Flying Machines: Rockets, Gliders, and the Science of Flight
n this hands-on engineering and science course, students will design, build, and test a variety of flying machines—from simple gliders to rockets. Through experimentation, iteration, and a fair amount of “crashing,” students will explore the forces that make flight possible and learn how to improve their designs over time.
The class will move between indoor build time and outdoor testing, as students create machines that fly higher, farther, and more efficiently. Each project will build on the last, developing both technical understanding and practical skill.
This course emphasizes applied scientific reasoning, problem solving, and collaboration. Students will:
Investigate the principles of flight, including lift, drag, thrust, and gravity, using real experiments to test ideas and refine designs.
Apply the scientific method by making predictions, testing prototypes, analyzing outcomes, and revising based on evidence.
Break down complex challenges into step-by-step processes, identifying barriers and developing solutions through iteration.
Work collaboratively in a shared build environment, demonstrating respect, patience, and partnership as they test and improve designs together.
Students will work toward attainments such as explaining scientific concepts through hands-on application, using experimentation to deepen understanding, developing and communicating solutions to design challenges, and building on existing ideas to improve performance over time.
This class is active, experimental, and iterative—focused on learning by doing, testing, and trying again.
Cell Phone Policy:
No cell phone use for the entire class period.