Cornell University
Insect Anatomy
Young entomologists discover insect anatomy in a very detailed unit plan. Offering background information for teachers about various insects, class members explore the differences between bugs and insects—and yes, there are many...
EngageNY
Drawing a Conclusion from an Experiment (part 2)
Communicating results is just as important as getting results! Learners create a poster to highlight their findings in the experiment conducted in the previous instructional activity in a 30-part series. The resource provides specific...
DiscoverE
Build a High Dive
Can't build a cantilever? You'll be able to after a hands-on, constructive activity. Young engineers build cantilevers out of straws and tape. The finished products must be able to hang off a table as far as possible.
Curated OER
How Things Fly
Students conduct a series of hands-on experiments that help them explain the role of lift in fixed-wing flight. They observe the flow of air and water around several surfaces and then consider the dynamics of airflow around an aircraft...
Curated OER
Glow With the Flow
Students investigate the force of drag and how NASA engineers use models and glowing paints to examine how air flows over vehicles in a wind tunnel. They discover how the blended wing body will affect air travelers of the future.
Curated OER
Compare Human-made Objects with Natural Objects
Students examine and observe how many human-made objects get their basic design from things in nature. They listen to the book "Nature Got There First," compare/contrast hollow bones with drinking straws, bird beaks and tool pliers, and...
Curated OER
Gliders
Students design and build a small glider. They see how the flight of a bird is similar to the flight of a sailplane. They explain how birds get their thrust and how they control their direction of flight.
Curated OER
Bat Ecology
Students, through hands on games and activities, discover how bats live and how bats benefit ecosystems. They play a game designed to show them how echolocation works and another to show how mother bats locate their young through their...
Scholastic
We Are Moving on Up
Celebrate your class's achievements with this collection of reflective, rewarding activities. In a lesson plan designed to help your pupils transition to the next grade, students take part in up 13 activities that celebrate the...
Curated OER
How do engineless planes stay aloft?
Fifth graders explore how a plane can stay aloft. In this engineless airplane flying instructional activity, 5th graders experiment to find how the design of a plane and Bernoulli's principle keep planes in the air. Student's create a...
National First Ladies' Library
Saluting Babe Ruth, the Bambino
For first-hand research experience, learners study the achievements of baseball hero, Babe Ruth. They gain a better understanding of the game, especially the role of a home run. They then use their research findings to create...
Curated OER
TE Activity: Heavy Helicopters
Students study the concepts of weight and drag while making paper helicopters. They measure how adding more weight to the helicopter changes the time for the helicopter to fall to the ground. They apply what they examine to the work of...
Curated OER
The Art of "Green" Flying
Students create an airship that doesn't use fossil fuel. In this flying lesson, students research different types of flying machines that only use wind power. They discuss invention designs by Alexander Graham Bell and Leonardo Da Vinci...
Curated OER
Build a Paper Plane
Learners study the history of the paper plane. In this design lesson students create several types of paper planes and determine if there is a difference in mean flight distances.
Curated OER
NGA Kids Inside Scoop Spring 2008
Students view the artwork of Martin Johnson Heade. In this Heade artwork lesson, students answer questions about the sensory images in the artwork. Students design a series of designs for a postage stamp in the style of Heade.
Curated OER
Stellar Resorts
Students explore the future of "orbital vacations" and create fanciful tours of the Milky Way Galaxy. Students respond to the following prompt in their journals "Entrepreneurs are currently designing concepts for accommodating tourists...
Curated OER
Squirrel Islands
In this adaptations worksheet, students read about 3 species that have changed over time to adapt to their environment. Students design a squirrel that has adapted to an island habitat that students are assigned. They describe the...
Cornell University
Physics of Flight
Up, up, and away! Take your classes on a physics adventure. Learners explore the concepts important for flight. They experiment with the Bernoulli Principle while learning the forces that act on airplanes in flight.
Smarter Balanced
Classifying Vertebrates
What features do scientists use to classify animals into groups? Class groups examine a series of paired images of vertebrates (a bass and a trout, a toad and a newt, a crocodile and a tortoise, an owl and a robin, a tiger and a bear)...
Curated OER
An Uplifting Experience
Fifth graders research and complete a graphic organizer about the principles of flight. In this aviation lesson, 5th graders experiment to understand the work of Daniel Bernouli and his discoveries about air pressure. Students create...
Curated OER
Symmetry
Third graders find symmetry in nature. In this symmetry lesson plan, 3rd graders discover that symmetry is in nature and our everyday world. Students examine the alphabet for symmetrical letters then create their own artwork showing...
Curated OER
Reading to Learn Design: Soaring Through Summarization
Students are introduced to and practice techniques and strategies to master the art of summarization. They read, discuss and summarize chapter 3 in "Catwings," by Ursula K. LeGuin. Steps to follow for summarizing is included within this...
Curated OER
Design of Airfoils and Problem- Solving Using FoilSim
Ninth graders, after reading the explanation given below, complete the problem-solving activities to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts presented.
Curated OER
A Wing and a Prayer
Fourth graders improvise missing harmony accompaniment for a soloist performing "The Star Spangled Banner." Groups select several familiar melodies that they can produce while individual students take turns improvising a new harmony part.