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Aeronautics Extra
06.29.06
What's an "Extra"? Every month NASA compiles a list of educational resources related to a NASA theme. Visit each month to find new educational materials, classroom activities, games, pictures, NASA TV broadcasts and Web sites.

The theme for July 2006 is "Aeronautics." In 1915, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, or NACA, was formed to respond to the United States' critical need to learn everything it could, as fast as it could, about the science of flight. Through two world wars, NACA research contributed to the design of every U.S. aircraft of the time -- commercial and military. In 1958, NACA formed the core of a new agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Explore this month's theme with the resources listed below and learn about NASA's contributions to aircraft design.

The X-31, F-15 ACTIVE, SR-71, F-106, F-16XL Ship 2, X-38, and X-36 aircraft sit on a ramp at NASA Dryden Flight Research Center
NASA TV Education Schedule
During the week of July 17-23, 2006, programs about aeronautics will be featured on NASA TV. Check the schedule for titles and descriptions of the broadcasts.
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Image to right: A collection of NASA's research aircraft sit on the ramp at the Dryden Flight Research Center. Credit: NASA

NASA Educational Products

Cover of the Aeronautics guide showing a collage of different types of aircrafts Aeronautics Educator Guide
Try these fun and simple activities about flight for grades 2-4.
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Cover of guide showing Wilbur and Orville Wright walking Learning to Fly: The Wright Brothers' Adventure
This NASA educator guide has excellent background information about Wilbur and Orville Wright. The guide contains student activity pages and templates for building the 1900, 1901 and 1902 Gliders and the 1903 Flyer.
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The front cover of the Exploring the Extreme Educator Guide with an image of an airplane on it Exploring the Extreme Educator Guide
Teach the basics of aeronautics through hands-on involvement, prediction, data collection and interpretation.
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Front of poster showing a drawing of the Wrights' 1902 glider 1902 Glider Poster
This poster describes the steps the Wright brothers took that led to the development of the 1902 Glider.
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Cover of poster showing Wright brothers superimposed over blueprints The Wright Way: Innovation Through Engineering Poster
Encourage students to learn about the history of aviation and aerospace with the activities on this poster.
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Cover of poster with a photo of the Wright brothers and other pictures relating to flight The Wright Way: The Process of Invention Poster
Track the early accomplishments of the Wright brothers with the timeline and activities on this poster.
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The front cover of the X-Glider educational brief that shows how to build a glider X-Gliders
In this activity, students will build a glider, learn how to change its flight characteristics and conduct an experiment to answer a question.
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The front cover of the Space Shuttle Glider Educational Brief that shows a drawing of a space shuttle Space Shuttle Glider
Assemble a basic scale model of the space shuttle as a hands-on activity. The activity features math-related concepts such as finding the scale of the paper model and the glide ratio of its flight.
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The front cover of the X1 Glider Kit X-1 Paper Glider Kit
Investigate the basics of flight by constructing this paper model of the first supersonic aircraft.
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The front cover of the 757 Glider Kit 757 Glider Kit
Take these problem-solving challenges and build a paper glider model of a 757.
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NASA Educational Multimedia Materials

Picture of CD, tape, slides and guides
The Central Operation of Resources for Educators, or CORE, is the worldwide distribution center for NASA-produced multimedia materials. Education Modules for themes are bundled by topic and may include CD-ROMs, videotapes, educator guides, posters, lithographs, books, lesson plans, bookmarks, fact sheets, slide sets and activity kits.

Image to right: NASA develops multimedia resources for educators.

Module Spotlight:

History of Flight: Module A
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History of Flight: Sight-Impaired Module B
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History of Flight: Centennial Edition Module C
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Exploring the Extreme -- Aeronautics Bulletin Board
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Exploring Aeronautics
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Flight Testing Newton's Laws
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Search words for CORE materials: aeronautics

CORE
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Follow the Theme -- Activities, Adventures and Web Sites of Interest

Psychodelic airplane flying in a blue sky with stars Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate
Today NASA's aeronautics efforts are directed toward transforming our nation's air transportation system, and developing the knowledge, tools, and technologies to support future air and space vehicles.
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The words FlyBy Math above an illustration of a man Smart Skies Fly by Math
Students assume the roles of pilots, air traffic controllers and NASA scientists to conduct an experiment and to use guided paper-and-pencil activities to determine the number of seconds it takes each plane to travel a given distance along a jet route.
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Graphic of an airplane The Beginner's Guide to Aeronautics
What force lifts the airplane off the runway? How does a pilot control the movement of the airplane? The information from NASA Glenn's Educational Programs Office explains all of this and more in this Web site that describes how aircraft work.
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A green robot standing next to the words Kid's Page Ultra-Efficient Engine Technology Program
The Ultra-Efficient Engine Technology Program, known by its abbreviation UEET, is a NASA program working to develop a new generation of cleaner, high-performance aircraft. A section of the Web site has an educational focus.
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Robin Whirlybird and a Rotorcraft Robin Whirlybird on Her Rotorcraft Adventures
This interactive, online storybook uses Robin Whirlybird to engage young students in science, while strengthening their language and vocabulary skills.
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Drawing of two kids standing by a Future Flight Design sign and an airplane

Future Flight Design
This interactive, Web- and problem-based learning environment where middle school students learn about forces of flight, and design air transportation and aircraft systems of the future.
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Wings Over Mars
This interactive Web site introduces the concept of planetary flight on Mars. The site includes background videos and animations about the engineering challenges of developing an airborne Mars explorer.
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Virtual Skies
Explore the world of air traffic management, and learn more about NASA research in aviation operations systems and aviation safety.
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NASA's Destination Tomorrow™
These 30-minute educational programs focus on NASA research and include new technologies, advanced aerodynamics, past achievements and medical breakthroughs. Each exciting program gives the audience an inside look at NASA and demonstrates how research and technology relate to everyday live.
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Videos showcased in the July 2006 Education File Schedule to support "Aeronautics" are:
Aeronautical Oddities (7-Adult)
Destination Tomorrow™ Two (9-Adult)
Destination Tomorrow™ Three (9-Adult)
Destination Tomorrow™ Seven (9-Adult)
Destination Tomorrow™ Eight (9-Adult)
Destination Tomorrow™ Twelve (9-Adult)
Destination Tomorrow™ Nineteen (9-Adult)
NASA CONNECT™: Geometry and Algebra: The Future Flight Equation (6-8)
NASA CONNECT™: Measurement, Ratios and Graphing: 3, 2, 1 ... Crash! (5-8)
NASA CONNECT™: Rocket to the Stars (6-8)
NASA CONNECT™: The Centennial of Flight Special Edition: Problem Solving: The "Wright" Math (6-8)
NASA SCIence Files™: The Case of the Challenging Flight (3-5)
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Additional Resources

Aeronautics Multimedia
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World Book @ NASA: Aviation
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How Do Airplanes Fly?
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NASA Kids' Club
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Aeronautics Student Competitions
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