Teach Engineering
Equal and Opposite Thrust in Aircraft: You're a Pushover!
It's the law—every action requires a reaction, no matter how small. Pupils experience two demonstrations of Newton's third law of motion as it relates to thrust in the 10th segment of a 22-part unit on flight. Using their mathematical...
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Symmetry in Paper Airplanes
Young scholars explore symmetry. For this geometry and scientific inquiry lesson, students design paper airplanes with middle line symmetry, as well as right, obtuse, and acute angles. Young scholars measure the plane's angles using a...
Teach Engineering
May the Force Be With You: Thrust
Force the plane through the air. The lesson introduces the force on an airplane that makes it go forward. Pupils learn how Newton's laws of motion apply to flight in the eighth segment of a 22-part unit on flight.
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What Makes Airplanes Fly?
Students examine force and conduct activities that model parachutes and helicopters. In this airplanes activity students identify the forces that make airplanes fly higher and land.
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Principles of Flight: Where are We?
Students explore the concept of topographical maps. In this topographical map lesson, students discuss how airplanes know where to fly. Students use topographical maps to simulate a field trip on the computer.
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GPS Scavenger Hunt
Middle schoolers go on a GPS scavenger hunt. They use GPS receivers to find designated waypoints and report back on what they found. They compute distances between waypoints based on the latitude and longitude, and compare with the...
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Angle Measurement and the AD-1 Aircraft
Students represent and solve problems using geometric models and apply geometric properties and relationships. They also practice constructing and measuring angles. By constructing, drawing, visualizing, and comparing geometric figures...
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Angle Measurement of Aircraft Wings and Tails
Students measure the angles of wings and tails of various aircraft using a protractor. They estimate and check their measurements. They investigate aircraft being developed and tested at NASA Dryden.
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Air Temperature and Kinetic Energy
Students use a NASA website do activities which help them better explain how air temperature and kinetic energy are related to aircraft propulsion.
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Make a Model of a Wright Flyer
Students recreate a model of the 1903 Wright Flyer out of Styrofoam. Students practice following instructions, and discover information about the Wright brothers' engine-powered glider.
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Up, Up, and Away
Students investigate the laws of physics that govern the flight of helicopters and airplanes. They build and launch a model rotor, simulating rotors used on helicopters to provide lift.
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Banana Man Glider
Students incorporate technology into the classroom as they investigate force and motion. For this science lesson, students construct a glider to be able to safely take a banana to the ground without dropping it. They investigate flight,...
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Algebra, Multiplication, and Division of Fractions
Students gain knowledge by measuring time and distance for solving unknowns in an equation. They also will design an airplane and chance to communicate mathematically by writing essays.
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PROBLEMS/SOLUTIONS
Pupils choose an interesting problem related to space travel and then design a plan to solve the problem. They present their solution to the class.
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The X-33 and the X-38
Learners explore the relationships among the lengths, areas, and volumes of similar solids. They also discover what effect doubling the dimensions of a figure has on the resulting area.
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A Real-Life Application of Ratio
Students discuss the concept of "aspect ratio" of the Helios Prototype. They find real life objects that are taller or shorter than them by a certain amount. They practice with ratio and measurement.
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Teaching Measurement Through Science
Use these lesson plans to give your students real world practice with measuring distance, mass, and volume.
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Propellers, Forces and Energy
Students construct a model airplane, measure distance, and calculate velocity. For this creative lesson students work in groups to build a model and use it to calculate distances and velocity.