NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Cover of "Learning to Fly: The Wright Brothers' Adventure" educator guide

This NASA educational publication is a guide for educators and students with activities in aeronautics. It is designed for grades 6-9 and is an excellent resource for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the famous flight by the Wright Brothers that occurred on December 17, 1903.

This guide has it all. There are 23 classroom activities that are tied to National Science Standards and National Mathematics Standards. The introduction provides a brief overview of Wilbur and Orville Wright and circumstances surrounding their invention process.

The guide takes you on a journey through the development of the Wright gliders and airplanes with a series of writing activities based on research-oriented material. Students are challenged to assume the identity of a reporter from the Dayton Daily News in the early 1900s and create interview questions for the Wright brothers. Other writing activities follow with emphasis on design and testing.

Constructing models with basic supplies

The exciting conclusion in the guide is the challenge to construct models of the Wright inventions. Excellent templates and instructions are included for the 1900, 1901, 1902 Gliders and the 1903 Flyer. Construction materials include Styrofoam meat trays, toothpicks, glue, scissors, cardboard, rulers, markers and basic classroom supplies.

This guide was produced by the NASA Glenn Research Center Office of Educational Programs in Cleveland, Ohio, and the NASA Aerospace Educational Coordinating Committee.

Learning to Fly: The Wright Brothers' Invention Guide
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