Properties of Air and Characteristics of Flight

Matter and Materials: Grade 6 - Properties of Air and Characteristics of Flight

Overall Expectations (O.E. column below)

demonstrate an understanding of the properties of air (e.g., air and other gases have mass) and explain how these can be applied to the principles of flight;
investigate the principles of flight and determine the effect of the properties of air on materials when designing and constructing flying devices;
identify design features (of products or structures) that make use of the properties of air, and give examples of technological innovations that have helped inventors to create or improve flying devices.

Related Web Pages

Site Name Online O.E. Description

Attracting Cups 2 Activity to demonstrate Bernoulli's Principle.

The Best Paper Airplane 2 Students are provided with detailed, illustrated instructions on how to build the plane, how to fly it and make modifications to its flight path.

Cynthia's Cyclone 2 Students will construct a model of a propeller and investigate how it is used in flight.

Gliding Through Air 2 Students will observe the result of streamlined shapes, then conduct a test to determine which wing shape is the most streamlined.

Hot Air Balloon 2 Students will construct an indoor hot air balloon made out of a plastic film dry cleaner bag.

Making an Anemometer 3 Students will build a model of a wind speed indicator.

McEagle Styrofoam Glider 2 Students are given instructions including a template for building a glider from a styrofoam meat tray.

Moving Air, Still Air 1 Students will observe the effect of air pressure.

Rockets Away 2 Students will make a paper airplane glider, then conduct experiments to observe the effect of thrust.

Slow Down 2 Through a simple activity students will observe the effect of drag on the movement of an object.

Stirring Things Up 2 Students will observe how compressing air builds air pressure, then apply this concept by testing model propellers.

Super Looper 2,3 Step by step instructions on how to make and fly a different winged aircraft.

Tails Make a Difference 2 Students will explore the effect of drag on a moving object then apply this principle by making a kite and experimenting with tail length.

Up, Up, and Away 1 Students will observe the effect of Bernoulli's principle.

Volume of a Gas and Temperature 1 Students will conduct an activity to determine if the volume of a gas changes with changing temperature.

YES Mag Flyer 2 Step by step instructions on how to make and fly a paper airplane.

Roto Copter 2 Students will construct a paper device and attempt to make it fly.

Building the Egret 2 Students are provided with illustrated instructions on how to construct a paper airplane called the Egret.

Spinning Blimps 2 Students will construct and experiment with a flying object.

Jumbo Jets 1 How does a jumbo jet get off the ground? How can an airplane as heavy as three blue whales get off the ground?

"Maple Seed" Helicopters. 1 Students make helicopters from stiff paper and clips. Auto rotational theory explained.

Site Name	O.E.	Description
Attracting Cups	2	Activity to demonstrate Bernoulli's Principle.
The Best Paper Airplane	2	Students are provided with detailed, illustrated instructions on how to build the plane, how to fly it and make modifications to its flight path.
Cynthia's Cyclone	2	Students will construct a model of a propeller and investigate how it is used in flight.
Gliding Through Air	2	Students will observe the result of streamlined shapes, then conduct a test to determine which wing shape is the most streamlined.
Hot Air Balloon	2	Students will construct an indoor hot air balloon made out of a plastic film dry cleaner bag.
Making an Anemometer	3	Students will build a model of a wind speed indicator.
McEagle Styrofoam Glider	2	Students are given instructions including a template for building a glider from a styrofoam meat tray.
Moving Air, Still Air	1	Students will observe the effect of air pressure.
Rockets Away	2	Students will make a paper airplane glider, then conduct experiments to observe the effect of thrust.
Slow Down	2	Through a simple activity students will observe the effect of drag on the movement of an object.
Stirring Things Up	2	Students will observe how compressing air builds air pressure, then apply this concept by testing model propellers.
Super Looper	2,3	Step by step instructions on how to make and fly a different winged aircraft.
Tails Make a Difference	2	Students will explore the effect of drag on a moving object then apply this principle by making a kite and experimenting with tail length.
Up, Up, and Away	1	Students will observe the effect of Bernoulli's principle.
Volume of a Gas and Temperature	1	Students will conduct an activity to determine if the volume of a gas changes with changing temperature.
YES Mag Flyer	2	Step by step instructions on how to make and fly a paper airplane.
Roto Copter	2	Students will construct a paper device and attempt to make it fly.
Building the Egret	2	Students are provided with illustrated instructions on how to construct a paper airplane called the Egret.
Spinning Blimps	2	Students will construct and experiment with a flying object.
Jumbo Jets	1	How does a jumbo jet get off the ground? How can an airplane as heavy as three blue whales get off the ground?
"Maple Seed" Helicopters.	1	Students make helicopters from stiff paper and clips. Auto rotational theory explained.