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Activity Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Standards Addressed by Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Construction QuickView . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Teaching Tips
Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Construction Tips/Helpful Hints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Materials by Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Level I Lesson Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Investigating How Size Affects Flight (science/tech, LA) . . . . . . . . 45 minutes*
Calculating Glider Ratios (math/science, tech, LA) . . . . . . . . .45-90 minutes*
Drawing a Glider (tech/math, science, LA) . . . . . . . . . . . . .90-180 minutes*
*Times are estimates and will vary with class size.

Engineering Challenge I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Level II Lesson Plans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Investigating Scaled Gliders (science/tech, LA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 minutes*
Calculating Glider Ratios II (math/science, tech, LA) . . . . . . . .45-90 minutes*
Drawing to Scale (tech/math, science, LA). . . . . . . . . . . . . .90-180 minutes*
*Times are estimates and will vary with class size.

Engineering Challenge II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Supplemental Lessons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Resources
Vocabulary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Balsa Gliders Word Search . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Balsa Gliders Crossword Puzzle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Careers Related to Aeronautical Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Content Resources
Lab Report Template . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
History of Flight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Wing Measurements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Ratios and Proportions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Additional References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86

1
 Table of Contents, continued
Assessments
Pretest I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Posttest I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Pretest II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Posttest II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .91

2
Teacher Instruction Calculating Glider Ratios

QuickView
• Students understand, select, and use
units of appropriate size and type
to measure angles, perimeter, area,
surface area, and volume.
Students measure dimensions of the glider and Students apply appropriate techniques, tools,
calculate the glider ratios. and formulas to determine measurements.
• Students select and apply techniques

Standards Addressed and tools to accurately find length,

area, volume, and angle measures to
appropriate levels or precision.
Students recognize and apply mathematics in
NSTA 5-8
Students identify questions that can be contexts outside of mathematics.
answered through scientific investigations.
• Students use appropriate tools and ITEA 6-9
techniques to gather, analyze, and Students develop abilities to assess the impact
interpret data. of products and systems.
• Students learn to design and use
• Students use mathematics in all aspects instruments to gather data.
of scientific inquiry.

NCTM 6-8
Students understand meanings of operations
and how they relate to one another.
• Students understand the meaning and
Time Required
45-90 minutes (will vary with class size)
effects of arithmetic operations with
fractions, decimals, and integers.
• Students understand, select, and use
units of appropriate size and type
to measure angles, perimeter, area,
Content Areas
surface area, and volume. Primary: Mathematics
• Students understand measurable Secondary: Science; technology; language arts
attributes of objects and the
units, systems, and processes of
measurement.
Students understand measurable attributes of
objects and the units, systems, and processes
Vocabulary
• aspect ratio
of measurement. • chord
• Students understand both metric and • dimension
customary systems of measurement. • fuselage
• Students understand relationships • proportion
among units and convert from one unit • ratio
to another within the same system. • stabilizer
• wing

T-23
 Calculating Glider Ratios Teacher Instruction

Materials
• Completed balsa glider
• Tape measure or ruler (with mm
markings)
• Calculator
• “Glider Ratios Data Sheet”
• “Ratios and Proportions” resource sheet
• “Wing Measurements” resource sheet
• Pencil

T-24
Teacher Instruction Calculating Glider Ratios

Procedure
1 Locate the completed balsa glider, tape
measure or ruler, and the “Glider Ratios
Data Sheet.” Read the “Wing Measurements”
and “Ratios and Proportions” resource sheets.
5 Calculate the area of the stabilizers.
Calculate the ratio of the area of the
stabilizers to the area of the wing. Record the
ratio on the “Glider Ratios Data Sheet.”
Students should calculate the area of the

2
stabilizers as rectangles, parallelograms, or
Measure the chord and length of the wing. trapezoids, whichever they most closely
Record the measurements on the “Glider resemble. You may wish to have students
Ratios Data Sheet.” break the shape into smaller shapes with areas
that are easier to calculate. They may then
Students will measure in centimeters as determine the total area by finding the sum of
indicated on the sheet. Students should record the individual areas.
their measurements to the nearest 10th of a
centimeter as indicated on the data sheet.

3 Calculate the aspect ratio and calculate

the area of the wing.
6 Measure the length of the fuselage. Record
the measurements on the “Glider Ratios
Data Sheet.”
Students should record their measurements to
Students should calculate the area of the wing the nearest 10th of a centimeter as indicated
as a rectangle, parallelogram, or trapezoid, on the data sheet.
whichever it most closely resembles. You
may wish to have students break the shape

7
into smaller shapes with areas that are easier
to calculate. They may then determine the Calculate the ratio of the length of the
total area by finding the sum of the individual fuselage to the chord of the wing. Record
areas. the ratio on the “Glider Ratios Data Sheet.”

4 Measure the stabilizers. Record the

measurements on the “Glider Ratios Data
Sheet.”
8 Measure the distance from the nose of
the plane to the front of the wing. Record
the measurements on the “Glider Ratios Data
Sheet.”
Students should record their measurements to
the nearest 10th of a centimeter as indicated Students should record their measurements to
on the data sheet. the nearest 10th of a centimeter as indicated
on the data sheet.

