MATH: Return to Top Grade Level:Beginning BIRD WINGS: There are 5 birds with brightly colored wings. Question One: How many wings will there be altogether for the 5 birds? Question Two: If three of the birds fly away, how many birds will be left? Question Three: If the 5 birds fly and join 6 other birds in the hill country, how many birds will there be altogether? THE WINGS OF AIRPLANES: Did you know that when an airplane flies that the wings move up and down very gently? In a wind tunnel, the wings can actually be made to flap much like a bird's. You wouldn't think that would be the case since they are made out of metal. But the wings move up and down! If there are 3 airplanes at the airport landing strip waiting to take off and 3 more airplanes land before the waiting planes take off, how many wings will there be for all the airplanes on the ground? THE LIFT PRODUCED: The size of the wing of a bird is one of the things that determines how much lift is produced by the bird in flight. If two birds take off at the same time and one of the birds has a larger wing size, it will arrive at their destination first. If the first bird arrives at their destination at 9 o'clock and the second bird arrives one hour later, what will be the time when the second bird arrives? Grade Level: Intermediate A MAN'S ARM: A bird's wing is very similar in structure to a man's arm. Man has 29 bones and most birds have 11. Man's hand is very complex, containing all but three of the bones. A bird's hand bones are much longer, fused together, and much simpler. With fewer bones, there are fewer joints, so fewer movements are possible. It is this rigidity that makes the wing so strong. It is the 'hand' section of the wing that produces the power to propel the bird through the air. The fusing of the bones keeps the wing tip in proper alignment with the rest of the wing. If there are 29 birds, how many bones in their wings will there be in total for the 29 birds? THE WING SHAPE: Feathers give the wing of the bird its shape and there is a direct correlation between form and function. Birds who fly fast in open air have long, narrow wings. They have difficulty taking off, but can stay in the air indefinitely, once airborne. If a bird flying south for the winter flaps its wings 60 times an hour in calm weather and 100 times in rough weather, how many flaps will there be altogether when there are 6 hours of calm weather and 3 hours of rough weather? WOODLAND BIRDS: Woodland birds must fly slowly to maneuver between branches and trees, as well as take off frequently. They have short, broad wings and wide feathers and cannot fly as fast or as long as birds with longer, streamlined wings. There are 16 woodland birds in the trees adjacent to the meadowlands. They each take off and land several times during the day. Hourly, it works out to be 27 times that they take off and land. How many take off and landings will there be for the 16 woodland birds in an 8 hour time frame? Grade Level: Advanced 95 FOOT LONG SPAR: The wings of the 747 are constructed around a 95 foot long spar. Because each spar arrives at the factory as a single piece, it requires a special truck with an extra steering wheel in the back to transport it. How much footage of spars would be required to make 300 wings? TWO AILERONS: The wing of a 747 is made up almost entirely of moving panels. There are two ailerons on each wing. (An aileron is a pivoting section to help the plane turn.) The low-speed aileron on the outer edge of the wing which is for more leverage. The second aileron for high-speeds is shorter and closer to the fuselage. At slower speeds, the combined force of the two ailerons is enough to turn the plane. But at fast cruising speeds, the slight deflection caused by the high-speed aileron is more than enough to bank it. How many ailerons would there be on 500 747's? OTHER PARTS OF THE 747 WING: Besides two ailerons on each wing of the 747 wing, there are three sets of leading-edge flaps, two sets of trailing-edge flaps, and six spoilers. (The flaps work at the command of the pilot to adjust the shape of the wing. In this way, the flap allows the pilot to make the wing bigger or smaller as necessary. The vertical flight spoilers have a dual function. During a turn, the five outboard spoilers help the ailerons bank the plane. On the landings, all six spoilers rise up to break the airflow over the wing and 'spoil' the lift.) How many of these parts on the wing of the 747 would there be for 1,500 jets? LANGUAGE ARTS: Return to Top Grade Level: Beginning WINGED POETRY: As a class write a poem using the word "Wing" as the title. Stimulate the children's thinking by watching a nature video on birds in their natural habitat flying, chirping, singing, building nests, and establishing community. THE FEATHER: The feathers which cover the wing of a birds are truly amazing. Pass out a bird feather to each student and ask them to look at it for a few minutes. Then as a class write a description of the bird feather, using as many descriptive words possible that are age appropriate. THE HOVERING HUMMINGBIRD: A hummingbird can move his wings in a figure 8 pattern which enables him to hover. Ask the children to use descriptive phrases to describe a hummingbird. Then as a class compile these phrases into a short story about the hummingbird. To add interest