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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build A Borneo Glider!

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students construct a paper glider. In this physics of gliding lesson, students first learn about Borneo and it's rainforest habitat. After students discover the way animals in Borneo glide from tree to tree, they use their newly acquired...
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Lesson Plan
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Teach Engineering

Balsa Glider Competition

For Teachers 5th - 7th Standards
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...
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Activity
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Teach Engineering

Better By Design

For Teachers 5th - 7th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
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Teach Engineering

Will It Fly?

For Teachers 5th - 7th
Go fly a kite, then fly a plane! The 19th part of a 22-part unit on aviation looks at the way kites and gliders help aid in the understanding of flight. Pupils discuss how engineers used kites to influence airplane designs.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Airplane Wings

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Learners examine the aerodynamics of a wing and how it generates lift.  In this flight lesson students complete several experiments including how to build a paper plane and how airfoils affect performance.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Controlling Flight: Rudders, Ailerons, and Elevators

For Teachers 5th
Fifth graders create paper gliders and check for flight distance and time. In this flight lesson, 5th graders create a paper glider from the attached worksheet and adjust the rudder, aileron, and elevator. They see how these adjustments...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Air Born

For Teachers 5th - 12th
Students make wings that produce enough lift to fly a hand held styrofoam glider.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Wind Tunnels

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students build a simple wind tunnel and test out 2 glider wing shapes at different angles of attack. They record results and their observations just as engineers do.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Forces, Controls And Aircraft Systems

For Teachers 10th - 12th
Pupils are introduced to the physics of flight through video and PowerPoint presentations. They construct and fly model gliders and compete for height, distance, time, etc.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Lift and Launch Angle

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students engage in a hands-on experiment to determine how launch angles affect airflow around the wing of an aircraft. They view a series of photographs and read information describing the Wright Brothers' experiences. They complete a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Airplanes and Airports: How To Take Off Without Ever Leaving the Ground

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Young scholars plan an airport visit. For this Airplanes and Airports lesson, students observe the people, activity, and machinery at airports. Then young scholars compare the characteristics of their observations at the airport....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aerospace

For Teachers 7th - 11th
Learners experiment with weight and balance of a glider.  In this flight lesson students construct their own flying glider and record their experiment with it. 
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Fill-In-The-Blanks: Simple Machines

For Students 3rd - 5th
In this simple machines worksheet, students use a word bank to complete a paragraph about simple machines. Worksheet has a link to additional activities.
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Activity
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Teach Engineering

Building-Testing-Improving Paper Airplanes: Head's Up!

For Teachers 5th - 7th Standards
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...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Airplane

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students demonstrate the Bernoulli Principle, review the influences that affected the Wright Brothers, and make and modify paper airplanes. This amazing lesson plan has an excellent structure, and very clear plans for the students to...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Week 7: Animal Adaptations - Bird Beaks

For Teachers 4th - 10th
Students use tools to represent bird beaks and pick up different types of food with them in order to discover which beak would help the bird survive depending on their food type.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Building Vocabulary with Model Airplanes

For Teachers Higher Ed
Your class can build new vocabulary while they study aircraft terminology. In order to work around pilot when they are on the flight line, learners build a model airplane applying the new vocabulary as they go. This hands-on real life...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build a Paper Plane

For Teachers K - 12th
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.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Build Your Own Parachute

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students study the basics of parachuting.  In this flight and aerodynamics lesson students make a simple parachute and investigate different variables that can cause potential problems.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Boomerang

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Students build their own boomerang. In this physics lesson, students trace the origin of this equipment. They practice throwing and catching them.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Think About Air

For Teachers K
Students explore the concept that air is all around us and identify ways that we can use air, and what air can do. They watch a short video that illustrates some of their findings.
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Lesson Plan
Other

California Science Center: Ladybug Glider [Pdf]

For Teachers Pre-K - 1st
Color and cut out the body and wings and put together the ladybug and watch it glide! A little bit of information about ladybugs and insects is provided.