DIY Homeschooler

It is windy spring.  What better time to learn about flight! “Take Flight With Science!” is a unit study by Rick and Michelle Eichhorn that originally appeared in The Old Schoolhouse magazine.

You’ll learn about the history of flight through the following topics:

• Kites in China.
• Leonardo da Vinci and his interest in aerodynamics, birds, and flying machines.
• Isaac Newton and his three laws of motion.
• Hot-air balloons.
• George Cayley’s monoplane glider — a study of lift and drag.
• Orville and Wilber Wright’s contributions.
• Robert Goddard and rocketry.
• Space travel.

Scattered throughout are accompanying activities such as observing birds, viewing da Vinci’s sketches, creating a ornithopter wing and a hot-air balloon, making various paper airplanes, building a spaceship model and an aerofoil-shaped wing.

Some of the activities referred to are no longer available, but we have provided alternatives below.

This is a great unit for those ready to investigate flight — and it’s free!

Updated Links

Paper Spinner Directions
Template for cutting out a spiral that will move above the candle flame.

Anatomy of a Hot Air Balloon
Helpful information.

Spot the Station
Find out from NASA when you can view the Space Station from your location.

Scaled Composites SpaceShipOne
Printables to help you assemble a scaled model.

Green Aviation | General Aviation (archived)
Photos of planes through history.

American Helicopter Museum Photos
Photos and descriptions.

Cradle of Aviation Museum
40-page educator guide.

Aerodynamics
Eleven different units and activities studying the science and history of flight from the Yale-New Haven Teacher’s Institute. For each entry, you will want to click the link at the left.

Fun and Wonderful Kites {Free Unit Study}
Activities, books, and other helps.

Gizmos and Gadgets by Jill Frankel Hauser
A big hit in our home for years, this Williamson Kids Can! book takes ordinary household items and turns them into hours of hands-on fun!

Make a Balloon Rocket
One {fun} way to investigate Newton’s laws of motion!

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Additional Resources

Mysterious Flight
40-page download from Innovative Classroom that tracks nicely with the free unit.

Flight Lesson Plans
Six coordinating ideas from Science for Kids.

The History and Physics of Flight
76-page download from the Minnesota Department of Transportation where students create a timeline of flight while covering airplane terminology, balloons, air pressure, jet engines, and rockets.

Flight Adventures Unit Study {Free}
Another option.