to the short story give the hummingbird a name and personality type - (funny, serious, sad, happy). Grade Level: Intermediate THE WISE OWL: Owls are nocturnal hunters. The undersurface of their wing feathers are fluffy and velvet-like, the leading edges have unlinked barbs (the branches of the feathers), and fringed trailing edges, all to muffle the sound of the air as it passes over the wing. Ask the students to write an adventure story about a wise owl who knows secrets about the kingdom in which he lives and how he is able to help the king out of a great difficulty. SOARING FOR HOURS: Some birds, like the Layson and black footed albatross, can glide and soar for hours. Eagles and vultures glide for miles, not affected by the pull of gravity apparently. These type of birds take advantage of upward movements of air called thermals. These bird's wings are resting on piles of air that are moving upward. Have the students write a letter to a friend describing the abilities of these birds to them. THE SIZE OF THE WING: In planes, the ailerons and flaps slide out of the back to increase the surface area of the wing. The size of the wing determines how much lift is created. The angle at which the wing approaches the air also affects lift. Planes also take advantage of any winds that might be blowing by taking off and landing into the wind. This increases the air speed over the wing and produces more lift. All airplanes also have slots to increase the air speed over the wing. Even with all of these tricks, takeoff is still difficult. Have the students write a description of the take off and landing by an airplane including information about the wings of the airplane. Grade Level: Intermediate/Advanced THE SURFACE OF THE WING: The surface of the wing of a bird is kept smooth by the overlapping placement of the flight feathers. Each feather is shaped so that the side facing the wind is narrower and stiffer than the trailing edge, which makes it stronger. In addition, along the leading edge (front) of the wing, are smaller contour feathers, called coverts, which cover the base of the flight feathers. These feathers give the wing the airfoil shape that make flight possible. Have the students write up an advertisement of the advantages of the wing surface of a bird. Grade Level: Advanced THE SOUTH AMERICAN CONDOR: The South American condor, with a wing span of 9 feet, cannot flap its wings while on the ground. They must use some sort of outside help to takeoff. They need a very strong head wind. Frequently, they they land only on cliffs so they can leap off to begin their next flight. Have each of the students write a "Poem Story" about the condor. (A poem story is a story in poem form; the length is up to the writer.) THE MAGIC STORY: Have the students think up a storyline that includes magic. Suggestions would be: "The Car With Wings", "The Flying House", "A Dragon's Flight". Encourage students to use imaginative phrases in writing their stories. BANKING AS THEY TURN: Birds and planes must bank as they turn. They tilt one wing higher than the other to prevent sliding. If they try and turn without banking, they skid because there is nothing but air to hold them. Their bodies keep going in the former direction even though they are facing in a new direction. Banking braces the underside of the wings and body against the on coming air and reduces the skid. Banking is not the only method for turning. Some birds beat one wing a little faster than the other. They then turn in the direction of the slower moving wing. Turning while gliding and soaring is accomplished by two different wing designs. Birds that soar over land have broad, slotted wings, while those who soar over water have long, narrow wings. Both are equally good. Ask the students to make up a journal entry in their "science notebook" about how birds and planes turn using their wings. SOCIAL STUDIES: Return to Top Grade Level: Beginning WINGS OF BIRDS: Have the class do a study together on some birds and how the wings of various birds help them in their flight. There are books at the library that will help with this work. Grade Level: Beginning/Intermediate/Advanced HISTORY OF FLIGHT: According to age level appropriateness, have the students do a study on the history of flight from the Wright Brothers until present. For the younger children it will be a group project with the teacher's assistance. FLIGHT TECHNIQUES: Do a study on the flight techniques of a hummingbird and how they utilize their wings to hover. (The hummingbird's flight techniques are more like those of insects than birds. Their bodies are held upright, rather than horizontal. This means their wings do not move up and down, but sweep back and forth, pushing the air downward instead of backward. Each time the wing changes direction, they also twist 90 degrees, so the air is pushed downward in which ever direction they move. This is like the horizontal rotor of a helicopter. Since their wings produce as much power on the up stroke as on the down stroke, their muscle structure is different than other birds.) This project should reflect age appropriateness for each grade level. Grade Level: Intermediate WINGLETS: The 747 - 400 wings were extended by winglets to increase stability in flight. The 747-400 is the largest commercial aircraft in the world. Have the