Audience
Educators
Grade Levels
Grades 5-8
Subject
Physical Science, Flight and Aeronautics, Forces and Motion
Type
Educator Guides, Hands-on Activities
Wind Tunnels Educator Guide
In this lesson, students use what they know about the four forces of flight to participate in an engineering design challenge to design, build, and test a model plane in a simple wind tunnel made from a long cardboard box and fan. They will be asked to evaluate their final design and that the designs of their classmates, and then present their final design to the class.
Materials
For the Wind Tunnel:
• Long rectangular cardboard box with the ends removed
• Small portable fan
• Tape
• Ruler
• Box cutter (optional)
• Saran wrap or other clear plastic (optional)
For the Aircraft Models:
• Tape
• Cardstock/cardboard
• Paperclips
• Scissors
• Cardboard tube (from toilet paper roll or paper towel roll)
• Popsicle sticks
• Foil
• Toothpicks
During the Activity
• Student handout(s)
• Scrap paper (optional)
• Timer/watch/smartphone