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Lesson Plan
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian Learning Lab: How Things Fly: Activities for Teaching Flight

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Through this series of three lessons, students will gain an understanding of the basics of flight. They will learn about the four forces of flight and practice their observation skills through a number of fun experiments. In addition,...
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Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Bernoulli's Principle

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Bernoulli's principle relates the pressure of a fluid to its elevation and its speed. Bernoulli's equation can be used to approximate these parameters in water, air or any fluid that has very low viscosity. Young scholars learn about the...
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Activity
Other

Desktop Aeronautics, Inc.: Airfoils

For Students 9th - 10th
This chapter from an online demonstration textbook discusses airfoils. Basic concepts are explained, as well as complex equations and diagrams.
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Activity
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Windy Tunnel

For Teachers 7th - 9th
The purpose of this activity is to demonstrate Bernoulli's Principle as it relates to winged flight. The students will use computers to see the influence of camber and airfoil angle of attack on the lift.
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Website
Other

All Star: Airfoils

For Students 9th - 10th
The basic theories of aeronautics are explained through several airfoil activities and animations. Click on Level 2 or 3 for an easier reading level.
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Website
Other

See How It Flies: Airfoils and Airflow

For Students 9th - 10th
One chapter from a larger site dedicated to explaining the physics of flight. Numerous diagrams show the flow of air around an airfoil.
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Lesson Plan
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Flying Free: Make a Wind Tunnel

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Investigate the science of flight, the tilt or angle of attack of a wing's surface and the effect of control surfaces. Construct a model of an open jet wind tunnel using a household desk fan to produce a flow of air.
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Activity
PBS

Pbs Teachers: Scientific American: Life's Little Questions: How Do Bees Fly?

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Build a simple wind tunnel to help formulate and answer questions about how wind influences animals and plants, and then use it to explore why geese fly in formation and to examine why certain plants do not break in strong winds.