Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Flight With Paper Airplanes
Students will experiment with different styles of paper airplanes, create questions to test, and design experiments that will allow them to gather data related to their question. They will record their data, using graphs where...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Paper Airplanes
At this site students will use origami to fold a paper airplane that fly better than the classic dart airplane.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: May the Force Be With You: Weight
The purpose of this lesson is to help students understand the relationship between the mass and the weight of an object. Students will study the properties of common materials and why airplanes use specific materials.
Ducksters
Ducksters: World War I for Kids: Aviation and Aircraft of Wwi
Kids learn about aviation and aircraft of World War I. Airplanes were first used in WW1 for reconnaissance and bombings. Famous fighter pilots called aces fought each other in the sky.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Land! Water! Sky! Oh My!
This lesson focuses on the importance of airplanes in today's society. Airplanes of all shapes and sizes are used for hundreds of different reasons, including recreation, commercial business, public transportation, and delivery of goods,...
Library of Congress
Loc: The Dream of Flight
The Library of Congress has opened its vast resources and created an exhibition commemorating the centennial of flight. The library uses "some of its rarest and most significant materials," to present this aviation history exhibit. Be...
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Supersonic Dream
Examine how fuel use affects the mass of different planes during flight. This activity teaches students how to determine the per person fuel cost of a transatlantic flight for seven airplanes, and display the results on a bar graph....
Library of Congress
Loc: The Dream of Flight
The Library of Congress has opened its vast resources and created an exhibition commemorating the centennial of flight. The Library uses "Some of its rarest and most significant materials," to present this beautiful website. Be sure to...
Other
Warbirds Resource Group: Luftwaffe Resource Center
This comprehensive site catalogs the planes of the Luftwaffe from 1935 on, and provides detailed specifications on armaments, missiles, bombs and other accessories to air warfare. It does not present a history of their use, but rather a...
Other
U.s. Centennial of Flight Commission: Balloons in the American Civil War
What role did hot air balloons play in the Civil War? This comprehensive article answers that question and gives specific examples of their use by both the Union and Confederate troops.
Center for Innovation in Engineering and Science Education, Stevens Institute of Technology
Ciese Navigational Vectors
For this project, students use real time data to learn how pilots navigate when they fly. Students go through a series of lessons on vectors, weather maps and flight tracking, then take a pilot's test where they apply what they have...
History of American Wars
History of American Wars: World War 2 Weapons and Air War Part 2
Website focuses on the air war in World War II and the use of weapons such as bombers and fighters. The role of the paratrooper is also discussed.
South Carolina Educational Television
Know It All Media: Tracking Hurricane Technology
Find out how scientists have improved hurricane tracking technology through new aircraft and advanced instruments.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Future Flights!
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...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Design a Flying Machine
The purpose of this activity is for the students to draw a design for their own flying machine. They will apply their knowledge of aircraft design and the forces acting on them. The students will start with a brainstorming activity where...
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: Women Aviators in World War Ii: "Fly Girls"
This lesson plan explores the contributions of the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs) during World War II, and their aviation legacy. They will examine portrayals of women in World War II posters (and newsreels) and compare and...
History of American Wars
History of American Wars: Air Forces in the Vietnam War
Article investigates the role of air power in the Vietnam War and the types of aircraft that were used. Even though the United States ruled the skies, they could not win the war.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Open Course Ware: Courses: Modern Navigation
College-level planetary science course highlighting modern navigation. Course introduces the concepts and applications of navigation techniques using celestial bodies and satellite positioning systems (GPS). Course features include...
Merna A Forster
Heroines: Roberta Lynn Bondar
As a starting point, or as a sidenote, this site is really useful for learning about women in space. Lots of links and information about where to find interviews, personal appearances, and videos.
Frontiers Media
Frontiers: Human Toolmaker
Do you enjoy building airplanes, cars, houses, or robots with Lego blocks? Humans are the only animal species that can create complicated constructions from simple Lego blocks - our Lego building ability is "human-specific," since it is...
Vocabulary University
My vocabulary.com: Wright Brothers
This has a variety of vocabulary puzzles and activities using 31 vocabulary words pertaining to the Wright Brothers. It also offers an extensive vocabulary word list for aviation and airplanes.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Let's Get It There Fast
The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate how aircraft have decreased the amount of time it takes to transport people and cargo. Students will compute the time it takes to travel between two cities for several modes of...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Hoopster
Students create their own airplane using straws and other materials and learn the principles of aerodynamics.
The Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute: Flights of Inspiration
Franklin Institute site showcases the first flight taken by the Wright brothers. Follows the Wright brothers plan to achieve first flight as they used their failures to win them success in aviation.