Activity 1.1.

1Aerospace Evolution (Moon Modified)

Purpose
The history of aerospace technology is abundant with major engineering achievements. Since the days of
Leonardo da Vinci, people have been inventing vehicles to satisfy their desire to fly. In a short span of less
than 100 years, history has seen the Wright Brothers first powered flight to voyages into space with the
Apollo and the Space Shuttle programs.
You will select, research, and present an invention that was important to the advancement of aerospace
technology. Teams of two will be allowed, but if you work in a team, the work must reflect double the man
hours.
You will teach your classmates about your invention. Your presentation should last 3-5 minutes unless
teacher permission is granted beforehand for additional time. Think about your lesson as an interactive
museum display. Remember to engage your audience, hold their attention while teaching them the details,
and then leave them with a sense of what might be next. If something isnt of any interest to you, it wont
be to your audience either.
Project Constraints
Daily logs and all research recorded in engineering journal
All least 4 sources (of at least 2 different types) cited in APA format
A presentation (format of your choice - slideshow, video, etc.) and Wow factor (e.g. - physical model /
props / physical poster / professional interview / hands on experience / brochure / demo) used
3-5 minutes for presentation

Your presentation must include the required information:

-

Explanation of the invention

A timeline showing the history of the product
Description of national / world events at the time of advancement or achievement
(driving factors behind achievement)
Description of major advancements that made the achievement possible
When and where invented
Who contributed to the original invention
Materials used
Video or image of advancement or achievement
Media coverage of advancement or achievement
Explanation of innovations (reasons behind improvements) *Use photos / sketches.
Advantages and disadvantages of the invention compared to other forms of flight
How this invention affects your world
Most surprising aspect of invention

Project Criteria
- Information is through, factual, and accompanied with visuals
- Presentation is interesting and effectively delivered
- Wow factor is creative and unique
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007
AE Unit 1 Lesson 1 Activity 1.1.1 Aerospace History Page 1

Aerospace Inventions and Innovations:

The following websites will be useful in your research:
Howstuffworks-How Hot Air Balloons Work: URL:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/helium3.htm
Allstar Network -History of Flight Level 3: URL: http://www.allstar.fiu.edu/aero/history31.htm
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)- History of Flight: URL:
http://www.aiaa.org/content.cfm?pageid=260
Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum- Milestones of Flight - Exhibition Home Page: URL:
http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal100/gal100.html
Gary Bradshaw- To Fly is Everything: URL:
http://invention.psychology.msstate.edu/air_main.shtml
NASA History Division: URL: http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/humansp.html

TOTAL OF 105 POINTS (Bonus built in :-D)

Topics
Presentation
required
components
X2

Quality of
Answers
X2

Format

Presentation
Delivery
(your live
performance)

WOW Factor

15 points

13 points

Presentation included all required items:

- Introduction
- Title Slide
- Required information listed in design
brief
- A reference page of at least four
sources
(Citations properly cited)
- Conclusion
All information documented thoroughly,
clearly, and accurately
AND
Content is accurate, complete, and in
students own words
Presentation flows well; Format is
professional; Proper spelling and
grammar is used
Presentation delivered within required
timeframe; Good eye contact with
audience; Appropriate posture and dress;
No hands in pockets; No gum chewing;
No filler words; Appropriate volume and
tone; No direct reading; Presentation was
enjoyable; Appropriate length
Presentation is interesting, creative,
visually appealing, and includes a unique
Wow factor
AND
Team worked well together

Presentation
missing some
minor
information
item(s)

11 points
Presentation has
gaps because of
missing required
item(s)
OR

OR
Citations not
properly cited
Information
acceptable

Some spelling /
grammar errors
exist OR
Flow needs
improvement

Only two or three

sources cited
Some information is
inaccurate /
confusing / not
summarized well

9 points
Information in
presentation is
incomplete
OR
Only one source
cited
Information is not
based on
research /
incomplete /
confusing

More
professionalism
needed

Format needs
improvement
OR
Many grammar /
spelling errors

Presentation
slightly shorter /
longer than
required
timeframe and /
or delivery was
acceptable

Delivery needs
some improvement

Presentation
significantly
shorter / longer
than required and
/ or delivery
needs much
improvement

Presentation
includes a
unique Wow
factor but needs
improvement
with creativity,
visuals, etc.

Presentation is
interesting and
creative and
contains visuals
BUT
a unique Wow
factor not included

Presentation
includes all
required material
but needs more
creativity

* If the minimum level is not achieved for a specific criteria, no points will be accumulated for that row.
Project Lead The Way, Inc.
Copyright 2007
AE Unit 1 Lesson 1 Activity 1.1.1 Aerospace History Page 2

 Aerospace History Research Topics: Activity 1.1.1

Aerospace Inventions, Innovations, and Innovators:
a. Lighter-than-Air: Balloons
b. Lighter-than-Air: Airships
c. Non-Powered Aircraft: Gliders
d. Engines: Internal Combustion
e. Powered Aircraft : Pre-World War II
f. Engines: Jet Engine
g. Engines: Rockets
h. Powered Aircraft : Fighters, World War II to present
i.

Powered Aircraft : Bombers, World War II to present

j.

Powered Aircraft: Commercial Aviation

k. Helicopters and Autogyros

l.

Stealth Technology

m. Unstaffed Aerial Vehicles: Remote and Automated Flight (Predator, etc)

n. Manned Space Flight: Race for the Moon (Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo)
o. Manned Space Flight: Research in Space (Space Shuttle, ISS, etc)
p. Manned Space Flight: The Colonization of Space (Moon, Mars, beyond)
q. Unmanned Space Probes
r. History of NACA and NASA
s. Other ideas?

Project Lead The Way, Inc.

Copyright 2007
AE Unit 1 Lesson 1 Activity 1.1.1 Aerospace History Page 3