Setting up the Activity in your Classroom:
Depending on the grade level and maturity level of each class,
activities can be facilitated as independent work, collaborative
group work, or whole class instruction.
If a computer is available for each student, guide students to
the activities either through printed URLs on handouts or on the
board.
If you are working in a lab, set up the computers to be on the
desired Web site as students walk into class. If there are fewer
computers than students, group the students by reading level.
Assign each student a role: a "driver" who navigates
the web, a timer who keeps the group on task, and a note taker.
If there are more than three students per computer, you can add
roles like a team leader, a team reporter, etc.
If you are working in a learning station in your classroom, break
out your class into different groups. Have rotating groups working
on the computer (s), reading printed background information, holding
smaller group discussions, writing first drafts of their articles
offline, etc. Details described further in the Teaching sections.
It would be helpful to create a large master timeline in the
classroom, beginning in 1900 with the Wright brothers and continuing
to today. As you discuss each activity in 100 Years of Flight,
add important dates and events to the timeline to keep your students
oriented.
You may also want to create a special display for your classroom
library in honor of 100 Years of Flight. Check out our Recommended
Booklist for suggested print materials. Include room for the
articles that your students will create through the activity.
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Stimulate Background Knowledge with these
related links:
Wright Brothers National Memorial
http://www.nps.gov/wrbr/indepth/brochure.htm
This National Park Service Site includes pictures of the Wright
brothers, biographical information, a timeline, as well as a detailed
description of the principles of flight.
Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company and Museum of Pioneer Aviation
http://www.first-to-fly.com/
This virtual museum includes lots of information about the Wright
brothers' lives and experiments, as well as a virtual hanger of
their airplanes. They also have a special "Help with Homework"
section for students doing projects on the Wright brothers.
National Geographic Kids Magazine: Amelia Earhart Mystery
http://www.nationalgeographic.com/ngkids/9612/hart/
Students read the story of Amelia Earhart's life and her mysterious
disappearance and then can vote on what they believe happened
to her. Afterwards they find out how their answer compares to
other students'.
NASA – Kids
http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forkids/home/index.html
This enormous website from NASA contains games and activities
about space, space exploration, becoming an astronaut, building
your own plane, and much more.
Off to a Flying Start – Parts of a Plane
http://www.avkids.com/hangar/smartparts/
This website allows students to learn about the parts of an airplane
by piecing together their own! A simple, fun and educational activity.
Science Fun with Airplanes
http://www.ag.ohio-state.edu/~flight/homepage.html
This website from Ohio State University teaches students about
air, flight, and controlling an airplane through interactive games.
TIME.com celebrates 100 Years of Flight
http://www.time.com/time/2003/flight/
This Time Magazine website looks back at famous pilots as well
as groundbreaking aircraft from 100 years of flight.
Plane Math Activities
http://www.planemath.com/activities/pmactivities4.html
This kid-friendly site teaches about the math and physics of flight
through games and puzzles.
How Airplanes Work
http://science.howstuffworks.com/airplane.htm
These in-depth articles go through the aerodynamics and theory
of flying as well as a look at the different parts of a standard
airplane.
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Graphic Organizer:
Venn diagram: Grades 3–8
This Venn
diagram can compare and contrast different people discussed
in 100 Years of Flight. Students can organize the personality
qualities, skills, or challenges shared between different pilots like the
Wright brothers, Amelia Earhart, and astronauts exploring space.
See Assessment and Evaluation.
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