Off to a Flying Start is a NASA Langley LTP K-4 online telecommunications project that uses worldwide collaboration and aeronautics to provide learning opportunities to students in math and science. The classroom teacher determines the length of project participation. Off to a Flying Start consists of three modules: Introduction to Flight, Flying the Falcon Flyer, and Experimental Design.

This module teaches students the parts of an airplane, as well as how and why airplanes fly. Suggested topics to cover include: history of flight, important people in the history of flight, principles of flight, and airports. Introductory information provided is age and grade-level appropriate.

Students and teachers construct the Falcon Flyer from the instructions and templates provided. Students predict flight distance, fly the planes, collect and record data, graph data, and share data with other classes that are also participating in the project. Students investigate and describe their own results, as well as those from other participating schools.

Students use their knowledge of parts of an airplane and how planes fly to design and construct their own planes. Students compete in a flying contest with their new planes. They collect data, graph data, and share data with the project. Again, students investigate and describe results.

Additional Information: For additional information, send e-mail to flyingstart@k12unix.larc.nasa.gov