You will use this hands-on activity to help elementary students learn about the forces of flight.
To engage students with flight and airplane design, you will explain the four forces of flight and discuss modifications engineers make when designing aircraft that are used for different purposes. Students will fold 3 different paper airplanes using templates, test them and modify the weight or design of each aircraft to change the planes' speed and flight distance.
In the media carousel above you will find video tutorials for paper airplane templates #1-3. Preview these to prepare for instructing students on folding the paper airplanes. You may also download the tutorials to share with the teacher or students. You will also find the Build the Future introduction video, the PowerPoint presentation and the Engineer Guide.
To prepare for your classroom visit, about two weeks in advance, review the information in the Engineer Guide and the materials provided for this activity.
accompany
Verb
to join with someone or something.
adjust
Verb
to change or modify something to fit with something else.
advocate
Noun
person who speaks, writes, or otherwise supports a person, idea, or cause.
ambassador
Noun
person who represents a place, organization, or idea.
audition
Verb
trial or test performance given to a performer to judge their performance.
cast
Verb
to hire actors for a film or play.
chacham
Noun
Hebrew form of address for a respected and educated man.
cherish
Verb
to love tenderly and protectively.
Christian
Noun
people and culture focused on the teachings of Jesus and his followers.
communicate
Verb
to exchange knowledge, thoughts, or feelings.
conflict
Noun
a disagreement or fight, usually over ideas or procedures.
documentary
Noun
non-fiction film.
Easter
Noun
most important celebration in the Christian religion, marking the day when the deity Jesus rose from the dead.
embassy
Noun
residence of an ambassador or place where representatives of a nation conduct business in another country.
encourage
Verb
to inspire or support a person or idea.
enormous
Adjective
very large.
eventually
Adverb
at some point in the future.
fascinate
Verb
to cause an interest in.
fast
Verb
to not eat.
genetic engineer
Noun
scientist who manipulates genetic material in order to alter the hereditary traits of a cell, organism, or population.
hesitate
Verb
to delay making or acting on a decision because of fear or unwillingness.
illuminate
Verb
to shine light on.
imam
Noun
leader of prayer in a mosque.
impromptu
Adjective
unscheduled, unprepared, or improvised.
initial
Adjective
first.
interior
Noun
internal or inland.
Jewish
Adjective
having to do with the religion or culture of people tracing their ancestry to the ancient Middle East and the spiritual leaders Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Kotel
Noun
stone wall on the western side of the Temple Mount in the Old City of Jerusalem, Israel, held sacred by Jews as a site of prayer and pilgrimage. Also called the Western Wall or Wailing Wall.
market
Noun
central place for the sale of goods.
marketing
Noun
art and science of selling a product.
minimal
Adjective
the lowest or least.
muezzin
Noun
official who calls faithful Muslims to prayer from the minaret or other elevated part in a mosque.
Muslim
Adjective
having to do with Islam, the religion based on the words and philosophy of the prophet Mohammed.
neurologist
Noun
physician or scientist who studies the anatomy, physiology and diseases of the brain and nervous system.
Old City
Noun
walled, UNESCO World Heritage Site within the modern city of Jerusalem, Israel, consisting of four quarters: the Muslim Quarter, the Christian Quarter, the Jewish Quarter and the Armenian Quarter.
opportunity
Noun
chance.
oppress
Verb
to unjustly discriminate against, torment, or persecute.
participate
Verb
to take part in an activity.
perspective
Noun
point of view or way of looking at a situation.
political science
Noun
study of political systems and the structure and conduct of governments.
prayer
Noun
communication with a spiritual deity.
priest
Noun
title of religious leader in many faiths.
privilege
Noun
benefit or special right.
public relations (PR)
Noun
the art, science, and business of promoting an organization, person, or event.
rabbi
Noun
leading religious official of a Jewish synagogue.
Ramadan
Noun
ninth month in the Muslim calendar, when Muslims fast during daylight hours.
regardless
Adverb
anyway, or in spite of something.
religion
Noun
a system of spiritual or supernatural belief.
sepulchre
Noun
burial vault or tomb. Also spelled sepulcher.
Shabbat
Noun
Jewish sabbath, observed on Saturday.
shoot
Verb
to photograph or film.
shuk
Noun
open-air marketplace common throughout the Middle East and North Africa. Also called a sook.
spice
Noun
tasty and aromatic plant substances used in cooking.
stereotype
Noun
a general characteristic associated with a group of people.
tension
Noun
uncomfortable relationship between two people or groups.
tolerance
Noun
fair and respectful attitude toward others and their way of life.
Noun
beliefs, customs, and cultural characteristics handed down from one generation to the next.
vendor
Noun
someone who sells something.
vibrant
Adjective
lively.