T-25
 Calculating Glider Ratios Teacher Instruction

9 Calculate the ratio of the distance (from

the nose of the plane to the front of the
wing) to the chord of the wing (see figure
below). Record the ratio on the “Glider Ratios
12 Write a paragraph explaining how well
the measurements and ratios of the
glider match the glider measurements and
ratios described in the “Wing Measurements”
Data Sheet.” resource sheet.
In general:

10 Measure the distance from the back of

the wing to the front of the stabilizers.
Record the measurements on the “Glider
Ratios Data Sheet.”
The aspect ratio for a glider should be 6:1.
The ratio of the area of the vertical stabilizers
to the wing area should be 1:10.
The ratio of the area of the horizontal
stabilizers to the wing area should be 1:5.
Students will measure in centimeters as
indicated on the sheet. Students should record The ratio of the fuselage length to the chord of
their measurements to the nearest tenth of a the wing should be between 4:1 and 6:1.
centimeter as indicated on the data sheet. The ratio of the distance from the nose of the
plane to the front of the wing to the chord of
the wing should be between 1:1 and 3:2.

11 Calculate the distance (from the back of

the wing to the front of the stabilizers) to
the chord of the wing. Record the ratio on the
“Glider Ratios Data Sheet.”
The ratio of the distance (from the back of
the wing to the front of the stabilizers) to the
chord of the wing should be between 2:1 and
3:1.

D1
Distance to Wing

D2
Chord

D3
Distance to Stabilizers

T-26
 Student Instruction Calculating Glider Ratios

QuickView
Measure dimensions of the glider and
calculate the glider ratios.

Materials
• Completed balsa glider
• Tape measure or ruler (with mm
markings)
• Calculator
• “Glider Ratios Data Sheet”
• “Ratios and Proportions” resource sheet
• “Wing Measurements” resource sheet
• Pencil

This page may be photocopied for use within the classroom. By honoring our copyright, you enable us to invest in research for S-27
education.
 Calculating Glider Ratios Student Instruction

Procedure
1 Locate the completed balsa glider, tape
measure or ruler, and the “Glider Ratios Data
Sheet.” Read the “Wing Measurements” and
“Ratios and Proportions” resource sheets.
5 Calculate the area of the stabilizers.
Calculate the ratio of the area of the
stabilizers to the area of the wing. Record the
ratio on the “Glider Ratios Data Sheet.”

2 Measure the chord and length of the wing.

Record the measurements on the “Glider
Ratios Data Sheet.”
6 Measure the length of the fuselage. Record
the measurements on the “Glider Ratios
Data Sheet.”

3 Calculate the aspect ratio and calculate the

area of the wing. 7 Calculate the ratio of the length of the
fuselage to the chord of the wing. Record
the ratio on the “Glider Ratios Data Sheet.”

4 Measure the stabilizers. Record the

measurements on the “Glider Ratios Data
Sheet.”

D1
Distance to Wing

D2
Chord

D3
Distance to Stabilizers

S-28 This page may be photocopied for use within the classroom. By honoring our copyright, you enable us to invest in research for
education.
 Student Instruction Calculating Glider Ratios

8 Measure from the nose of the plane

to the front of the wing. Record the
measurements on the “Glider Ratios Data
Sheet.”

9 Calculate the ratio of the distance (from

the nose of the plane to the front of the
wing) to the chord of the wing (see figure
on previous page). Record the ratio on the
“Glider Ratios Data Sheet.”

10 Measure the distance from the back of

the wing to the front of the stabilizers.
Record the measurements on the “Glider
Ratios Data Sheet.”

11 Calculate the distance (from the back of

the wing to the front of the stabilizers) to
the chord of the wing. Record the ratio on the
“Glider Ratios Data Sheet.”

12 Write a paragraph explaining how well

the measurements and ratios of the
glider match the glider measurements and
ratios described in the “Wing Measurements”
resource sheet.

This page may be photocopied for use within the classroom. By honoring our copyright, you enable us to invest in research for S-29
education.
 Calculating Glider Ratios Student Instruction

Glider Ratios Data Sheet

Record each measurement to the nearest tenth of a centimeter.

Wing

Chord ______ cm Length _______cm Aspect Ratio ______:______

Shape __________________ Area ______cm2

Vertical stabilizer

Width ______ cm Length ______ cm Shape ____________ Area ______ cm2

Ratio of vertical stabilizer area to wing area _________:_________

Horizontal stabilizer

Width ______ cm Length ______ cm Shape ____________ Area ______ cm2

Ratio of horizontal stabilizer area to wing area _________:_________

Fuselage

Length ______ cm Ratio of fuselage length to wing chord _________:_________

Nose to front of wing

Distance ______ cm Ratio of distance to wing chord _________:_________

Back of wing to stabilizers

Distance ______ cm Ratio of distance to wing chord _________:_________

Write a paragraph explaining how well the measurements and ratios of the glider match the glider
measurements and ratios described in the “Wing Measurements” resource sheet.

S-30 This page may be photocopied for use within the classroom. By honoring our copyright, you enable us to invest in research for
education.