Find out what the students already know about flight. Introduce Daniel Bernoulli's Principle and how it relates to flight. Do several experiments showing what Bernoulli discovered about air pressure and velocity. The following web sites give many examples. Class lecture, read resourse materials, or go to the following web sites for information on how Bernoulli's Principle relates to flying airplanes.
Students are ready to set up an experiment in flight.
Have the students work in groups of three to make the same basic airplane. Each group will test fly their plane for 5 trials, recording time and distance on a data table. Using the same plane design, students will add a paper clip for weight, then follow the same procedure as before. Using the same plane design, students will cut four slits on the rear edge of the wings, then fold the slotted portion up to create flaps at the back of the plane, they will then follow the same procedure as before. Student groups will design 2 more airplanes to test.