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
Library of Congress

Loc: The Dream of Flight

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Graphic
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Significant Women in Flight of the 20th Century Photos

For Students 9th - 10th
A number of women played significant roles in the history of aviation and flight during the 20th century. Meet them in this photo gallery and learn about their achievements.
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,...
Article
University of Houston

University of Houston: Women in Flight

For Students 9th - 10th
Beryl Markham's contribution to aviation history is discussed in this lengthy article. Facts about many other famous female aviators before and after Markham are also included.
Website
University of Chicago

Flights Before the Wrights: Octave Chanute, Chicago

For Students 9th - 10th
A site that chronicles the life of Octave Chanute, an aeronautical engineer involved in flight before the Wright brothers.
Activity
University of Chicago

Flights Before the Wrights: Octave Chanute, Chicago

For Students 9th - 10th
A site that chronicles the life of Octave Chanute, an aeronautical engineer involved in flight before the Wright brothers.
Unit Plan
Scholastic

Scholastic: The Flight of Amelia Earhart

For Teachers 4th - 8th
A lesson unit to help students in grades 4-8 learn about the life and disappearance of Amelia Earhart. The interactive timeline shows advances in technology and the world as a backdrop to Amelia's life.
Activity
The Franklin Institute

Franklin Institute Online: The Challenge of Flight

For Students 3rd - 8th
Think about the challenges that faced the Wright Brothers, then see if you can design and fly your own model aircraft. There are other sources provided to help you along the way.
Handout
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Pilotless Flight: Timeline of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore this NOVA: "Spies That Fly" interactive timeline and discover the many technological innovations in the history of unmanned flight, from hot-air balloons to miniature flying robots.
Handout
US Department of Labor

Bureau of Labor Statistics: Aircraft and Avionics Mechanics

For Students 9th - 10th
This resource describes the occupations pertaining to aircraft mechanics. Learn about the work environment and expected salary.
Website
Curated OER

National Park Service: Aviation: From Sand Dunes to Sonic Booms

For Students 9th - 10th
Features 100 aircraft, airfields, research labs, military installations, battle sites, launch facilities, and other places that tell about people and events that made the U.S. a world leader in aviation. Highlights of this travel...
Website
The Franklin Institute

Franklin Institute and Science Museum: First Flight

For Students 3rd - 8th
Experience the first flight, through words, pictures, and actual quotes from the Wright Brothers about their real life experiences prior to, during, and after the successful flight.
Graphic
NPR: National Public Radio

Npr: Evolution of Military Aviation

For Students 9th - 10th
An interactive timeline lets you see examples of military aircraft that have evolved since the first flight of the Wright brothers. Links at the bottom of the page lead to articles about fighter pilots.
Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Design a Flying Machine

For Teachers 5th - 7th
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...
Website
Other

Aviation Internet Group: Aviation Theory

For Students 9th - 10th
Collection of articles ranging from basic to advanced on aerodynamics theory.
Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: America's Story: Charles Lindbergh, Flying Cross

For Students 3rd - 8th
The accomplishments of Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart may not seem like much by today's standards, but for their time, they were quite the heroes! This site documents Charles Lindbergh's award of the Flying Cross for his...
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Flight With Paper Airplanes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
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...
Website
Other

Allstar Network: Flight

For Students 9th - 10th
This comprehensive and informative site looks at the history and principles of flight.
Handout
NASA

Nasa: History of Flight

For Students 3rd - 8th
How did we learn to fly? Resource takes users back through time to discover where the history of flight all started. Offers links to games, art and stories as well as activities.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Designing Fast and Slow Airplanes and Measuring Velocity

For Teachers 9th - 10th
In this activity, learners design their own airplanes and fly them. The challenge is to create a fast plane and a slow plane and compare the speed to the design.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: What Makes Airplanes Fly?

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Students begin to explore the idea of a force. To further their understanding of drag, gravity and weight, they conduct activities that model the behavior of parachutes and helicopters. An associated literacy activity engages the class...
Handout
Science Museum, London

Science Museum Online Stuff: The First Flight

For Students 9th - 10th
An excellent article about how Orville and Wilbur Wright's interest in flight developed and led to the first airplane flight.
Handout
Other

National Aviation Hall of Fame: Wiley Post

For Students 9th - 10th
Learn about Wiley Post, who made the first global solo flight in 1931.

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