Welcome
Educators! The Educators channel contains information
to help educators explore ways aviation/aerospace programs
can be incorporated into their curriculum and classroom
activities. Educators are directed to various organizations
that offer aviation educational programs and activities
for students of all grades (K-12). Students and educators
can have fun while they learn, and aviation can provide
the motivation to open young minds. We hope educators
will find this channel informative, useful, and fun.
The Educators Channel
is divided into several sections:
Fun Stuff
(Games & Activities) There are numerous
organizations offering games, coloring books,
puzzles, hands-on activities, and experiments
for kids of all grade levels (K-12). Visit their
web sites for more information.
Contests There are a few
organizations that sponsor contests for students.
Visit their web sites for more information.
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International
Aviation Art Contest
The International Aviation Art Contest, an event
of the Federation
Aeronautique Internationale (FAI) is cosponsored
by the National Association of State Aviation
Officials Center for Aviation Research and Education
(NASAO Center), the National
Aeronautic Association (NAA), the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), and
the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The
art contest encourages youth, ages 6-17, from
all over the world to reflect on aviation by having
them design a piece of art based upon the year's
chosen theme for judging in state, national, and
international competition. One of the goals of
this contest is to encourage and motivate young
people to become more familiar with and participate
in aeronautics, engineering and science. To learn
more about the Aviation Art Contest and to find
out if your state participates in the contest,
click
here or visit the FAA’s
web site.
•
National
High School Rocketry Contest
AIA and the National Association of Rocketry (NAR)
sponsor the Team America Rocketry Challenge, the
world's largest model rocket contest. The competition
provides student teams with a realistic experience
in designing a flying aerospace vehicle that meets
a specified set of mission and performance requirements.
The 2005 Challenge is to design, build, and fly
a model rocket carrying a raw egg and return it
safely to the ground while staying aloft for exactly
sixty seconds. To learn more about the National
High School Rocketry Contest, click
here.
Educational
Organizations and Resources
There are
numerous organizations and resources throughout the
United States that provide educators with information
and tools to help their students learn about career
opportunities within the field of aviation, aerospace,
and space exploration. Visit the organizations’
web site to learn more about their programs and/or services
offered.
•
Aeronautics
Learning Laboratory for Science Technology and
Research (ALLSTAR)
The Aeronautics Learning Laboratory ALLSTAR Network
(Aeronautics Learning Laboratory for Science,
Technology, and Research) website is offered by
Florida International University (FIU) with partial
funding by the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA). This site serves as an
excellent teaching and learning tool in the areas
of Principles and History of Aeronautics and Aerospace
Education and Careers.
•
Aircraft
Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA)
takes pride in its effort to teach young people
about aviation. Their resources are available
at no cost to educators and AOPA members, because
AOPA believes that aviation is a valuable teaching
tool that can motivate students. Aviation education
programs teach educators, students, and parents
about the positive contributions general aviation
makes to American life.
•
Aviation
Education Resource Centers (AERC)
The Aviation Education Resource Centers (AERCs)
consist of various colleges, universities, museums,
and foundations that provide information and resources
such as aviation education programs, publications,
software and video tapes for students, parents,
and teachers.
•
Aviation
& Aerospace Museums
There are hundreds of museums that promote aviation,
air and space, aircrafts, science and industry,
and space exploration. These museums are educational,
informative, and entertaining places to visit.
They have the ability to inspire and amaze us.
Museum collections and exhibits invite us to learn
about the history and future of aviation/aerospace.
For children and their families (i.e. parents
and grandparents), museums provide a perfect opportunity
to learn together and share memorable experiences.
To learn more about various types of aviation/aerospace
museums and where to find a museum near you, visit
our Museum
Channel.
•
AvKids.com
The National Business Aviation Association (NBAA)
web site AvKids is a program designed to educate
elementary school students about the benefits
of business aviation to the community and the
career opportunities available to them in the
business aviation industry. AvKids.com is a great
learning resource for teachers and kids. Teachers
can download the free AvKids Activity Guide and
Teacher’s Resource, a 120-page book of lesson
plans (PDF versions). You can also find resources
on scheduling Career Day presentations and techniques
for teaching aviation topics to all age groups.
