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The Physics of Flight

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Three activities allow young flight engineers to understand the 4 principles of flight (weight, lift, thrust, and drag), to construct a glider, and to create a propeller. Multicultural history and literature are integrated by reading...
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History of Flight Timeline Activity

For Teachers 1st - 8th
Scholars are introduced to the significant events that led to the development of today's modern forms of air travel. They create a timeline to identify the vital events that are related to man's flight. In addition, they research various...
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Principles of Flight: Flying Paper Airplanes

For Teachers 4th - 5th
Young scholars investigate ways to enhance an object's flying ability.  In this model construction lesson, students construct two paper airplanes, one of which is twice as big as the first.  Young scholars compare and contrast...
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The Airplane

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students demonstrate the Bernoulli Principle, review the influences that affected the Wright Brothers, and make and modify paper airplanes. This amazing lesson plan has an excellent structure, and very clear plans for the students to...
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The Legendary Raptors

For Teachers 9th - 12th
How are raptors and airplanes alike? Combine science and language arts in this fun and interactive project. Young scientists research the animal in order to design their own aircraft, and compete in a contest for farthest, fastest, and...
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Principles Of Flight: Wings That Spin

For Teachers K - 1st
Students discover how flight is possible.  For this physics lesson, students investigate the properties of a blimp and gyro-copter, comparing rotating wings and fixed wings of aircraft.  Students create their own model aircraft...
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Principles of Flight: Bernoulli's Lift

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Students discover how air pressure effects flight.  In this physics activity, students create two types of airplane wings so they can observe the way air pressure creates lift.  Students utilize a printout to create the...
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Measurement and Paper Airplanes

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate physics by creating paper airplanes. In this flight experiment lesson, 6th graders utilize stationary tools to create elaborate paper airplanes which they fly on their school grounds.  Students complete...
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Lift and Drag: Principles of Flight and the Soaring Imagination

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Learners construct models of early gas balloons and gliders. In this balloon and glider instructional activity, students create models of early gas balloons and gliders, discover how the forces of lift and drag effect aircraft in...
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Testing and Refining Aircraft Design

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars design and make a flying device. They work in small groups to brainstorm ideas for the design of their device. They choose an idea or combination of ideas to use for their design and create a sketch of their design. The...
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Crash of Flight 111

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students identify the locations on a map of the airplane crashes discussed in this lesson. After watching a video, they discuss the importance of an investigation after a plane crash. They use the same information as the investigators...
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Origami Flight: The Physical Setting

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders investigate the forces that move certain objects.  In this physics lesson, 6th graders design and create paper flying objects using origami methods, which they practice flying in different conditions.  Students...
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Airplanes and Airports: How To Take Off Without Ever Leaving the Ground

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students plan an airport visit. In this Airplanes and Airports instructional activity, students observe the people, activity, and machinery at airports. Then students compare the characteristics of their observations at the airport....
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Kite Experiments and Building Information

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students build their own kite following certain procedures. In this physics lesson, students explain the aerodynamics concepts involved in flying kites. They trace the development of aviation.
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PHYSICS OF FLIGHT

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders study the basic principles of flight, including the Bernoulli Principle and Newton's Laws. They construct and study model aircraft
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Criteria and Constraints in Aircraft Design

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students investigate criteria and constraints for designing any aircraft. They define these terms and categorize a series of examples of both. Using the constraints and criteria set before them, they design and construct airplanes in...
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The Wright Stuff

For Teachers 6th - 12th
In this instructional activity, students design an exhibition on the history of aviation for a science museum. For homework, they write short stories envisioning the future of flight in the year 2014.
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Exploring Aerodynamics

For Teachers 1st - 5th
Students explore aerodynamics. In this aerodynamics lesson, students study the flight patterns of three paper airplanes and discover the underlying principles of aerodynamics. Resources and grade level modifications are present.
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Kite building activity

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students explore how a kite flies; this lesson is a precursor for the windmill activity. By exploring how a kite flies, the students explore the power of the wind; particulary how drag, lifft and gravity enable objects such as kites and...
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Come Fly With Me...Aviation

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students conduct internet research on aviation and pioneer aviators. They create an alphabet book r with flight related terms, write a short biography of a pioneer aviator and take part in a paper plane flying contest.
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Flight Unit Culminating Activities

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars participate in a variety of culminating activities surrounding a unit on flight. They design and test a plane at an interactive website and then write a paragraph explaining what the qualifications are for their ideal...
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The "Wright" Puzzle

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
A crossword puzzle based on the lives of the Wright brothers. Students research on their own or in small groups several brief biographies of the Wright brothers.They complete a crossword puzzle based on their reading.
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How Things Fly

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students explain basic principles of aeronautics such as gravity and lift. In this How Things Fly lesson, students visit the interactive, hands-on How Things Fly gallery at the Smithsonian. Students perform three experiments that...
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Pilots

For Teachers Pre-K - K
Students read books, learn about the letter p, and have 'p' snacks all to learn about pilots. Students also pretend to fly and draw what they would see if they were flying up in the air.