Understanding and Exploring the World Week

Over the last week, classes throughout the school have been looking at Aviation and Flight as part of our Understanding and Exploring the World Week inquiry week. In keeping with the exciting few days past and those ahead, I’ve collected a few internet resources to help engage students in what’s happening in various classes. A short description is provided with each link. They are not listed in any particular order.

·         http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/ (NASA Space Place has a variety of games and activities as well as video and images surrounding aeronautics, space exploration and the solar system.)

·         http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/index.html (This site is run by NASA and caters to various grades. Lots of images, and videos, mission news and a few activities).

·         http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/aeroact.htm (This website is aimed at educators. It provides lesson ideas as well as materials and links for further information, reference and extension activity ideas.

·         http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal109/htf/activities/forcesofflight/web/index.html (This website has a short demonstration of the four forces of flight. It then gives the learner the opportunity to improve on the original design. Short, easy to understand cartoon genre explanations.)

·         http://pbskids.org/dragonflytv/games/game_balloon.html (This is an game about using a hot air balloon in a race against three other characters. It has three levels of difficulty. There are also links to other Hot Air Balloon related pages.)

·         http://www.canadabizmart.com/bootstrapper/collection/spectacular-cockpit-photos/ (A website which shows some dramatic images taken from the cockpit of planes as they are airborne.)

·         http://exploration.grc.nasa.gov/education/rocket/bgmr.html (the basics of rockets and how they fly. Has further information on building your own and other information.)

·         http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/hotscience/int_flig.html (From NOVA, the Science Department at PBS, includes various links to video, and interactive demonstrations of various aspects of flight and aviation, including experimental and cutting edge equipment.)

·         http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/space/design-mars-parachute.html (Engineer a parachute strong and light enough to control a rover’s descent to the surface of Mars.)

·         http://nature.ca/discover/exb/hwdbrdsfly/index_e.cfm (The following animations show how main physical forces such as lift, gravity and thrust affect bird flight.)

·         http://www.nasm.si.edu/education/onlinelearning.cfm?hp=m (A variety of online activities test your knowledge and demonstrate the principles of aviation and spaceflight.)

·         http://www.exploratorium.edu/explore/

·         http://www.cosmos4kids.com/ (Everything related to space, space flight and exploration)

·         http://scaleofuniverse.com/ (An interactive slider which allows the user to zoom in and out showing the relative sizes of example items in the universe, from Quarks to the Universe).

·         http://www.history.com/shows/the-universe (Take a Journey Through Time and Space is an interactive focusing on the planets and other bodies in the solar system)

·         http://www.gillesvidal.com/blogpano/cockpit1.htm (Provides a 360 degree view of the Flight Deck of an Airbus A380. Provides onscreen controls to change the view)

·         http://www.paperairplanes.co.uk/ (These videos show how to make a paper airplane that flies really well. The best paper airplane as judged by the readers of Alex's paper airplanes can be found on the paper airplane poll and is currently the paper helicopter and we have an awesome paper airplane video channel on youtube for you to check out.)

·         http://www.bestpaperairplanes.com/ Th(

·         http://www.sbszoo.com/bear/sable/sable3.htm (A brief chronicle of the creation, launch and recovery of a balloon launched with a camera which floated to over 115,000 ft by amateur space enthusiasts)

·         http://www.lufthansa-vp.com/vp1/play.html (A game where the player must correctly locate a given city within a certain time limit. Three levels of difficulty.)

·         http://www.flightradar24.com/ (See live aircraft traffic. Clicking on an icon provides aircraft type, course, airline, etc.)

http://www.safeshare.tv/w/qmaOuhtqGy (A video showing the abilities of miniature, 4 prop helicopters (just about the length/width of a cd box) which operate independently from an outside source. Very impressive! And a bit creepy :)