Day
Topic
Activity
Materials
Resource
The mechanics of flight
1
Engineering Design
Process: Making a
paper airplane
1. Introduce the
engineering
design process
2. Design: Have
students design
a paper airplane
that uses a
rubber band to
power flight.
1. Rubber band
launcher
2. Computer paper
3. Template for
Dart and High
Glider Airplane
4. Paper clips
5. Tape
6. Stapler
http://frugalfun4boys.co
m/2014/01/30/paperairplane-launcher/
https://www.teachengin
eering.org/view_activity.
php?url=collection/cub_/
activities/cub_airplanes/
cub_airplanes_lesson06
_activity1.xml
2
Bernoulli’s Principle:
Why do things fly
1. Do activities:
Air is matter
2. Do activities:
Bernoulli’s
Principle
3. Do activities:
How an airfoil
creates lift
4. Watch Youtube
on Bernoulli’s
Principle
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=wuAUJPUu
pfE
Air is matter demos:
● 2 syringes
connected by
rubber tubing
● 2 cups
● balloons
● meter stick
● straws
● 1 or 2 liter bottle
● plastic baggies
Bernoulli Principle
● paper
● straws
● ping pong balls
● hair dryer
● 2 empty soda
cans
Airfoils
● Ruler
● Strip of paper
● Tape
● Small fan
http://www.cedarville.ed
u/personal/lee/project/la
bs/lab-bernoulli.pdf
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=wuAUJPUu
pfE (youtube video)
https://wow.osu.edu/exp
eriments/Gases/Air%20
Takes%20Up%20Space
%20%20Tissue%20in%20a
%20Cup%20%20
3
4
Flying Helicopters
Flying Helicopter: Part 2
1. Use the
engineering
design process
to determine
which
material/paper
clip placement
makes the best
helicopter.
1. Watch
inspirational
video
https://www.curiosityma
chine.org/challenges/88/
2. Watch video on
how to make
propeller helicopter
(click on guide tab)
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Computer paper
Construction
paper
Oak Tag
Paper clips
http://www.primaryscien
ce.ie/media/pdfs/col/pap
er_helicopters.pdf
Nose-hook
propeller
(premade or
make your own!)
Popsicle stick
Long rubber
bands
Paperclips
Cardboard
Penny
https://www.curiosityma
chine.org/challenges/88/
plan/
5
Hot Air Balloon
1. Show video clip
on the first
untethered
balloon flight
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=QB32OLW7
suA&feature=player_em
bedded
●
●
●
●
●
●
Tissue paper
Blow dryer
Glue stick
Metric ruler
Paper clips
Dry cleaner bags
http://www.middleschool
chemistry.com/atomswo
rld/2012/09/not-just-hotair/
http://uncw.edu/smec/gk
_fellows/Documents/Bui
ldingHotAirBalloon.pdf
2. Have students
make hot air
balloons either out
tissue paper or dry
cleaning bags
6
Flying Wing
1. Look at pictures
of the zanonia
seed from which
this glider is
designed
2. Make a foam
zanonia glider
3. Watch Bill Nye
Video on flight
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=sZpEfqxVvV
s
●
●
●
●
Foam from meat
container
Scissors/cutting
knife
Sandpaper
Dime/paperclip
http://www.endlesslift.co
m/foam-zanonia-glider/
file:///C:/Users/science/
Downloads/Zanonia%20
Seed%20HLG.pdf
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=sZpEfqxVvV
s
7
Wing Design
1. Read
background on
wing design
2. Do Avian wing
comparison
3. Do Comparing
different plane
wing designs
●
●
●
Ostrich feather
Turkey feather
Hand outs
http://www.aeronautics.
nasa.gov/
pdf/wing_design_k12.pdf
8
Build a lightweight
airplane wing
1. Watch
inspiration video
https://www.curiosity
machine.org/challenge
s/85/
2. Watch How to
make (under
guide tab)
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Different types of https://www.curiosityma
paper
chine.org/challenges/85/
Tape
plan/
Straws
Sticks
String
Paper clips
Paper cup
Marbles
Small piece of
wood
C-clamp
9
10
Build a straw rocket
Effervescent Rocket
Build: Soda straw
rocket and
collect data on
flight. Have
students
redesign using
different
materials for
rocket
●
1. Make: Students
construct a
rocket powered
by an
effervescent
tablet
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Soda‐ Straw
Template
Pencil
Scissors
Tape
Soda‐ Straw
Construction
paper
Card Stock
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
edu/pdfs/sodastrawrock
et.pdf
Film canisters
tape
scissors
Antacid tablet
Goggles
Construction
paper
http://ae.capmembers.c
om/media/cms/Fizzy_R
ocket_and_Water_Bottl
e_Rocke_4015337FAD
E5C.pdf
11
12
Aileron or No Aileron
Strato Rubber Band
Powered Airplane
1. Do: Have
students label
the parts of a
plane
2. Build a glider
from template.
Test with and
without ailerons
and rudder bend
3. Show youtube
video on flight
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=5ltjFEei3AI
1. Divide the club
into 4 groups
and have each
group make a
glider. Test in
open area
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Glider pattern
Heavyweight
paper
Straw
Tape
Scissors
Paper clip
Stopwatch
Tape measure
Strato Rubber
Band Kit
http://www.nationalmus
eum.af.mil/Portals/7/doc
uments/education/rudde
rs_ailerons_and_elevat
ors_lesson_plan.pdf
https://www.youtube.co
m/watch?v=5ltjFEei3AI