers for launch and waiting lines
How to play
- An adult checks that blades and shaft are secure and free of cracks or splinters. Keep the flight direction clear of people and explain the retrieval signal.
- Hold the shaft between your palms with the blades away from your face. An adult slowly demonstrates the rotation required by that helicopter's blade shape.
- For a common clockwise-spinning type, keep the left hand as a guide and push the right hand forward before releasing. Do not pull back toward your face.
- Take turns making three launches each from the same spot. Observe the flight and landing places. Nobody runs into the area to retrieve while launches continue.
- After everyone has stopped, retrieve on the signal. Change your grip and complete another circuit, then compare flights to finish.
Ways to adapt
Preschool children: substitute paper helicopters. Primary school children: use finished bamboo helicopters.