PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Significant Women in Flight of the 20th Century Photos
A number of women played significant roles in the history of aviation and flight during the 20th century. Meet them in this photo gallery and learn about their achievements.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Amelia Earhart
This documentary film traces the life of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart, the first woman to attempt to fly solo across the Atlantic. A preview and other information about the film project are available here.
Sophia Learning
Sophia: Engineering: Aircraft Carrier 1 Day Lesson
Created to teach students of the 21st century, SOPHIA is bringing the world of engineering straight to your fingertips. Become the commander of your own learning experiences as you take part in this interactive experiment.
Other
Federal Aviation Administration: Air Takes Up Room [Pdf]
See how air takes up space by conducting this classroom experiment. With the aid of several common objects, observe the effects of air pressure.
Other
Federal Aviation Administration: Anti Gravity Marble [Pdf]
This experiment examines Newton's Second Law of Motion. Learn how centrifugal and centripetal force help to keep a marble in a can when turned upside down.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Investigating Flight With Paper Airplanes
Students will experiment with different styles of paper airplanes, create questions to test, and design experiments that will allow them to gather data related to their question. They will record their data, using graphs where...
Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments: Numb3 Rs: Experimenting With Paper Airplanes
Based off of the hit television show NUMB3RS, this "fun" lesson has students creating paper airplanes and testing different variables (weight, wings, etc.) to see what type of plane flies the best. Data Analysis and imagination are both...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Project Ideas: How to Make an Aircraft Invisible to Radar
In this engineering science fair project, students will determine which 3-D geometric shapes scatter light the most. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and introduction,...
Library of Congress
Loc: Helicopters, the Multi Mission Aircraft
Delve into these videos and audio interviews conducted of several U.S. veterans regarding their experiences served as part of helicopter crews during various combat operations.
Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum: Wright Brothers: Interactive Experiments
Three interactives in an online exhibition about the Wright Brothers. The first is an engineering activity on the forces of flight, and is accompanied by a lesson plan for Grades 6-8. The second is a gallery of original artifacts related...
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: The Wright Stuff
Companion website to the PBS documentary on the Wright Brothers and their contributions to aviation.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Land! Water! Sky! Oh My!
This lesson focuses on the importance of airplanes in today's society. Airplanes of all shapes and sizes are used for hundreds of different reasons, including recreation, commercial business, public transportation, and delivery of goods,...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Why Winglets?
Make a paper airplane and experiment with adding winglets to it to test its performance. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an abstract, objective, and introduction, followed by a section on terms,...
NASA
Nasa: Astronaut Biography:john Glenn
Extensive biographical information with personal data, education, special honors, aviation experience, NASA experience and space flight experience.
NASA
Nasa: Astronaut Biography: Alan Shepard
Biographical information with personal data, education, organizations, special honors, aviation experience, and NASA experience.
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Fly Girls: Bessie Coleman
A biography of the first African American female pilot, Bessie Coleman (1892-1926).
Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum: Wright Brothers: The Invention of the Aerial Age
Beautiful, well-done site from the Smithsonian on the Wright Brothers: Who were they and what was the importance of the era they ushered in? Their roots are traced back to the Great Migration. Classroom activities and interactive...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Winglets in Wind Tunnels
Have you noticed the little wing projections on the wings of jets? This Science Buddies project helps you understand whether these fins help stabilize airplanes. The Science Buddies project ideas are set up consistently beginning with an...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Learning Lab: How Things Fly: Activities for Teaching Flight
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,...
The Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute and Science Museum: First Flight
Experience the first flight, through words, pictures, and actual quotes from the Wright Brothers about their real life experiences prior to, during, and after the successful flight.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Balancing Ball
Experience the same lift that flies airplanes with this activity where you suspend a ball in a stream of air. This activity illustrates Bernoulli's principle.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Spinning Blimps
Students create a blimp and then experiment with the design to improve its aerodynamics.
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Roto Copter
Students can experiment with a home-made helicopter that lets them change the blades to see how real aerodynamics work.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Engineer a Jetliner
In this interactive lesson, students will experience the engineering design process as an aerospace engineer assigned to design and test an airplane.