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Unmanned Aircraft Systems Educator Guide

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Cover of “Unmanned Aircraft Systems Educator Guide”

Audience

Educators

Grade Levels

Grades 5-8, Informal Education

Subject

Computer Science, Mathematics, Physical Science, Technology, Geometry, Measurement and Data Analysis, Energy, Flight and Aeronautics, Robotics

Type

Educator Guides, Lesson Plans / Activities

Four standards-aligned activities help students learn about unmanned aircraft systems in NASA’s Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate.

With these activities, students will:

  • Use the engineering design process to design and build a propeller that will generate enough thrust to drive a propeller car.
  • Investigate the impact of mass on the average speed of a propeller car.
  • Learn about the basics of programming while navigating a robotic ball through a maze without hitting any obstacles.
  • Combine graphing, problem-solving, creativity and math skills to simulate navigating a drone from a given starting point to an ending point with the shortest flight path while avoiding obstacles.

Next Generation Science Standards: MS-ETS1-1, MS-PS2-2, MS-PS3-1, MS-ETS1-2
Common Core Math Standards: 6.EE.A.2, 7.EE.B.3, 7.EE.B4, 8.F.A.3, 6.NS.C.6, 6.NS.C.6.B, 6.NS.C.6.C, 8.G.B.8

Unmanned Aircraft System Educator Guide

Unmanned Aircraft System Educator Guide (Spanish Version)

Section Links:
Introductory Pages
Activity One: Propeller Design Challenge
Activity Two: Propelling the Payload With Electric Propulsion
Activity Three: Navigate Your Zone
Activity Four: 3, 2, 1 . . . Lunch!
Appendix

This educator guide is part of the “Next Gen STEM Aeronaut-X” series.

Also in this series: Robotic Search and Rescue Challenge