Lesson Plans
Understanding Air Resistance and Aerodynamics
This science lesson is for second and third graders. Students will build parachutes out of three simple materials. After testing their parachutes students can illustrate or photograph and describe their results. This would be a nice showcase for our project.
How Things Fly: Activities for Teaching Flight
These   K-3 lessons are from The Smithsonian's Center for Education and Museum Studies. The lessons are designed to help young children understand the basic physics of flight.  The lesson plans include printable materials. Students can share their learning experiences on our project. 
Document Based Questions  Third grade students can practice their keyboarding and writing skills as they answer the constructed response questions about the Wright Brothers.  Their answers will be posted on the web site.
Trade and Transportation in the United States  The objective of this Xpeditions lesson plan is to have students in grades K-2 learn how products are transported.  It supports the National Geographic Standard 11:
 "The patterns and networks of economic interdependence on Earth's surface"
Students will be asked to write and illustrate stories about transportation.  We would love to showcase their work on this project.
Aviation Pioneer Hall of Fame  Students will write short biographies about pioneers in aviation.  Although this lesson  plan is for older children it can easily be adapted for our project.  Biographies can be written as a Shared or Interactive Writing activity.  Invite your students to write biographical or acrostic poems about The Wright Brothers.  They can create a character map in Kidspiration or summarize book chapters with Kid Pix.  Any of these activities can be nicely showcased on this project.
Edible Wright Flyer  Simple directions that require no cooking!
Styrofoam Wright Flyer 1903 Students construct a model of the 1903 Wright Flyer with simple materials.
TeacherLINK offers activities for students on aeronautics that were developed by NASA Aerospace Education Program Education Specialists.  The wonderful hands-on science activities were designed to be easy and fun.  We would love to publish your students reflections and pictures about their learning experiences.

Web Links
The "Wright Stuff" is a one day collaborative Internet project which will take place on December 17, 2003.  There will be an online treasure hunt, links and teacher materials.  Registration will begin on December 1, 2003.  Recommend this one to all of your colleagues!
With Wings as Eagles The Library of Congress has the most awesome collection of primary sources that document the history of flight.  Fascinating for students of all ages! 
Wright Again In this web site treasure chest,  you will find primary documents, activities, lesson plans, and student activities.
Meet the Wright Brothers  If you're looking for ideas for lower primary students, you've found the place!  This web site is perfect to use as a center activity.  
Flights of Inspiration The Franklin Institute Online gives excellent examples on how teachers can use this web site as a resource.  You will want to share this with your colleagues.
The Mystery Lives On  In addition to learning about The Wright Brothers, you may want your students to study other aviation pioneers.  National Geographic Kids have an easy to read description on Amelia Earhart.   After reading the information, students can take a poll on what they think happened to Amelia Earhart.
Amelia Earhart  You can count on The Library of Congress to provide excellent online content for students.  This resource includes primary documents, a timeline and a story written on a level that your students will be able to understand.  
The Wright Brothers: Wilbur and Orville  Young students will find this a perfect web site for online research.  The printable worksheets are excellent.
Remember the Wright Brothers' Historic Flight A page of resources compiled by Horace Mann Educated Financial Solutions.
The Wright Brothers  If you were impressed with Flights of Inspiration, you will be amazed with The Franklin Museum's latest and greatest. Celebrate the Centennial of Flight!  You will understand why we picked this topic for a collaborative project.  Don't miss their free 2003 Flight Forecast project that you can join.  This is an educator's dream!

Texts

My Brothers' Flying Machine  Written by Jan Yolen and perfect for your lower primary students
First to Fly: How Wilbur and Orville Wright Invented the Airplane  Although this book is recommended for older students it could be a nice read aloud.  If you students have upper grade reading buddies they can enjoy this book together.
Magic School Bus Taking Flight  Ms. Frizzle is at it again.  This time she and her students are shrunk inside a model airplane!
First Flight: The Story of Tom Tate and the Wright Brothers (I Can Read Chapter Book Series)  Written for students in grades 1-3, this book tells the story of how Tom Tate helped the Wright Brothers with experiments for their flying machine.
Taking Flight: The Story of the Wright Brothers  Students will read how the Wright Brothers came to build their airplane.  It is recommended for students ages 7-9 and is a Level 3 book.