Lesson Plans

What is Johnny's Airport Adventure?
Johnny's Airport Adventure was developed by the Ultra-Efficient Engine Technology (UEET) Program at NASA Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio to promote an interest in airplanes and air transportation in the young student. This educator's guide consists of two activities including a storyboard and role-play activity. The storyboard focuses on introducing K-4 students to airport and aircraft terminology including the identification of various engine types. The accompanying role-play story of Johnny's Airport Adventure takes children on a pretend trip to the airport and then on an airplane from Cleveland to San Diego, California. Complete with cutout characters, labels, and aircraft, Johnny's Airport Adventure Educator's Guide also includes worksheets and a list of suggested props to use with the role-playing activity.

Where can I get a free copy of Johnny's Airport Adventure?
Johnny's Airport Adventure Educator Guide can be obtained by contacting the local NASA Educator Resources Center in your area or by contacting NASA CORE at http://core.nasa.gov.

Where can I get extra copies of the educator guide and poster?
You can download them in PDF form with the links below.

Educator Guide  Poster

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Objective: The students will investigate a web site and answer questions about aeronautics by reading and following the directions listed on the scavenger hunt worksheet.

National Science Standards Met:

Position and motion of objects
Objects in the sky
Abilities of technological design
Understanding about science and technology
History of science

Activity: Hand out copies of the UEET Scavenger Hunt Worksheet.

Have students visit the NASA UEET Student Site at
http://www.ueet.nasa.gov/StudentSite/ and answer the questions on the worksheet.

Encourage the students to play the airplane game located in the "Fun and Games" section of the web page after they have completed their scavenger hunt and read the material on the site.

This activity is a great way to introduce more specific topics in aeronautics.

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Objective: Students will create a magazine cover to highlight the type of jet engine that interests them the most.

National Standards met: Grades 5-8

Science Content Standards:

Abilities of Technological Design
Understanding About Science and Technology
Motions and Forces

Activity:

1. Have students research types of jet engines currently being used in the aeronautics industry. Begin by reading the section entitled "engines" on the UEET student web site (or gather information from the library).

2. Each student must then choose a type of engine they are most interested in and gather more information to complete the following project.

3. Project: After selecting an engine type, the students will create a magazine cover for a scientific or technology publication such as Popular Science. The cover needs to include the following information:

a. The name of the magazine
b. A picture of their selected engine
c. The name of the engine
d. Titles for at least three articles highlighting their selected engine. Titles should focus on:

The benefits or risks to society
An editorial
Capabilities of the design
Development of the engine
Uses of the engine

4. Each student should then make a 5-minute presentation to the class on their project. Have them explain why they chose the particular engine and what they learned from this activity.

5. (Optional: Have the students choose one of their titles and write a one-page article on the topic.)

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Objective: The students will prepare a timeline highlighting the important events related to man's flight.

National Standards: K-4, 5-8

Science content standards:

Evidence, models, explanation
Science and Technology
Understanding about science/technology
Objects in the sky
Position and motion of objects
History of science

Math Standards:

Number and operation

Activity:

Have students:
1. Visit various web sites related to the History of Flight including the NASA UEET Kid Site.

2. Gather information from books on flight. (A list of suggested URLs and resources will follow at the end of this lesson plan)

3. Prepare a time line highlighting at least ten important events leading up to the development of modern air travel.

4. Include at least five graphics relative to the events listed on the time line.

5. Present their timeline to the class.

Resources:

Parker, Steve, Science Discoveries: The Wright Brothers and Aviation, Chelsea House Publishers, NY, 1995.

Joseph, Paul, Inventors: The Wright Brothers, Abdo & Daughters, Edina, MN, 1997

Web Sites:
NASA Glenn Research Center, UEET Program Student Site
http://www.ueet.nasa.gov/StudentSite/historyofflight.html

National Air and Space Museum
http://www.nasm..edu/
http://www.nasm.edu/galleries/archives/home.htm

Women in Aviation Resource Center
http://www.women-in-aviation.com/

K8 Aeronautics Principles Text book
http://wings.avkids.com/Book/beginner.html

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