NEW DELHI, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- "Chachaji (uncle), please give me the left-over paper bags so I can make paper models of planes," says Kapoor at a shop on his way home from school in a southern Delhi district.

    Kapoor, 12, a pupil in Purijia Public School, has been making models of planes and aircraft for about one year.

    He said the paper model making class has taught him three things: different interesting models can be made from waste paper; one can learn scientific knowledge in making paper models; and anyone, no matter how high they may fly, must live with earth's gravity, so this planet is our only home.

    The idea of running this class surfaced one year ago, when a boy brought a paper-made dove model into class and demonstrated how to make it fly for more than 30 seconds. The craft, with a very sophisticated design, had a long heritage which is being lost quickly.

    When Ram, Kapoor's teacher, asked him where he learnt the techniques, the boy said it was from an old man of his village.

    "These simple techniques for making bird models include a lot of modern aeronautics scientific concepts. For instance, the size of the wings must be strictly proportional to the size of the body, otherwise the birds cannot take off," Ram said.

    "Later the kids of the class began using both scientific methods and imagination to make paper models," he said.

    "We encourage kids to make use of waste paper to make these models, making them be aware of environmental protection and at the same time learn scientific knowledge," he added.

    Now the school owns an "aeronautics museum" featuring paper models made by the children, ranging from animal models like birds to spacecraft models and flying craft of ancient Greek times. Some of the exhibits can even simulate the flying scenario of real objects.

    "I believe someday we can sit in a spacecraft to tour outer space," 11-year-old Sangeet said.

    Each time her parents buy her takeout fastfood, she would keep the cardboard boxes that come with the food to make paper models.

    "We collect waste paper and use it to create models, learn science, create models with imagination and at the same time build awareness of environmental protection," Kapoor said.

Special report: Global News Day for Children