Aerodynamics Lesson Plan

Mircroteaching Ed 2500
Alaina N. and Sam F.

Objectives
-define thrust, lift, drag and gravity
-understand wing, fuselage, vertical and horizontal stabilizers
-understand basic design of an air plane
-understand general concept of aerodynamics, aerodynamic principles and stability

Activities
Introduction (4 min)

1. Introduction of aerodynamics (2 min)

a. Engage in prior knowledge, ask questions about basic aerodynamic
concepts
2. Have students label their worksheet and encourage independent thought on the
basic properties of flight (2 min)

Development (5 min)

3. Have students develop a hypothesis on which paper airplane will go furthest and
why based on principles they learned (1 min)
a. Thrust, lift, drag and gravity affect each paper airplane different because
of their design (connect these concepts through activity)
4. Have students throw paper airplanes 2 trials (4 min)

Closure (3 min)

5. Have students finish worksheet on why or why not their hypothesis was correct
(1 min)
6. Have class discussion on the experiment, and discuss their hypothesis and why or
why not their were correct in their hypothesis (1 min)
7. Question period/assess worksheet (provide answers/mark sheets) (1 min)

Evaluation
We will assess students knowledge of aerodynamics based on worksheet answers
Ability to listen to instruction, recognize, verbalize and predict principles of
aerodynamics.
Understand lift, thrust, drag and gravity as well as recognize wing fuselage,
vertical and horizontal stabilizers, design of a plane and stability.
Materials
-5 paper airplanes
-11 worksheets
-master copy/ answer key of worksheet
-diagram of plane
-whiteboard and markers

Notes
Thrust, lift, drag and gravity are the basic principles of aerodynamics
Wing, fuselage, vertical and horizontal stabilizers and design elements aid or
hinder the efficiency of a plane and its aerodynamic properties.