Teach Engineering
Balsa Glider Competition
Change one variable and try again. Teams build basic balsa gliders and collect data on their flight distances and times. Through collaboration, the team decides on two modifications to make to the basic design and collect data for the...
Curated OER
Flying the Friendly Skies
Students discover the power of wind by flying a glider. In this weather lesson, students describe their thoughts on wind and practice using weather related vocabulary. Students construct model gliders in class and attempt to fly them...
Teach Engineering
Better By Design
Which modification is the best? Using the scientific method, pairs determine the effects of each control surface on the distance of a glider's flight. The activity, section 16 in a 22-part unit on aviation, allows pupils to gain a better...
Curated OER
Drag Problem Set
Students read an explanation from a NASA Web-based textbook and then demonstrate an understanding of the text by applying it to calculating drag of both full-sized and model gliders.
Teach Engineering
Building-Testing-Improving Paper Airplanes: Head's Up!
Take foldables to all new heights. Pupils build and fly different types of paper airplanes in the 14th portion of a 22-part unit on aviation. Groups collect data on distance and flight time for each plane and compare the data from the...
Curated OER
Data
Students collect data from an experiment they perform. In this data lesson, students use multiple representations to solve practical problems; describe advantages and disadvantages of the use of each representation. Then, they evaluate...
Curated OER
Paper Dart Airplane
Young scholars create a paper dart airplane and measure its flight pattern. In this flight activity, students follow the included directions to build their own paper airplane. The young scholars change the aileron configurations to see...
Curated OER
Origami Flight: The Physical Setting
Sixth graders investigate the forces that move certain objects. In this physics lesson plan, 6th graders design and create paper flying objects using origami methods, which they practice flying in different conditions. Students record...
Curated OER
Building Tetrahedral Kites
Students work together to build tetrahedral kites. They must follow directions and the provided materials. They discover the engineering concepts needed to make the kite.