Presentation of Learning: Soaring Through Life

At iLEAD Exploration, our learners keep their eyes on the sky—soaring upwards in all aspects of their lives. Like children whose heads are raised in wonder about the flight of birds and planes, iLEAD Exploration middle and high school learners recently had the opportunity to join Soaring Aeronautics, a special project offered to learners from several iLEAD schools in partnership with iLEAD Student Aerospace Projects, like DreamUp to Space. These special programs inspire learners to soar on a lifelong journey of learning.

In Soaring Aeronautics, our learners investigated the principles of flight by examining both historical and contemporary glider designs. They developed a foundational understanding of aerodynamics, explored careers in aviation and aerospace, and applied the Engineering Design Process to design, build, and test functional model gliders. Through this experience, learners gained insight into how flight works and reflected on the impact of human flight on science, technology, and society, and took a glider flight.

iLEAD Exploration sixth grader August A. and tenth grader Fauna S recently took the Soaring Aeronautics course and experienced all it had to offer. They completed an exemplary and easily emulated assignment researching historic aviators. Their “Wanted Poster” assignment could be used for just about any biographical assignment. Fauna chose Bessie Coleman, the first woman and person of color to earn a license to fly anywhere on Earth, while August chose Bob Hoover, a US veteran pilot who stole an enemy aircraft to escape a World War II German POW camp. What a great way to showcase their excellent research!

Hats off to all our lifelong learners as they soar through the skies, now and for a lifetime filled with learning.

Resources:

• • Wanted! Famous Aviators of History
  • Gordon’s Fail Forward Flight
  • iLEAD Student Aerospace Projects
  • Soaring Aeronautics