7th Grade STEM-ID:

Flight of Fancy

General Description

During this 18-week 7th grade course, students pose as engineering consultants specializing in aircraft design. They have been hired by a new airline company to redesign airplanes to be more comfortable, profitable, and environmentally friendly. They will accomplish this through a series of challenges, starting with designing and testing different Styrofoam gliders. Students then examine the interior layout of airplanes, learn to use 3D modeling software, and finally, re-design a plane using a balsa glider as a model. During Flight of Fancy class students incorporate and practice multiple math and science skills, including measurement, experimental design, data analysis, and profit calculations.

Activities

Below is a brief description of the challenges and timing for the Flight of Fancy 7th Grade STEM-ID course. To access the instructional details and materials, click on the individual challenge titles.

Flight of Fancy Data Challenge (8-10 days 50 min per day) (no specialized materials needed)

In this challenge, students explore different types of aircraft through a short research project. Then, using NASA templates, students create their own Styrofoam aircraft from meat trays. They will work in small groups to test aircraft with different wing and tail configurations. Students will have to establish a procedure for throwing the aircraft using multiple trials to get more accurate distance measurements. Students should reflect on variables and forces that affect glider performance.

Flight of Fancy Systems Challenge (9-11 days 50 min per day) (see materials list for additional items)

In this challenge, students are challenged to redesign an aircraft for a major airline. To begin the redesign challenge, they will need to understand the problems airlines currently face and do some market research. They will be asked to configure the interior of the fuselage, or the main cabin of the aircraft. After setting up different seating configurations in the classroom and measuring the seat sizes (and trying to climb over people to get in and out of their row), students should create an interior design for an aircraft that is comfortable and practical for the market they are trying to serve.

Flight of Fancy Visualization Challenge (10-15 days, 50 min per day) (see materials list for additional items)

Students will work through tutorials in IronCAD or a different 3D modeling package, to visually render a physical balsa glider. Students will measure the balsa gliders using rulers, calipers, and protractors, and use that information to replicate the model plane assembly in their CAD software.

Flight of Fancy Design Challenge (15 days, 50 min per day) (see materials list for additional items)

In the final design challenge, students will tie everything together and redesign the balsa glider to improve its performance. Students will use 3D modeling software to make changes to the glider design and will fabricate new wings by cutting thin pieces of balsa wood. Students will be asked to compare the effectiveness of their new glider design with the results from the original (given) glider using proper experimental procedures and data analysis techniques. The semester should end with each student team giving a sales pitch during which they present their company name, describe their intended market, and show their re-designed balsa glider along with its performance data, interior design, and their predicted profit.