Graphic
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Significant Women in Flight of the 20th Century Photos

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Amelia Earhart

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Unit Plan
Sophia Learning

Sophia: Engineering: Aircraft Carrier 1 Day Lesson

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Activity
Other

Federal Aviation Administration: Air Takes Up Room [Pdf]

For Students 5th - 8th
See how air takes up space by conducting this classroom experiment. With the aid of several common objects, observe the effects of air pressure.
Activity
Other

Federal Aviation Administration: Anti Gravity Marble [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Lesson Plan
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College

Serc: Investigating Flight With Paper Airplanes

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
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...
Activity
Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments: Numb3 Rs: Experimenting With Paper Airplanes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
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...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Project Ideas: How to Make an Aircraft Invisible to Radar

For Students 9th - 10th
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,...
Activity
Library of Congress

Loc: Helicopters, the Multi Mission Aircraft

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Interactive
Smithsonian Institution

National Air and Space Museum: Wright Brothers: Interactive Experiments

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Website
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: The Wright Stuff

For Students 9th - 10th
Companion website to the PBS documentary on the Wright Brothers and their contributions to aviation.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Land! Water! Sky! Oh My!

For Teachers 5th - 7th
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,...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Why Winglets?

For Students 6th - 9th
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,...
Handout
NASA

Nasa: Astronaut Biography:john Glenn

For Students 9th - 10th
Extensive biographical information with personal data, education, special honors, aviation experience, NASA experience and space flight experience.
Handout
NASA

Nasa: Astronaut Biography: Alan Shepard

For Students 9th - 10th
Biographical information with personal data, education, organizations, special honors, aviation experience, and NASA experience.
Activity
PBS

Pbs: American Experience: Fly Girls: Bessie Coleman

For Students 9th - 10th
A biography of the first African American female pilot, Bessie Coleman (1892-1926).
Website
Smithsonian Institution

National Air and Space Museum: Wright Brothers: The Invention of the Aerial Age

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Winglets in Wind Tunnels

For Students 9th - 10th
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...
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,...
Website
The Franklin Institute

Franklin Institute and Science Museum: First Flight

For Students 3rd - 8th
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.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Science Snacks: Balancing Ball

For Students 9th - 10th
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.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Spinning Blimps

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students create a blimp and then experiment with the design to improve its aerodynamics.
Activity
Exploratorium

Exploratorium: Roto Copter

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students can experiment with a home-made helicopter that lets them change the blades to see how real aerodynamics work.
Activity
PBS

Pbs Learning Media: Engineer a Jetliner

For Students 9th - 10th
In this interactive lesson, students will experience the engineering design process as an aerospace engineer assigned to design and test an airplane.