+
Worksheet
Curated OER

Single Event Upsets in Aircraft Avionics

For Students 9th - 11th
In this aircraft avionics activity, science fans read about the first unmanned air vehicle that collects data about the Earth and is subject to damage by cosmic ray showers. Pupils analyze two graphs of data showing the neutron flux vs....
+
Interactive
1
1
NASA

Resolving 2-Plane Traffic Conflicts by Changing Route—Problem Set B

For Students 5th - 9th Standards
Do pilots create appropriate spacing between aircraft by traveling a longer or shorter path? An interactive presents two airplanes that violate safety protocols. Pupils must determine how to change the path of one plane to create the...
+
Lesson Plan
1
1
Teach Engineering

Fun with Bernoulli

For Teachers 5th - 7th Standards
Reduce the pressure in the classroom. The second instructional activity in an Airplanes unit of 22 introduces the class to Bernoulli's Principle. Pupils demonstrate the principle by blowing between different objects causing a reduction...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forces, Controls And Aircraft Systems

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Students are introduced to the physics of flight through video and PowerPoint presentations. They construct and fly model gliders and compete for height, distance, time, etc.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Features and Limits of Aircraft Design

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students identify the desired features of an aircraft and the limits that they, the Wright Brothers, or NASA scientists might face in designing one, and methods to solve these. They review parts of an airplane and what makes it fly. They...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Problems and Solutions in Aircraft Design

For Teachers K - 2nd
Young scholars 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...
+
Interactive
1
1
NASA

Resolving 3-Plane Traffic Conflicts by Changing Speed—Problem Set F

For Teachers 5th - 9th Standards
Get three planes to line up safely. Individuals work through a set of problems to eliminate spacing conflicts between three airplanes in flight. The pupils use their knowledge to change the airplanes' speed or route to meet a...
+
Interactive
1
1
NASA

Resolving 3-Plane Traffic Conflicts by Changing Route—Problem Set C

For Students 5th - 9th Standards
Keep the planes from crashing. Pupils work with three airplanes and change their flight paths to keep them at a safe distance from each other. Individuals work through three problems in the third interactive in a set of six with...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pilots, Airplanes, and the Tangent of Three Degrees

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers explore how to use trigonometry in the aviation field.  In this aviation lesson students complete trigonometry equations that show what planes should do to land their airplanes.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Light Sport Aircraft Design Challenge

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students investigate aircraft design to learn many concepts of physics. In this aircraft design lesson plan, students use balsa wood and styrofoam to build an aircraft based on their study of wing designs, aviation, and through the use...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aviation

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders examine the main parts of an airplane and explain their functions. They inquire about a flight simulator. They study a flight plan and what happens when they move the flight controls. They view and keep a logbook.
+
Interactive
1
1
NASA

Understanding the Effects of Differences in Speed—Problem Set D

For Teachers 5th - 9th Standards
Fall back and slow down. The fourth lesson in a six-part series on air traffic control leads the class to find the difference in distance traveled based upon the difference in speed. Pupils work through a problem related to walking...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Proportionality: Modeling the Future

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students explore and examine how patterns, measurement, ratios and proportions are utilized in the research development and production of airplanes. They meet a pilot from the Federal Aviation Association who describes the growth of air...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forces on an Airplane and Resulting Motion

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students read from a NASA Web-based textbook, then students demonstrate an understanding of the text by answering questions about the forces on an airplane and their resulting motions.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lift and Launch Angle

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students engage in a hands-on experiment to determine how launch angles affect airflow around the wing of an aircraft. They view a series of photographs and read information describing the Wright Brothers' experiences. They complete a...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cruising Aircraft and Balanced Forces

For Teachers 7th - 8th
Students, after reading an explanation from a NASA Web-based textbook, demonstrate an understanding of the text by applying it to questions involving cruising aircraft and balanced forces.
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Radiation Comparison Before and After 9-11

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Using the NASA website, class members try to determine if changes could be detected in cloud cover, temperature, and/or radiation measurements due to the lack of contrails that resulted from the halt in air traffic after the attacks of...
+
Interactive
1
1
NASA

Resolving 2-Plane Traffic Conflicts by Changing Speed—Problem Set E

For Students 5th - 9th Standards
What do you do to change arrival times of airplanes when a different route is not available? The fifth interactive in a series of six presents problems where pupils must find solutions to conflicts of safety rules. They must decide how...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Testing and Refining Aircraft Design

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers 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...
+
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Design a Paper Airplane

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students study examples of paper airplanes and then create their own paper airplane models.
+
Activity
1
1
Teach Engineering

What a Drag!

For Teachers 5th - 7th Standards
Stop and drop what is in your hand! Pupils investigate how form effects drag in the 12th part of a 22-part unit on aviation. Groups create equally weighted objects and determine which one falls the fastest by collecting data.
+
Lesson Plan
1
1
Teach Engineering

Future Flights: Imagine Your Own Flying Machines!

For Teachers 5th - 7th Standards
What will flying look like in the future? The 21st lesson in a 22-part unit on aviation reviews the major aspects of the lesson. Pupils brainstorm ideas of a future flying machine.
+
Lesson Plan
1
1
Teach Engineering

Airplane Tails and Wings: Are You in Control?

For Teachers 5th - 7th Standards
Keep everything under control. The lesson, the 16th segment in a 22-part unit, provides a more detailed look at the parts of a plane, specifically the control surfaces. Pupils learn about the construction of the wings and the tails and...