Try-It: Fun with Flight

AGE LEVEL: Brownies

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: There are many different jobs in aviation. You might discover that you want a fun and rewarding career in aviation.

PATCH REQUIREMENTS: Complete four of the following five themes.

Flight Preparation
Many different jobs are done by many different people to design an airplane, put it together, and make sure it is safe to fly. Have you ever thought about who designs the airplane or who puts the airplane together? How do air traffic controllers, ticket agents, mechanics, or baggage handlers (people who load baggage onto the airplane) assist in flight preparation? Discover who is involved with preparing for flight by doing some of the following activities:

Perform a skit about an imaginary airplane trip. Discuss how you prepare to take a trip, and how an airplane prepares to take a trip. Think of all the people responsible for getting an airplane off the ground and the people who keep the airplane safe while it's in the air. Include these people in your skit. (The resource page has some examples.)
-OR-
Complete the Airport Design activity included in your Fun With Flight workbook. Talk with your troop about what kind of job is involved with the control tower, airport terminal, airplane, and service trucks.
-OR-
Go to an airport and watch people preparing for flight.
    1. How many different jobs do you see?
    2. Ask people about their job and how it helps prepare for flight.
    3. What things did you learn?

How Flight Feels
When an airplane is in flight it can make you feel different than when you're on the ground. Taking off and landing has its own special feeling. Some people say it's like swinging or riding on an amusement park ride. To see how flying might make you feel, try some of the following activities:

Do the Broomstick activity included in your Fun With Flight workbook
-OR-
With a partner ride an elevator with your eyes closed holding your partner's hand while she keeps her eyes open. Then let your partner ride with her eyes closed while you keep your eyes open. How did it make you feel?

Types of Flight
There are many different types of aircraft each with different ways of flying. Not all aircraft can do the same things. Do you know which aircraft can take off straight into the air or which one flies using helium? Some birds and insects can fly in ways that are like some aircraft. Find out more about different types of flight by reading the “Aircraft Characteristics” page then:

Collect magazine or newspaper pictures of things that fly and make a collage.
-OR-
Complete the flight matching game included in your Fun With Flight workbook.
-OR-
Complete the aircraft characteristic color chart included in your Fun With Flight workbook.

Airplane Parts
An airplane is a machine, with many different parts that work together. Each part has its own responsibility, and works differently than the rest. Read the “Airplane Parts” worksheet provided, then:

Complete the airplane part coloring sheet.
-OR-
Make a simple airplane big enough to sit in. You could use boxes, cardboard, paper, blocks, or any other item you can think of. Be sure to include the main parts-the fuselage, wings, tail, wheels, and propeller.
-OR-
Make a felt board matching game with the airplane parts.

Fun Experiments
Air is all around us, and earth's gravity keeps air from slipping off into space. Air has weight, it takes up space, and also pushes against things around it (this is called pressure). The main reason a plane can fly is the lift that air provides as it flows over the wings of a plane. Try some of the following experiments to learn about the different characteristics of air:

Do the paper wing experiment to see how air flowing over a wing of an airplane helps it lift off the ground and fly.
-OR-
Do some of the science experiments included in your Fun With Flight workbook.

PURCHASE Try-It: Try-it can be ordered through the GSWW store.

QUESTIONS: Contact your local regional office, or the Science Program Manager.