Using Paper Airplanes to Inspire Students to Pursue STEM Careers and

Consider Teaching in the STEM Subjects

(A great teamwork and engineering design activity, too!)

Presented by STEM TeachersJessica Findlay, 6th Grade, jfindlay@douglas.k12.ma.us

Kelly Graveson, 8th Grade, kgraveson@douglas.k12.ma.us

Today we’re going to talk about the Aerospace Industry.

What kind of jobs do you think people might have who work in the Aerospace Industry?

What kinds of skills do you think those people should

have?

Modified from material created by Tom Benson, Glenn Research Center

www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=4742281&height=400&width=300

http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=4742386&height=400&width=300

http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=4742457&height=400&width=300

http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=4742499&height=400&width=300

Company Name:______________________

Manager:____________________________

Design Engineer:_____________________

Manufacturer:________________________

Test Engineer/Pilot:____________________

Aircraft Name:________________________

Turn this form in to NASA prior to flight test.

GO BUILD! GO FLY!

Goal: Construct your airplane so that it stays in the air for the longest time.

You have 15 minutes to complete this task!

http://www.online-stopwatch.com/countdown-timer/

Remember: Only the manager can communicate with NASA and only the pilot

can fly the plane.

How does playing with paper airplanes relate to

STEM?

http://www.nasa.gov/mov/251568main_151_Design.mov

The Design Process

Marty WaszakNASA Langley Researcher

Biologically Inspired Micro-Flight Research“M.A.V.”: Micro Aerial Vehicle

http://www.origami-kids.com/paperairplanes-2-papaerpiloten.php

Modeling and Simulation

World Record Breaking Paper Airplane at NASA Langley, 1992

Cady Coleman, an astronaut from

MA who has spent almost 180

days in space!