7-step lesson plan

aerospace engineering  week 3 lesson plan

I.

Identification

  • Module: Aerospace Engineering
  • Lesson Title: Forces, controls and aircraft systems
  • Duration: Five hours
  • Author: John R. Hull
  • Date: Feb 1, 2001
    •

II.

Academic Content Standards

  • CA Physics 1,2,3,5
  • CA Algebra I 1,13, 15
  • CA Engineering Technology 2,3,4,6
  • CA Drafting Technology 1,2
  • CA Language Arts Reading 1,2; Listening/Speaking 1
  • SCANS 3,4,6,7
    •

III.

Preparation

  • Airplane construction materials from plain paper to simple wood models to more sophisticated kits. (Sources under investigation. Simple balsa gliders available at most toy stores or hobby stores for about a $1.00)
IV.

Lesson Objectives

  • To understand the fundamental theories, scientific principles, language and techniques concerning the science of flight
  • To promote an understanding of the practical application of aerodynamics.
  • Forces of flight (forces, vectors, resultants)
  • Flight controls (Newton's Laws, action-reaction)
  • Understand how aircraft fly and demonstrate the forces and moments acting on an aircraft in flight.
  • Be familiar with different technology for aerospace propulsion and flight control.
  • Build flying models of aircraft and rockets to demonstrate principles of propulsion and flight control.
    •

V.

Delivery (Teaching Strategies)

  • Show films of flying and maneuvers. Use aerial demonstration teams, FAA and NASA film series. Some can be overly long, so best preview and bookmark sections that are best.
  • Consider bringing in a licensed pilot to explain how an airplane flies
  • Consider field trip to airport or flight training facility, ride a simulator
  • Use flight simulator software in class
  • Present PowerPoint slides with guided discussion. Useful to have a model aircraft visual aid Alternatively. Use slides on line from NASA Glen Research center (resources)
  • Alternatively. Use slides on line from NASA Glen Research center (resources)
    •

VI.

Guided Practice

  • Explore activities that illustrate concepts and definitions
  • Construct and fly model gliders (with movable flight controls or with careful "wing warping," just like the Wright Brothers controlled their airplane)
  • Make a contest out of the experiment flights, judging, for example, height, distance, time, flight manuevers (rolls, loops, stalls).
    •

VII.

Evaluation

  • Required for academic credibility, accreditation and learning
  • Evaluate against lesson objectives and standards
  • Authentic assessment is the buzz word; multiple guess may be suspect
  • Reports, speeches, group activities, journals, project judging all work
  • Constantly evaluate SCANS and literacy skills in all lessons
VIII. Resources