Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Up, Up and Away! Airplanes

For Teachers 4th - 6th
The airplanes unit begins with a lesson on how airplanes create lift, which involves a discussion of air pressure and how wings use Bernoulli's Principle to change air pressure. Following the lessons on lift, students explore the other...
Website
Other

U.s. Centennial of Flight Commission: The u.s. Aircraft Industry During Wwi

For Students 9th - 10th
A good essay on the development of the airline industry in the United States as a result of World War I. Many companies worked on airplane design, but few survived after the war.
Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Learning Lab: How Things Fly: Activities for Teaching Flight

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Through this series of three lessons, students will gain an understanding of the basics of flight. They will learn about the four forces of flight and practice their observation skills through a number of fun experiments. In addition,...
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Future Flights!

For Teachers 5th - 7th
This lesson is an exciting conclusion to the airplanes unit that encourages students to think creatively. After a review of the concepts learned, students will design their own flying machine based on their knowledge of the forces...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Project Ideas: Whirl Y Bird vs. Whale Y Bird

For Students Pre-K - 1st
Improve the design of a very simple aircraft, the whirlybird, and learn about hydrodynamics and biomimicry in this science experiment. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and...
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Adaptations for Aeronautical Engineering

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This activity first asks the students to study the patterns of bird flight and understand that four main forces affect the flight abilities of a bird. They will study the shape, feather structure, and resulting differences in the pattern...
Website
NASA

Nasa: Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics

For Teachers 9th - 10th
A website that catalogs information and activities for how airplanes work. The concept of aerodynamics is explained in full detail.
Lesson Plan
TryEngineering

Try Engineering: Engineered Sports

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students work in teams to investigate how aerospace engineering relates to sports, especially golf ball design and the physics of bounce. They use this information to determine whether these aerospace principles can be applied to...
Activity
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Engineer a Jetliner

For Students 9th - 10th
In this interactive lesson, students will experience the engineering design process as an aerospace engineer assigned to design and test an airplane.
Website
Other

Thrivenc.com: Key Industries in North Carolina

For Students 9th - 10th
Some of the key industries that are thriving in North Carolina include advanced manufacturing, aerospace and aviation, defense, automotive, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, green and sustainable energy, financial services, software and...
Website
Other

Uscfc: Jack Northrop and the Northrop Corporation

For Students 9th - 10th
A biographical site about the man responsible for designing the sleek Vega that carried pilots on record-setting flights and for designing planes with a stressed skin over an internal frame.
Website
Other

Business Climate: Texas: Top Industries

For Students 9th - 10th
This guide to Texas' top nine industries links the reader to articles and other information on each topic.
Website
Other

Popular Mechanics: Technology

For Students 9th - 10th
Popular Mechanics covers the latest in technology. Topics include computers, the Internet, audio, television, and more.