students do a study on how these winglets were developed and who the developer was. Grade Level: Intermediate/Advanced ORNITHOLOGY: Have the students do a study of how the scientific study of birds, called ornithology, started. (It did not begin until sometime in the 1700's.) AIRPORTS: Have the students do a study on various airports around the world and how their developments are fashioned to accommodate airplanes and their wingspan. Grade Level: Advanced THE AUDOBAN SOCIETY: This society is famous for their work, study, pictures, and information about birds. Have the students do a study on how this society started and how they are impacting our world today. Ask them to share their findings with their fellow classmates. FRENCHMAN BESNIER: Have the students do a study about this Frenchman, Besnier who in 1678 made a gliding flight using a pair of large wooden wings. PORTUGUESE PRIEST: A Portuguese Priest, Laurenco de Gusmao designed a "Great Bird" in 1709. Have the students do a study on this gentleman and his "Great Bird" and write up a report to read in front of the class. JETS DO FLAP THEIR WINGS: Have the students do a study on the development of jets and their wings. (The flexibility of these airplanes is it's strength. Because it can bend it is very tough to break.) VISUAL/PERFORMING ARTS: Return to Top Grade Level: Beginning FEATHER ART: Using feathers, have the students make an art picture. Have the children draw a large bird with its wings spread out. Provide glue and feathers and have the children glue feathers to the wings of their drawn birds. Display the pictures on a bulletin board. SPONGE AND PAINT: Provide large pieces of art paper to the students. Set up a paint station where children can go to create planes and birds with sponge painting. Tell the children that they can take a piece of sponge and dip it into paint and 'tap' the paper in interesting strokes to paint their plane or bird. PLAYDOUGH BIRDS: Give each student a small ball of Playdough and a piece of wax paper. Have the children make a bird shape with the PLAYDOUGH and set it on the piece of wax paper. Then set the bird shapes on a window sill to dry. The children can take them home when they are dry and use at a paper weight. Grade Level: Intermediate "BIRD FEVER": Have the class break up into groups of 3 or 4 students and create a song called "Bird Fever". Tell the students that they can use an existing tune from another song and write their new song - "Bird Fever". Have the children share their songs with the rest of the class. MOBILES: Pass out various colors of construction paper. Have the students draw airplanes or birds on the construction paper and cut them out. Provide fishing line so that the students can hang up their mobiles throughout the classroom from the ceiling. PROPER PLAYS: Divide the class into groups of 4 students. Pass out paper and tell the groups to develop and write a short play about birds and their ability to fly. Encourage the children to create a play that is fun and informational. The costumes can be made out of clothes from home, sheets, tablecloths, butcher paper, etc. Grade Level: Advanced IMAGINARY CREATIONS: Pass out art paper to the class and ask the students to design and draw imaginary airplanes or bird creations. Provide pictures of science fiction flying machines to stimulate the students imaginations. THREE ACT PRODUCTION: Divide the class into three groups and assign each group one act of a three act play. Don't let any of the groups know what the other groups are writing. The only requirements are that one group will be the opening act of the production, another group will be the middle act of the play, and the last group will be the closing act. They will know which act their group is writing. The other requirement is that their act needs to emphasize the wings of birds or airplanes or both. After the students have completed their act, put the three acts together and read the play through together. Practice the production and then invite the class next to your room to act out the play. CLOTH ART: Give each student a piece of cloth (white sheets are great for this project) 12 inches by 12 inches. Provide permanent marking pens of various colors. Ask the students to draw a picture of their favorite bird in flight on the cloth with a pencil. Then have the students color their bird with the marking pens. (This can be made into a "sheet blanket" to display in your classroom by sewing the cloth pieces together with a sewing machine.) LITERATURE LINKS: Return to Top Air and Flight Author: Neil Ardley Publisher: London: Franklin Watts, 1984 Grade Level: K - 4 Synopsis: This is a great book for youngsters to understand the principles of air and flight. There are 12 experiments that students can do that are safe and simple. The book is well illustrated. How to Fly a 747 Author: Tim Paulson Publisher: New Mexico: John Muir Publications, 1992 Grade Level: 2 - 5 Synopsis: This is a fun book about being placed in the pilot's seat of a 747 airliner and how to put the plane through its paces. Within the text the student will learn scientific facts and principles. The book is full of colorful photographs and illustrations that accompany the text. Flight: Fliers and Flying Machines Author: David Jeffries Publisher: New York: Franklin Watts, 1991 Grade Level: 3 - 7 Synopsis: This