With Tek
How to make a paper boomerang that comes back
To make a paper boomerang that comes back, cut three matching wings from cereal-box card, bend each wing tip up a little, then hold it upright like a wheel and flick your wrist so it spins. The spin makes it curve round in a circle and float back. In this course your kid learns why a boomerang returns, cuts the wings, learns the flick throw, and tunes it until it comes back. Tek hosts four short films for kids 6 to 13. Plan about 3 minutes of films and 30–45 minutes of cutting and throwing, in a big room with nothing breakable. On Kubrio, all four films and the quiz are free, with no account, and your kid ends with a card boomerang with their name on it that comes back to them.
All 4 lessons and the quiz are free on this page. Your kid doesn't need an account. See every lesson
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▶ 1:45 tourWhat your kid makes
Your kid ends with a three-wing card boomerang with their name in the middle, tuned through their own test throws until it curves round and comes back. Along the way they learn why spin makes it turn, and how to fix one thing at a time.
- Ages
- 6 to 13
- Time
- 4 films, about 3 minutes, then 30–45 minutes of cutting and throwing
- You need
- An empty cereal box, a pencil and a coin, scissors and a grown-up to help, a big room with nothing breakable
- Host
- Tek
The 4 lessons
Lesson 1. Why it comes back
A boomerang spins, and its top wing moves through the air faster than the bottom one. The extra push tries to tip it over, but a spinning thing turns instead, so it curves round in a circle.
- Draw yourself on paper
- Draw the boomerang's path out, around, and back
- Mark where it starts to curve
Where: Paper
Lesson 2. Cut the wings
Cereal-box card is light but stiff. Three wings of the same size and shape keep the spin smooth.
- Cut a flat side off the box, with a grown-up helping
- Draw around a coin in the middle and three wing lines like a Y
- Make each wing two fingers wide, round the ends, and cut it out
Where: At home
Lesson 3. Bend and throw
The wing tips bend up a little, all the same way. The throw is a fast flick with the boomerang standing upright like a wheel, because spin matters more than a big throw.
- Bend each wing tip up the same small amount
- Pick a big room, with nobody in front and away from faces
- Hold it upright by one wing tip and flick your wrist
Where: At home
Lesson 4. Tune it
Each problem has a fix: if it drops, flick harder. If it flies away, bend the tips more. If it climbs high, bend them back down and throw softer.
- Throw it and watch what it does
- Fix one thing at a time
- Catch it with flat hands, like a sandwich
Where: At home
Take the quiz
Tek asks 3 questions about the films. Get 2 right and you finish the course.
Transcript
Lesson 1: Why it comes back
Hi, I'm Tek! Today you make a boomerang out of card. You throw it, and it comes back!
A boomerang has wings, like little arms. Throw it, and it spins. Round and round, really fast.
Look at the top wing. It spins forward, and flies forward too. So it goes faster than the bottom wing.
Faster air pushes harder. So the top wing gets more push, and that push tries to tip the boomerang over.
But a spinning thing doesn't just tip. It turns instead! So your boomerang curves around in a big circle.
Spin, a faster top wing, and a turn. That's how it comes back to you!
Your turn. Draw yourself on paper. Then draw your boomerang's path. Out, around, and back to you!
Lesson 2: Cut the wings
Let's make your boomerang! You need an empty cereal box, a pencil, a coin, and scissors.
Cut one big flat side off the box. A grown-up can help with the scissors. This card is light, but stiff.
Draw around the coin, right in the middle. Then draw three lines out from it, spread out evenly, like a Y.
Turn each line into a wing, about two fingers wide, and a bit longer than your finger. Round off the ends.
Cut it out, nice and smooth. Three wings, all the same size and shape.
Wings that match keep the spin smooth. Write your name in the middle. It's yours!
Your turn. Draw three wings on cereal box card, and cut them out.
Lesson 3: Bend and throw
Your boomerang is almost ready. Two things left. Bend the wings, and learn the throw.
Bend the tip of each wing up, just a little. All three the same way, and the same amount.
Find a room with lots of space, and nothing that can break. Nobody in front of you. Always throw away from faces.
Hold one wing tip between your thumb and finger. Stand the boomerang up straight, like a wheel. Not flat, like a plate.
Now flick your wrist forward, fast. The flick makes it spin. Spin matters more than a big throw!
Watch it fly out, curve around, and float back toward you.
Your turn. Bend your wing tips, find a big space, and throw it ten times.
Lesson 4: Tune it
Did it come back? Maybe not yet. That's normal! Now you tune it.
Does it drop to the floor? Flick harder, so it spins faster.
Does it fly away, and not turn? Bend the wing tips up a little more.
Does it climb way up, over your head? Bend the tips back down a little, and throw a bit softer.
When it comes back, catch it! Clap your hands flat on it, like a sandwich.
Every throw teaches you something. Each little fix gets it closer to home.
Your turn. Throw it, fix one thing, and throw again, until it comes back. You made a boomerang that comes back!
Free guides to practise with
Questions parents ask
Why does a boomerang come back?
A boomerang spins as it flies. The top wing spins forward while the whole boomerang moves forward, so it moves through the air faster than the bottom wing and gets more push. That push tries to tip it over, but a spinning object turns instead of tipping, so the boomerang curves round in a circle and comes back.
Is a cardboard boomerang safe to throw indoors?
Card is light, so it's a good indoor boomerang, with three rules from the films. Throw in a big room with nothing that can break, make sure nobody stands in front, and always throw away from faces. A grown-up helps with the scissors when cutting the wings.
My kid's boomerang doesn't come back. What should we try?
Most first throws don't come back, and tuning is part of the fun. If it drops to the floor, flick harder so it spins faster. If it flies away without turning, bend the wing tips up a little more. If it climbs over your head, bend the tips back down a little and throw softer. Check too that all three wings match and bend the same way.