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
Helicopter Design Company
Students test different designs of helicopters to determine what of the four designs will fall the slowest. In this helicopter lesson students complete an activity and fill out their worksheet.
Curated OER
Helicopter
For this coloring and printing worksheet, students trace one dotted example of the word "Helicopter" in Zaner-Bloser printing. Students practice the word on the blank lines and then color a picture of a helicopter.
Curated OER
Helicopter
In this helicopter instructional activity, students examine a fantasy-like drawing of a helicopter which is decorated with flowers and dots. No directions are given.
Curated OER
Up, Up, and Away
Students investigate the laws of physics that govern the flight of helicopters and airplanes. They build and launch a model rotor, simulating rotors used on helicopters to provide lift.
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Project Ideas: Helicopter Liftoff: Rotor Speed Affect on Lift
In this science fair project, measure the rate of rotation of a remote-controlled helicopter rotor, using a digital tachometer, and relate this to the lift the blade generates. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently...
NASA
Nasa: Robin Whirlybird on Her Rotorcraft Adventures
Read (or listen to) the illustrated story of Robin, who goes to work with her mother who works at a rotorcraft research center. Includes many interactive supplemental activities.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Roto Copter
Students can experiment with a home-made helicopter that lets them change the blades to see how real aerodynamics work.
Museum of Science
Museum of Science: Leonardo's Visions of the Future
This site from The Museum of Science includes modern machines that Leonardo da Vinci first designed. Original sketches of Leonardo's machines also included.
Other
National Science Digital Library: Smile: Make and Fly a Helicopter
Sourced by Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry, students and educators will engage in building a helicopter and making it fly. Adaptations of extra weight or shortening blades will alter flight abilities making for an exciting...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Heavy Helicopters
Students learn about weight and drag forces by making paper helicopters and measuring how adding more weight affects the time it takes for the helicopters to fall to the ground.
National Academy of Engineering
Greatest Achievements: Airplane
This page provides an overview of the history behind one of the greatest engineering innovations of all time:the airplane. There is also a timeline showing its development.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Lab Activity: Aviation
This site from the Illinois Institute of Technology provides a student lab activity in which the flight of a paper airplane is investigated and studied. Designed for primary grades, but easily adaptable for junior high students.
Michigan Reach Out
Nasa Trc: Maple Seed Helicopters
Students study the aerodynamic properties of a maple seed and then apply what they observe making their own flying object.
PBS
Newton's Apple: Frisbee Physics
This teacher's guide from Public Television's Newton's Apple discusses and illustrates the physics principles governing the flight of a frisbee. Includes teacher lesson plans, activity ideas, discussion questions, and information about...
Other
Turnstep: Dictionary of Moves
Providing simple descriptions and animated pictures of step-aerobics moves, this website is useful for instructors and individuals wanting to teach and learn step aerobics. Learn steps like "across the top," "hop turn," "indecision," and...
Other
Helis.com: The First Mission
This helicopter history page provides the fascinating story of Commander Frank Erickson and the world's first helicopter school.
Science and Mathematics Initiative for Learning Enhancement (SMILE)
Smile: Lab Activity: Helicopter
The Illinois Institute of Technology lets young scholars investigate the aerodynamics of a helicopter, focusing on the variables which effect the lift, thrust, drag, and weight. Students investigate the effects of aerodynamics on a wide...
Museum of Science
Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago: Activities: Make and Fly a Helicopter
Print and cut out the template for the helicopter. Then experiment with adding and subtracting weight, or changing the shape of the copter or the blades to see what makes it fly best.