Make a Model of a Wright Flyer

Teaching Theme of the Week

by Gary Hopkins, Editor-in-Chief, Education World®

Create a model of the Wright brothers' engine-powered glider.

Subjects: Art, Math, Science, Social Studies

Grade Levels: 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Objectives
Students will:

• follow directions accurately,
• learn about the Wright brothers' engine-powered glider.

Keywords
Wright brothers, aviation, glider, plane, airplane, transportation

Materials Needed

• Styrofoam® -- one meat tray or two egg cartons per student
• carbon paper
• wooden toothpicks
• a dime
• scissors
• tape
• white glue

Procedure

BEFORE THE LESSON
Before the lesson, you will want to create a pattern for students to trace. Use the following resource for the pattern:

• Styrofoam Wright Flyer, 1903

THE LESSON
Introduce students to the engine-powered glider that flew 120 feet in 12 seconds on December 17, 1903. You might share a biography from the school or public library collection. You might also present the following resources/information:

• 1903 Wright Flyer
• Milestones of Flight: Wright Flyer 1903
• In Depth: The 1903 Flyer
• Wright Photos 1

Next, provide students with the pattern you have prepared based on the design at Styrofoam Wright Flyer, 1903. Students will use carbon paper or a sharp pencil to trace onto the Styrofoam the pattern of the flyer.

Then follow the assembly/gluing instructions provided at Styrofoam Wright Flyer, 1903.

Finally, when the glue has completely dried, students can gently fly their model 1903 flyers, "nice and low like Wilbur and Orville did in 1903."

Assessment
How well did students follow instructions? Have students write a brief paragraph explaining some of the important things they know about the Wright Brothers' flight on December 17, 1903.

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