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Subjects
Grade
Brief Description
Create a model of the Wright brothers' engine-powered glider.
Objectives
Students will
Keywords
Wright brothers, aviation, glider, plane, airplane, transportation
Lesson Plan
Before the Lesson
Before the lesson, you will want to create a pattern for students to trace. Use the following resource for the pattern:
Styrofoam Wright Flyer, 1903
The Lesson
Introduce students to the engine-powered glider that flew 120 feet in 12 seconds on December 17, 1903. You might share a biography from the school or public library collection. You might also present the following resources/information:
Next, provide students with the pattern you have prepared based on the design at Styrofoam Wright Flyer, 1903. Students will use carbon paper or a sharp pencil to trace onto the Styrofoam the pattern of the flyer.
Then follow the assembly/gluing instructions provided at Styrofoam Wright Flyer, 1903.
Finally, when the glue has completely dried, students can gently fly their model 1903 flyers, "nice and low like Wilbur and Orville did in 1903."
Assessment
How well did students follow instructions? Have students write a brief paragraph explaining some of the important things they know about the Wright Brothers' flight on December 17, 1903.
Lesson Plan Source
Education World (with a resource from the FAA)
Submitted By
Gary Hopkins
National Standards
FINE ARTS: Visual Arts
GRADES K - 4
NA-VA.K-4.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques,
and Processes
NA-VA.K-4.5 Reflecting Upon and Assessing the Characteristics
and Merits of Their Work and the Work of Others
NA-VA.K-4.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and
Other Disciplines
GRADES 5 - 8
NA-VA.5-8.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques,
and Processes
NA-VA.5-8.5 Reflecting Upon and Assessing the Characteristics
and Merits of Their Work and the Work of Others
NA-VA.5-8.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts and
Other Disciplines
GRADES 9 - 12
NA-VA.9-12.1 Understanding and Applying Media, Techniques,
and Processes
NA-VA.9-12.5 Reflecting Upon and Assessing the Characteristics
and Merits of Their Work and the Work of Others
NA-VA.9-12.6 Making Connections Between Visual Arts
and Other Disciplines
LANGUAGE ARTS: English
NL-ENG.K-12.12 Applying Language Skills
MATHEMATICS: Geometry
GRADES 3 - 5
NM-GEO.3-5.4 Use Visualization, Spatial Reasoning, and Geometric
Modeling to Solve Problems
GRADES 6 - 8
NM-GEO.6-8.4 Use Visualization, Spatial Reasoning, and Geometric
Modeling to Solve Problems
GRADES 9 - 12
NM-GEO.9-12.4 Use Visualization, Spatial Reasoning, and
Geometric Modeling to Solve Problems
SCIENCE
GRADES K - 4
NS.K-4.2 Physical Science
NS.K-4.4 Earth and Space Science
NS.K-4.7 History and Nature of Science
GRADES 5 - 8
NS.5-8.2 Physical Science
NS.5-8.4 Earth and Space Science
NS.5-8.7 History and Nature of Science
GRADES 9 - 12
NS.9-12.2 Physical Science
NS.9-12.4 Earth and Space Science
NS.9-12.7 History and Nature of Science
SOCIAL SCIENCES: U.S. History
GRADES 5 - 12
NSS-USH.5-12.6 Era 6: The Development of the Industrial
United States (1870-1900)
NSS-USH.5-12.7 Era 7: The Emergence of Modern America
(1890-1930)
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