How Things Fly

Seventh graders describe how the traits of an organism are passed from generation to generation. They distinguish between asexual and sexul reproduction. Students identify traits through genes and those resulting from interactions with...

The Doppler effect is demonstrated in your physical science class with the included instructions. The directions call for a watch, which most kids do not wear, so consider gathering a class set of stopwatches to set alarms off for the...

In this paper helicopter worksheet, students design and experiment making a paper helicopter to explore how some things fall and how varying the size of the rotor blades affect the way a helicopter spins.

Imagine a reptile the size of a giraffe that flies across oceans. This reptile, quetzalcoatlus, existed, and scientists continue to learn more about this fascinating creature. The video, part of the Eons series, explains where the...

A cat's tongue makes a purr-fect grooming tool. But why are cats such obsessive groomers? Discover the many advantages a clean, silky coat gives these predators in a short video. With reasons that range from skin health to remaining...

Kilobots, made from only $15 worth of parts, work together to achieve a group goal. The video explains how with a few simple lines of programming, these tiny robots tackle tasks in much the same way animals or cells have for centuries....

Even the smallest living things have a large impact. An informative video lesson presents an introduction to types of plankton and their roles in the ocean. The narrator explains how plankton impacts the ocean ecosystem and beyond.

Students explain basic principles of aeronautics such as gravity and lift. In this How Things Fly lesson, students visit the interactive, hands-on How Things Fly gallery at the Smithsonian. Students perform three experiments that...

Being able to absorb the abilities of other life forms may seem like something taken from a superhero movie, but sometimes reality is stranger than fiction. Join the narrator as he takes viewers back billions of years to investigate how...

Students will examine the physics of flight through using experimental inquiry. In this instructional activity, you'll introduce your students to the four forces of flight--drag, lift, thrust, and weight--through a variety of fun-filled...