Teachers' Zone
Using "Flights of Inspiration"

Structure of "Flights of Inspiration" - Finding Your Way Around 

Routes through "Flights of Inspiration" - Suggested Pathways for Teaching and Learning  

Activities in "Flights of Inspiration" - An Index of the Active Learning Materials for Classroom and Home Use 

Structure of "Flights of Inspiration" - Finding Your Way Around 

This page is intended to help you appreciate the structure of the "Flights of Inspiration" website and to discover some of the ways in which you might use this resource. 

The entry screen shows the four main zones of the website. Their contents are summarised here: 
 
Your own flight An introduction for students to the challenge: learn about the forces of flight by making, testing and improving a model aircraft. 

 The forces of flight: a reference section to help students understand lift, drag etc., and how these forces affect flight. With links to activities. 

 Students' reports: a space where students can present the results of their work (and read about other students' investigations). 
First Flight The story of the Wright brothers: with contemporary accounts, images and data; photos of objects from the Franklin Institute collection. Non-practical activities drawing on these pages.
Long Flight The story of Alcock and Brown's transatlantic flight: similar to First Flight, with objects from the Science Museum collection. Non-practical activities drawing on these pages.
Teachers' Zone Supporting material for teachers. You are in the Teachers' Zone now.
 

Routes through "Flights of Inspiration" - Suggested Pathways for Teaching and Learning 

First approach: In this approach, teaching starts from the context of the science. The idea is that a study of early aviation stimulates interest in the science of flight; making and testing models requires students to understand forces and their effects; this understanding then illuminates the great achievements of the scientists and engineers who developed the technology of flight. 

The table indicates the sequence of activities, together with the relevant website zones.
 
1. Teacher discusses with students what they already know about flight.  
2. Teacher tells story of Wright brothers or Alcock and Brown flight. First Flight/Long Flight
3. Pupils find out more via non-practical activities. First Flight/Long Flight
4. Teacher presents challenge; pupils discuss possible criteria for success. Your Own Flight
5. Pupils do practical activities to develop model aircraft. Your Own Flight
6. Pupils refer to forces ideas. Forces of Flight
7. Pupils finalise challenge criteria, test models. Your Own Flight
8. Pupils prepare reports using scientific terminology and suggest extension work. Forces of Flight
9. Pupils/teachers report to website. Your Own Flight, Teachers' Zone
10. Pupils do more technical non-practical activities relating to WB, A+B flights. First Flight/Long Flight
 
Second approach: Here, teaching starts with a consideration of the underlying science. Once students have a grasp of the forces of flight, they go on to use their understanding in making models and studying the work of the early aviators. 
 
1. Teacher discusses with students what they already know about forces.  
2. Pupils study forces ideas, do related practical activities. Forces of Flight
3.Teacher presents challenge; pupils discuss possible criteria for success. Your Own Flight
4. Pupils do practical activities to develop model aircraft. Your Own Flight
5. Pupils finalise challenge criteria, test models. Your Own Flight
6. Pupils prepare reports using scientific terminology and suggest extension work. Forces of Flight
7. Teacher tells story of Wright brothers or Alcock and Brown flight. First Flight/Long Flight
8. Pupils find out more via non-practical activities. First Flight/Long Flight
9. Pupils/teachers report to website. Your Own Flight, Teachers' Zone
 

Activities in "Flights of Inspiration" - An Index of the Active Learning Materials for Classroom and Home Use 

You will find links to activities at many points within "Flights of Inspiration." Some are practical, others are non-practical. A few require students to have direct access to the website, but most can be done off-line. 

The titles of activities are intended to be self- explanatory. The activities have been written in a concise form; many could form the basis of extended investigations. 

The activities are listed below, with links to allow you to have a look at any which you think may be of interest. Each activity has accompanying notes for teachers - follow the link in the list below or from the activity itself. 

Activities in Your Own Flight 
 
The Challenge to You Setting the scene and suggestions for models to develop and test. 
Activities in Forces of Flight
Blowing on Paper Simple practical activity, with ideas to discuss. 
Teachers' notes
Investigating an Aerofoil Shape Simple practical activity - blowing air across an aerofoil. 
Teachers' notes
Make Your Own Helicopter Practical activity with opportunities for varying parameters. 
Teachers' notes
Swimming and Diving Ideas to discuss about propelling yourself through water. 
Teachers' notes
Thinking about Weight and Gravity Ideas to discuss - living with and without gravity. 
Teachers' notes
Make Your Own Hot Air Balloon Simple practical activity - making a balloon from a plastic bag. 
Teachers' notes
Weighing In and Out of Water Materials that float and sink; measuring forces and deducing upthrust. 
Teachers' notes
Fast Fall, Slow Fall Investigating ways of increasing and decreasing drag. 
Teachers' notes
Seed Models An investigation of model wind-dispersed seeds. 
Teachers' notes
Ideas in the Bath Ideas to discuss, to develop students' thinking about drag. 
Teachers' notes
Falling through Water A choice of two practical activities. 
Teachers' notes

Activities related to First Flight and Long Flight
Compare the Flights Students compare the achievements of the Wrights and Alcock and Brown. 
Teachers' notes
Compare the Aircraft Comparing data for the two aircraft. 
Teachers' notes
Flying through History A timeline exercise to show the development of flight. 
Teachers' notes
High Speed Crossing Analysing data about Alcock and Brown's flight. 
Teachers' notes
5 Minutes to Cross the Atlantic Students act out Alcock and Brown's flight in five minutes. 
Teachers' notes
Flight Log Data comparisons. 
Teachers' notes

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