Gold Seal Lesson:
Flight Of An Airplane

Copernicus Education Gateway

 

Subject:

Science

Grade:

 

 

K-4

 

 

ICLE Standards:

 

 

Science as Inquiry: Understand about scientific inquiry.

Physical Science: Develop an understanding of motion of objects.

Science and Technology: Develop abilities of technological design.

Measurement: Develop the process of measuring and concepts related to units of measure

 

 

Performance Task:

 

 

The attached Instructions were written and copyrighted by Michael Grater in 1980. All rights reserved under Pan American and International Copyright Conventions. The article was published in Canada by General Publishing Company, Lt., 30 Lesmill Road.

In this task you will construct a paper airplane and predict how far the plane will fly using different variables. Using the Instructions, cut out and construct one of the planes, following the directions. You should make your airplane model out of sturdy paper and/or tag board. Consider how the following variables will affect the flight distance of the plane and predict what will happen when you introduce the variables:

  1. direction of wing flaps
  2. weight of the aircraft
  3. flight into wind and away from wind

Record your predictions in your science journal. Determine how you will change your model using each of the required variables. Fly your model, both without and with these modifications. This should be done outside, not in the classroom. Measure and record the distance of each flight of your plane. Compare your findings to your predictions. Write a brief, but thorough, explanation of your experiment in your science journal.

Note to the teacher: The student system of measurement depends on grade level. For example, lower grade students may use nonstandard measurements while upper level classes will use standard units. Follow directions to construct airplane models

 

 

Knowledge / Skills:

 

 

Plan and apply real or hypothetical models and constructions to facilitate investigation and learning and the solution to practical problems. (s115)

Measure properties of the environment using dimensional quantities such as time, length, mass, pressure, volume, acceleration, etc. Compare quantities and consider the error involved with measuring environmental properties.  (s23)

Use writing as a tool for learning in formats such as learning logs, laboratory reports, note-taking, and journals.  (ela40)

 

 

Rubric:

 

 

4 Points  =  The student carefully constructs a model that is capable of flight. He/she worked independently. The student made clear predictions as to what would happen to the flight distance when each of the variables was introduced. The student was able to modify his/her model to accommodate the variables. The student made accurate measurements for each flight of the model plane. His/her work was well designed and organized. The journal entry was complete and clear.

 

 

3 Points  =  The student needed some coaching, but was able to construct a good model capable of flight. He/she had some difficulty making predictions as to what would happen to the flight distance when each of the variables was introduced. The student needed help in developing modifications of the model accommodating the given variables. The student made fairly accurate measurements. His/ her work was fairly well designed and organized. The journal entry was complete, but not clearly written.

 

 

2 Points  =  The student model was not accurately constructed, but it was capable of flight. He/she needed much coaching with all parts of the task, having difficulty with the variables, making predictions, and measuring flight distances. The student's work was not well designed nor well organized. The journal entry was incomplete and difficult to follow.

 

 

1 Point  =  The student was unable to complete the task. His/her initial model was not capable of flight, causing the rest of the inquiry to be meaningless. The student does not have an understanding of the principles of flight and made no meaningful journal entry.

 

 

Keywords:

 

 

PHYSICS
AERODYNAMICS
MODELS AND CONSTRUCTIONS
MEASUREMENT    
WRITING
JOURNALS

 

 

Grades:

 

 

Kg [X] - 1 [X] - 2 [X] - 3 [X] - 4 [X] - 5 [] - 6 [] - 7 [] - 8 [] - 9 [] - 10 [] - 11 [] - 12 []

 

 

ICLE Application:

 

 

D

 

 

 

 

 

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