Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering: Build a Paper Airplane

For Teachers K - 2nd
Learners brainstorm what it is like to fly on an airplane and discuss the parts of a plane. Students construct a paper plane of their own, decorate it, have a competition, and discuss the importance of each part of a plane and the role...
Lesson Plan
NASA

Radiation Shielding on Spacecraft

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Here is a terrific science lesson for your elementary schoolers. In it, learners analyze different materials to simulate space radiation shielding on spacecraft, then select the best material to use to build one. This is a classic...
Lesson Plan
NASA

The X-1 Paper Glider Kit

For Teachers 5th - 12th
After reading an interesting account of how the X-1 aircraft was designed, built, and utilized, young engineers try their hand at constructing a paper glider version of the airplane. They cut out the plane out of a nicely designed...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

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

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

Aviation, Aeronautics and Aerodynamics

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students investigate the physics of flight through various experiments. In this physics lesson, students construct different flying objects. They explain the dynamics that make these object fly.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Gingerbread Spacecraft

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students explore the different parts of the Cassini spacecraft. In this space science instructional activity, students create a model of the spacecraft using food products. They compare and contrast their model with the real one and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Things Fly

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Young scholars explain basic principles of aeronautics such as gravity and lift. In this How Things Fly activity, students visit the interactive, hands-on How Things Fly gallery at the Smithsonian. Young scholars perform three...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Kites: Patang - The Indian Fighter Kite

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students investigate the history of fighter kites and build their own.  In this aeronautics lesson, students discover how other countries utilize fighter kites and where they originated.  Students create their own fighter kites...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finger Boomerangs

For Teachers 2nd - 5th
Students construct boomerangs. For this aeronautics lesson, students use a file card, scissors, and pencil to develop their own boomerang.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Four-Wing Paper Boomerang

For Teachers 4th - 8th
Students build a four-wing paper boomerang. In this aeronautics lesson, students construct a paper boomerang and identify the forces at work during flight.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Strange New Planet

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students simulate different spacecraft missions using materials provided. In this space science lesson, students observe and record a planetary model's features from a distance. They relate this activity to scientists' space exploration...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reason for the Seasons

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students study the seasons of the Earth. For this seasons lesson, students study the science of the seasons on Earth by studying the tilt and axis of the Earth's orbit. Students read background information and four experimental...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Can Photosynthesis Occur at Saturn?

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students identify the different requirements for photosynthesis to take place. In this space science lesson, students simulate conditions in Saturn to investigate if photosynthesis is possible there. They use data and observations...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Science of Sleep and Daily Rhythms

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students observe their own daily rhythms by going to bed earlier and seeing what happens to their day afterwards. In this sleep lesson plan, students experiment with their own sleep cycles and answer questions about what happened because...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Aeronautics: Bernoulli's Principle

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students explore physics by participating in a science activity in class. In this flight properties lesson, students identify Bernoulli's principle of flight and his theory of statics and motion. Students conduct a demonstration by...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

100 Years of Flight

For Teachers 7th - 10th
Students investigate Bernoulli's principle of air pressure and how it relates to the lift of an airplane. Students identify various Aeronautical vocabulary terms. Students construct a paper glider and experiment with the control surfaces...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living Clocks

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Learners complete experiments to learn about their internal body clocks and physiological activities. In this internal body science lesson, students read "Body Clock Investigations" and complete a body temperature investigation.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Dayna Lykins, Leanna Prater

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders compare and contrast gliding flight and true flight. They investigate the basic principles of aeronautics. The class participates in activities to observe lift and the effect of air. Students design and fly their own...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

History of Flight Timeline Activity

For Teachers 1st - 8th
Scholars are introduced to the significant events that led to the development of today's modern forms of air travel. They create a timeline to identify the vital events that are related to man's flight. In addition, they research various...
Unit Plan
NASA

Marsbound! Mission to the Red Planet

For Teachers 3rd - 12th
It's time to go to Mars. Using the provided cards and mat, groups design a mission to Mars. The cards contain information about the different components of the launch and warn about a few mishaps that might occur along the way.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Jet Engine Magazine Project

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Students create a magazine highlighting their favorite type of of jet engine.
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.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Modeling Day and Night

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students complete a science experiment to study the role of night and day on sleep patterns. In this sleep patterns lesson, students brainstorm about night and day and the causes for the rotations on Earth. Students work in groups to...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flying Wing

For Teachers 5th - 6th
Learners cut out and trace a Flying Wing pattern on the bottom of the foam tray. They test flight it and observe the flight of the wing.