Exploring Jobs in the Aerospace Industry

Objective: By the end of the lesson, students will be able to list and describe various careers in the aerospace industry, understand their significance, and identify the basic educational requirements for each.

Materials:

• Projector or smart board

• Printed handouts of aerospace job profiles

• Computer or tablets with internet access

• Speaker/guest from the aerospace industry (optional)

Introduction (10 minutes):

• Icebreaker: Ask students to name objects that fly. List these on the board (e.g., birds, airplanes, helicopters, rockets, drones).

• Transition to the topic: "Today, we'll learn about the people behind these flying machines and the careers that help bring them to life!"

Direct Instruction (15 minutes):

• Slide Presentation: Show a slide for each career listed below, discussing its duties, significance, and education requirements.

  • Aerospace Engineer: Design and build aircraft and spacecraft.

  • Astronaut: Trained to travel and work in space.

  • Pilot: Flies various types of aircraft.

  • Aircraft Mechanic: Maintains and repairs aircraft.

  • Flight Attendant: Ensures passenger safety and comfort.

  • Space Scientist: Researches space, stars, planets, and more.

  • Air Traffic Controller: Manages aircraft movements in the sky.

• Video Clip (5 mins): Show a short clip on the behind-the-scenes of an aerospace project, e.g., the building of a spacecraft, a day in the life of an astronaut, or the inside workings of an air traffic control tower.

Activity: Aerospace Career Fair (25 minutes):

• Group Work: Divide students into small groups. Each group will receive a job profile from the aerospace industry. The profile will have more in-depth information about the job.

• Research & Preparation: Give students 10 minutes to further research their assigned job (using tablets or computers) and prepare a short presentation.

• Presentations: Each group will present their job profile to the class as if they are at a career fair. They should highlight duties, educational requirements, and interesting facts.

Guest Speaker (Optional, 20 minutes): Invite a professional from the aerospace industry (e.g., pilot, engineer, scientist) to talk about their job, their daily tasks, and their journey into the industry. Allow time for students to ask questions.

Conclusion (5 minutes):

• Reflection: Ask students to share which job they found most interesting and why.

• Future Thinking: Encourage students to think about what steps they might take if they are interested in pursuing a career in aerospace. Discuss educational pathways and extracurricular activities that might be beneficial.

Homework/Extension:

• Interview: Have students interview someone in their community associated with the aerospace industry (it can be as simple as talking to a local pilot or someone who's taken flying lessons).

• Essay: Students can write a one-page essay on a specific aerospace career, diving deeper into its significance, challenges, and rewards.

Assessment:

• Quiz: A short quiz on the different jobs in the aerospace industry, their duties, and basic requirements.

• Presentation Feedback: Peer feedback and teacher feedback on the group presentations based on clarity, content, and delivery.

By the end of the lesson, students should have a broad understanding of the various roles in the aerospace industry and the steps one might take to pursue such careers.