Discovering Our Past: The American Journey to World War I

Chapter 16: The Growth of Industry

Web Lesson Plans

Introduction
In this chapter, students learned about turn-of-the-century America, an era of inventions and capitalism that had major ramifications for life today. The Wright brothers' airplane is among the most important scientific advancements of that time, and it didn't come easily. Orville and Wilbur Wright worked tirelessly for years to develop the airplane prototype, and resorted to teaching themselves aeronautical science and building their own propellers and engines when no one else would help them. Not to mention that many of their planes crashed, meaning they had to rebuild them or start again entirely from scratch! This Web site demonstrates the trials and tribulations associated with the brothers' exploration of the laws of flight.

Destination Title: Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company

Instruction Objectives

1. Students will learn about the experiments done by the Wright Brothers to create a viable (e.g., controllable) aircraft.
2. Students will gain insight into the science of flight.

Lesson Description
Students will research the Wright brothers' years of flight experimentation and learn about their contribution to modern airplanes. After browsing links on Wright Brothers Aeroplane Company, students will answer four questions. They will apply their knowledge by choosing one airplane part and discussing how the Wright brothers developed it into a functioning part of the plane.

Student Web Activity Answers

1. The Wright brothers conducted most of their flight experiments in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.
2. Wilbur discovered that buzzards balance in flight by adjusting the shape and position of their wings.
3. The 1905 Flyer 3 is considered to be the first practical airplane.
4. Prior to the Wright brothers' work, aircraft could remain aloft but pilots had no way to control movement.
5. Answers will vary but students will choose one aircraft and discuss the successes and failures associated with its flight tests. Essays should be brief, but they should cover how these outcomes contributed to the Wright brothers' knowledge of airplane science.