Curated OER
Problems and Solutions in Aircraft Design
Learners watch demonstrations of paper folded designs that do and do not fly and discuss their observations. They identify problems that they, the Wright Brothers, or NASA scientists face when designing an aircraft, and identify...
Curated OER
The Great Paper Airplane Factory
Students investigate the economics of starting a business in this series of lessons. They role play parts of a business organization that sells paper airplanes making decisions based on calculations to make the most profitable organization.
Teach Engineering
Let's Get it There Fast
Are planes the best shipping method? Using maps, pupils determine the fastest mode of transportation between two cities. Given a list of items to ship, groups decide the best shipping method to finish the 18th segment of a 22-part unit.
Kenan Fellows
Weight and Balance of an Airplane
A career in aeronautics might be calling your class members. Building from the previous two lessons in the series, learners continue analyzing the mathematics of aeronautics. Groups create a paper airplane using paperclips for balance....
Cornell University
Catapults
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.
Curated OER
Kite Experiments and Building Information
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.
Curated OER
Forces of Flight - Lift
Students design and test paper airplanes to understand the concept of lift and how it affects flight. This technology-based Science lesson is excellent for use with upper-elementary and middle-level learners and uses spreadsheet software...
Curated OER
Junk Mail Airmail
Third graders explore how to make a contribution to end the junk mail problem. In this junk mail lesson students collect junk mail, identify the resources used and construct junk mail airplanes.
Curated OER
FLY to Success
First graders are asked how they can improve their skills. They are told how they can do better at following directions. Students identify what they need to listen for. They determine the skills needed to get along with others.
Curated OER
Flying the Friendly Skies
Young scholars investigate aerodynamics by comparing and contrasting the flight of two gliders. They make prediction and observation charts and test a variety of hypotheses using paper gliders.
Curated OER
Make a Model of a Wright Flyer
Students recreate a model of the 1903 Wright Flyer out of Styrofoam. Students practice following instructions, and discover information about the Wright brothers' engine-powered glider.
Curated OER
Child Labor
Students examine how how groups and institutions work to meet individual needs and promote the common good, and identify examples of where they fail to do so. They describe how workers with specialized jobs and the ways in which they...
Curated OER
Controlling Flight: Rudders, Ailerons, and Elevators
Fifth graders create paper gliders and check for flight distance and time. In this flight lesson, 5th graders create a paper glider from the attached worksheet and adjust the rudder, aileron, and elevator. They see how these adjustments...
Curated OER
For the Fun of It
Learners view pictures of Amelia Earhart and discuss the social and historical context of her life. They read excerpts of Earhart's autobiography "The Fun of It" and analyze her purpose in writing it.
Curated OER
To Spread or Not to Spread
Students explore the difference between the three types of contrails. In this contrails instructional activity, students make observations of contrails and record them. Students identify the three types of contrails and complete an...
Curated OER
One Plus One Makes New
Students discover the properties of matter and how they change when composite materials are produced. In this informative lesson students write up a question and procedure to an experiment then analyze and draw conclusions based on the...
Curated OER
Flight Path
Young mathematicians investigate that things move in a directional path. They construct a paper airplane and measure an airplane's length of flight. Everyone constructs a map with a key showing their airplane's flight path
Curated OER
Principles Of Flight: Wings That Spin
Students discover how flight is possible. In this physics instructional activity, students investigate the properties of a blimp and gyro-copter, comparing rotating wings and fixed wings of aircraft. Students create their own model...
Curated OER
Mankind's Fascination With Flight
Students read various novels and articles about the contributions of the Wright Brothers. Individually, they are tested on their comprehension of the material and discuss. In groups, they research the role of the people in their life...
Curated OER
Understanding: Flight
Students review the principles of flight before performing a series of simple experiments. Working in small groups, they complete hands-on activities that demonstrate the principles that make it possible for an airplane to lift into air...
Curated OER
Magnetic Discovery Bottle
Students examine how to conduct simple investigations and use simple equipment to gather data. In this magnet lesson students decide what types of objects are attracted to magnets.
Curated OER
Proportionality: The X-Plane Generation
Young scholars meet NASA researchers who describe the relationship between force, energy and motion. They discuss how NASA's experimental X-plane is being tested to make space travel more reliable and show how proportionality and ratios...
Curated OER
The Art of "Green" Flying
Students create an airship that doesn't use fossil fuel. In this flying activity, students research different types of flying machines that only use wind power. They discuss invention designs by Alexander Graham Bell and Leonardo Da...
Curated OER
Crystal Set & Letter Writing
Young scholars comprehend the details necessary to create a complete set of directions. They compile their directions into a friendly letter format. Students and teachers are able to follow written directions to complete a task.