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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forces, Controls And Aircraft Systems

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students are introduced to the physics of flight through video and PowerPoint presentations. They construct and fly model gliders and compete for height, distance, time, etc.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Newton's Third Law and Aircraft Propulsion

For Teachers 8th - 9th
Students research propulsion, graph data, and interpret the results.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Air Temperature and Kinetic Energy

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students use a NASA website do activities which help them better explain how air temperature and kinetic energy are related to aircraft propulsion.
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Lesson Plan
Discovery Education

Jets in Flight

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
This Discovery Education activity provides the information needed to understand the basics of flight. Before taking off, young pilots learn the eight stages of the engineering design process. Small groups then design and build an...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aircraft vs. Spacecraft

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate differences between aircraft and spacecraft, and the differences in propulsion systems. They build pinwheel airplanes and balloon rockets. An interactive activity quizzes students on thrust.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Balloon Rockets

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students build pinwheel airplanes and balloon rockets to determine which ones fly faster and which fly farther.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aeronautics Propulsion

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use the World Wide Web to access additional information needed to complete the activities on the forces on an airplane, the function of the stabilizer, and the calculation of Mach speed, temperature, pressure, and thrust.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rotocopters

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students construct their own rotocopters to study flight.  For this flight lesson students work in groups and complete timed trials of their rotocopters.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Propulsion Pop!

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Learners demonstrate an understanding of the text by completing a propulsion activity, charting the results, and answering questions that demonstrate an understanding of rocket propulsion.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forces in a Climb

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students use a NASA website to use a given formula to find acceleration and distance after a specific time and how it relates to engine propulsion.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Model Rockets

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students build a model rocket. In this model rocket lesson, students explore a rocket launch cycle. Students investigate the laws of physics for each part of the launch. Students build model rockets and launch at school.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Geometry and Shapes in the X-36

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students describe, draw, and classify shapes. They use the internet to research the X-36 aircraft. Students identify the geometric shapes in the aircraft. They calculate the number of sides in an x-36.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forces in a Climb - Vectors

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers read Forces in a Climb from the Beginner's Guide to Propulsion, and explain each of the formulas using vectors.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Thrust to Weight Ratio and Excess Thrust

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students, after reading an explanation from a NASA Web site, demonstrate an understanding of the text by applying it to questions involving the Thrust to Weight Ratio and Excess Thrust of an aircraft.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Trajectory and Range of a Projectile

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students investigate the factors affecting projectile trajectory. In this physics lesson, students calculate the range, time and speed of projectiles using mathematical equations.
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Lesson Plan
Cornell University

Catapults

For Students 4th - 8th Standards
Ready, aim, fire! Launch to a new level of understanding as scholars build and test their own catapults. Learners explore lever design and how adjusting the fulcrum changes the outcome. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Sand or Rock? Finding Out From 1,000 km

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students observe how measurements are made with different instruments.  In this remote sensing lesson students investigate the physical state of surfaces including the surfaces of the solar system. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Magnetic Levitation

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students conduct a series of experiments on magnetic levitation. In this physics lesson, students discover how Maglev trains operate. They explain how magnetism make even simple objects levitate.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Maglev Trains

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students explore how Maglev trains work. In this technology lesson plan, students discuss the pros and cons of Maglev compared to conventional trains. They build a simple Maglev train model.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Would You Fly?

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students, after reading an explanation from a NASA Web site, demonstrate an understanding of the text by writing an essay that applies the information found in the slides to a real-life question.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Mobility: Fuel for Change

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students determine how to lower the reliance on petroleum-based fuel. In this environmental stewardship lesson, students create concept cars for the future that using renewable energy.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Turbojet Thrust

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students, after reading the Web page Turbojet Thrust and completing the activity, explain how jet engines use air to produce thrust. The educational software ""FoilSim" is used in this lesson plan to help students calculate thrust.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Maximum Flight Time

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students, after reading an explanation from a NASA Web site, demonstrate an understanding of the text by applying it to questions involving Maximum Flight Time and Range under varying conditions.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fuel and Air Relationships

For Teachers 11th - 12th
Students use EngineSim and information found on the World Wide Web to complete the activity on the relationship between the atmosphere and jet fuel. They discover how much air is required to pass through a jet engine.