book explores the history of flights. It covers the dreams of flying in ancient Greece to today's high-tech war planes. There is a chapter on planes being designed for the future to be ecological fuel savers. There are magnificent illustrations and a text that has been carefully researched. The ABC National Air and Space Museum Author: Florence Cassen Mayers Publisher: Harry Abrams: 1979 Grade Level: 3 - 12 Synopsis: This book is filled with color aviation photographs from early aviation to space-age technology using the letters of the alphabet. The narrations that accompany each photograph are sophisticated. Experimenting With Air and Flight Author: Ormiston H. Walker Publisher: New York: Franklin Watts, 1989 Grade Level: <4 - 8/DD> Synopsis: In this book the student will learn about the science of air and flight. Using examples found in nature, and presenting experiments that the student can perform, the author guides the student through the basic principles of aerodynamics. It is well illustrated with black and white photos and drawings. In the back of the book are recommendations of books for further reading on the subject. Aviation and Space Science Projects Author: Dr. Ben Millspaugh Publisher: PA: Tab Books, Blue Ridge Summit, 1992 Grade Level: 4 - 8 Synopsis: This book is filled with projects, history, information, and pictures to increase the learning experience for a young person interested in aviation and spaceflight. The History of Aircraft Author: Chris Maynard Publisher: New York: Franklin Watts, 1982 Grade Level: 4 - 8 Synopsis: This book of history about aircraft traces the history of manned flight from the first attempts to the present. Aircraft Author: Bill Gunston Publisher: New York: Franklin Watts, 1987 Grade Level: 4 - 12 Synopsis: This book by Bill Gunston explores the latest developments and future possibilities of aircraft technology. The Great Paper Airplane Book Author: Seymour Simon Publisher: Puffin Books: 1971 Grade Level: 4 - 12 Synopsis: This text explains the science of flight and shows how to design and make a variety of paper airplanes. There are illustrations to provide visual help in making the paper planes. Gossamer Odyssey: The Triumph of Human-Powered Flight Author: Morton Grosser Publisher: Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1981 Grade Level: 5 - 9 Synopsis: This book traces the human powered aviation from the early 1920's to the present. It is a remarkable engineering story with illustrations throughout the book. Flight in America, 1900 - 1983: From the Wrights to the Astronauts Author: Roger E. Bilstein Publisher: Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1984 Grade Level: 5 - 12 Synopsis: A wonderful book with a grand history that includes social, political, and economic aspects. The Miracle of Flight Author: Richard Cromer Publisher: New York: Doubleday, 1968 Grade Level: 6 - 12 Synopsis: In this book you will find the explanation of the aerodynamics of flight and how the physical structure and physiological processes of birds enable them to fly. The National Air and Space Museum Author: C.D. Bryan Publisher: Harry Abrams: 1988 Grade Level: 6 - 12 Synopsis: This is an in-depth presentation of flight and starts with the first attempts at flight and continues to current space flights. The pictures and illustrations are exceptional. Airliner Author: Nigel Cawthorne Publisher: London: Gloucester Press, 1988 Grade Level: 6 - 12 Synopsis: This text brings forth a problem-solving approach to the different options of aircraft development. On the Wing: The Life of Birds from Feathers to Flight Author: Bruce Brooks Publisher: Scribners: 1989 Grade Level: 6 - 12 Synopsis: This is a set of essays about the lives of birds. It is beautifully written and accompanied by magnificent photographs. The Smithsonian Book of flight for Young People Author: Walter J. Boyne Publisher: Macmillan: 1988 Grade Level: 6 - 12 Synopsis: This is a book about the history of American flight which includes the effects of research and wars on the airplane industry. The color photographs in this book are marvelous. Man with Wings: A Pictorial History of Aviation Author: Edward Jablonski Publisher: New York: Doubleday, 1980 Grade Level: 6 - Adult Synopsis: This is a pictorial book that is very readable that covers the history of aviation. Concorde: The Inside Story Author: Geoffrey Knight Publisher: New York: Stein & Day, 1976 Grade Level: 6 - Adult Synopsis: This is a book about the history of the development of the controversial supersonic aircraft, the Concorde. In The Cockpit: Flying the World's Great Aircraft Author: Anthony Robinson Publisher: New York: Ziff-Davis, 1980 Grade Level: 6 - Adult Synopsis: This is a fascinating anecdotal description of more than 50 military aircraft, with short essays by the fliers. It is illustrated. Jane's All the World's Aircraft Author: John W.R. Taylor Publisher: New York: McGraw-Hill, revised yearly Grade Level: 6 - Adult Synopsis: This text is filled with illustrations and with complete coverage of various aircraft, rockets, and spacecraft. Web Hosting Provided By The National Business Aviation Association. Explore Space ... Not Drugs! Hear what astronauts have to say about staying drug-free. Last modified: Wed Feb 18 13:49:45 PST 1998 Copyright © 1997 by Cislunar Aerospace, Inc. All Rights Reserved.