NEA: Lesson Ideas
Lesson Ideas
- Make a Model of a Wright Flyer
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.
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Get Started »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, transportationMaterials 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.Copyright © 2007, EducationWorld.com, used by permission
- Colorful Stained-Glass Candleholder
Colorful Stained-Glass Candleholder
Teaching Theme of the Week
by Gary Hopkins, Editor-in-Chief, Education World®Students create a colorful candleholder -- a bright gift for a family member, neighbor, or friend!
More Holiday Resources
Lesson plans, activity ideas, Web sites and more — all in recognition of December's many holidays.
Holiday Resources »Subjects: Arts & Literature, Social Studies
Grade Levels: PreK-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12
Objectives
Students will:- follow directions to create a colorful candleholder; and,
- wrap and present the candleholder as a gift to a family member, neighbor, or friend.
Keywords
candle, light, stained glass, candle, DecemberMaterials Needed
- baby food jars or other small jars, one per student
- bright-colored tissue paper
- liquid starch (or white glue mixed with equal parts of water)
- paint brush or cotton swab
Procedure
In this lesson, students create a colorful candleholder -- a bright holiday gift for a family member, neighbor, or friend!In the days leading up to this activity, have students bring in small jars and bottles big enough to hold votive or tea candles. When you are ready to begin the activity, distribute one jar to each student. Demonstrate how to make a colorful, stained-glass-look, candleholder by cutting or tearing brightly colored tissue paper into little shapes, both squares and uneven shapes. Dip a paintbrush into liquid starch mixed according to package directions. Brush starch onto one of the shapes and apply it to the jar. Continue until about 20 small tissue shapes have been applied to the jar. Then brush a coat of starch over the entire area. Continue adding tissue shapes, one section of the jar at a time, until the jar is completely covered. Emphasize to students that if care is taken the result will be impressive. A rushed and sloppy job will look just that way when it is completed.
Notes: Students might apply the starch/glue using cotton swabs instead of paintbrushes. A well stirred mixture of ВЅ white glue and ВЅ water can be used as a substitute for liquid starch.
Insert a votive candle or tea light into the jar and show students how the jar will look when candlelight shines through the colored tissue paper.
When the project is done, the teacher or school custodian might take the jars outside to spray them with a coat of clear lacquer, shellac, or varnish to protect the tissue-paper surface.
Assessment
Did students take care and exhibit patience so the finished product looks neat, not sloppy?Copyright © 2007, EducationWorld.com, used by permission
- Holiday Lessons & Resources
Holiday Lessons & Resources
Make the Best of the Holidays -- in the Classroom and at Home
Over the years we've been able to offer over a dozen lesson plans, activity ideas and other curriculum resources — plus some sound financial advice from NEA Member Benefits — in recognition of December's many holidays. Here, we present them in one, easy-to-find place.
Lesson Plans & Activities Ideas
NEA Today "Gif-A-Rama"
(November 2005)
The best — and worst! — holiday gifts from students. Plus stories from your colleagues.
Read More » - Colorful Stained-Glass Candleholder
Students create a colorful candleholder -- a bright gift for a family member, neighbor, or friend!
- Make and Shake a Snow Globe
In this activity for all grade levels, students make a holiday or seasonal snow globe to give as a gift.
- How Many Ways Can You Say Merry Christmas?
In this activity for all grade levels, students create a multicultural holiday bulletin board map.
- Will There Be a White Christmas This Year?
Students use historical weather data to create a color contour map.
- December Concentration Game
Build memory and attention-to-detail skills as students play this seasonal adaptation of the classic Concentration game.
- Happy Holidays from A Class Full of Angels
This "Happy Holidays from a Class Full of Angels" bulletin board is sure to generate smiles!
- Counting Christmas Trees
Students answer questions about a simple line graph that shows total Christmas tree sales from 1993 to 2000.
- On the First Day of Christmas, My Teacher Gave to Me...
"On the first day of Christmas my teacher gave to me..." plus more "Twelve Days of Christmas" activities.
- Moore vs. Livingston: Who Really Wrote "The Night Before Christmas"
Who was the real author of "The Night Before Christmas"? Students take a look at the facts and then decide.
- History of Toys and Games
Students create a timeline to illustrate when popular toys were first introduced.
- Unwrapping Reading
Gues