There are great activities for kids as well as
fun games and puzzles.
•
Centennial
of Flight
The national "Centennial of Flight: Born
of Dreams - Inspired by Freedom" celebration
commemorates this achievement and 100 years of
aviation history. Their Centennial Partners are
planning everything from cross-country tours to
air shows and exhibitions, seminars and television
specials. Visit the Centennial
of Flight web site to access the most up-to-date
information on celebration activity as well as
the most comprehensive collection of outstanding
educational essays, multimedia and links regarding
the history of flight.
•
Challenger
Center for Space Science Education
The Challenger Center’s web site offers
a wide range of educational resources, downloadable
publications, activities, and programs for teachers
to get students enthused about science and technology.
Visit the Challenger
Center web site to learn more about the resources
available to teachers.
•
CIVIL
AIR PATROL (CAP)
The Civil Air Patrol (CAP) functions as an official
auxiliary of the United States Air Force. The
CAP established its Cadet
Program to build responsible citizens for
America through a positive approach to aerospace,
leadership, and life skills. The CAP Cadet program
is designed for young people aged 12 through 21
years old. During the summer, Civil Air Patrol
offers multiple Flight Academies nationwide providing
actual flight training. The CAP also provides
assistance to parents
and teachers
wanting information on aviation education. If
you are interested in becoming a CAP Cadet or
have questions about the program, visit the CAP
web site or contact a CAP
Unit near you.
•
Explorer
Scouts
The National Council of the Boy
Scouts of America supports more than 300 local
councils that provide quality youth programs,
including Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing.
Scouting serves young men and women in every part
of the country through more than 300 local council
service centers. Each council helps chartered
organizations in its geographic area to effectively
use the Scouting program and to expand the use
of the program to other community groups. Venturing
includes the opportunity for older scouts to participate
in a particular outdoor or career-related function
as part of an Explorer
Post with a focus on aviation,
law enforcement, fire protection, high adventure,
electronics, and many other interests.
•
Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA)- Aviation Education Program
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintains
a wealth of information at the FAA Aviation Education
Program for students (K-12) and teachers. The
FAA’s Aviation Education Programs offer
a wide range of information on their web site,
including curriculum guides, career information,
resource materials, teacher workshops, aviation
career education summer camps for teens, special
field trips, government/industry/education partnerships,
and activities for the classroom, games, and fun
experiments that enhance learning and increase
students awareness of aviation careers. Students
and teachers can have fun while they learn, and
aviation can provide the motivation to open young
students’ minds about aviation career opportunities.
Visit the FAA’s
Aviation Education Program web site for information
catering to Kids, Students, and Educators.
•
Four-H (4-H) Youth Development
Programs
Four-H Youth Development programs impact on more
than SIX million young people throughout the country
in a variety of educational efforts. Four-H is
supported through the Cooperative Extension System
in a county, state and federal partnership for
youth development and education operated through
the Land Grant University System. The Federal
partner is the U.S. Department of Agriculture
through the Cooperative State Research, Education
and Extension Service (CSREES) . The Cooperative
Extension System provides a linkage for education
to every county in the United States and its Territories.
Minnesota
Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) Aviation
Education Web site
Mn/DOT Aviation Education Web site contains aviation-related
information that is useful to teachers, students,
and other aviation enthusiasts. On their web site
you will find aviation curricula and publications
for grades K–12, post-secondary career information,
online games, an events calendar, classroom activities,
and camps for both teachers and students. Visit
Mn/DOT
Aviation Education Web site for more information
•
National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
- Education Programs
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) provides a wealth of educational information
and resource materials for students, parents,
and educators. A wide range of information is
available through various NASA web sites. On their
web sites, you can expect to find information
such as science, mathematics, engineering, technology,
aerospace, and space-related topics, NASA educational
programs, useful software and files, historical
information, as well as activities for the classroom,
fun experiments, games, and more. Visit NASA’s
numerous web sites below for more information:
National
Association of State Aviation Officials (NASAO)
The National Association of State Aviation Officials
(NASAO) is one of the most oldest aviation organizations
(Founded in 1931) in the United States. NASAO
represents the men and women, in state government
aviation agencies, who serve the public interest
in all 50 states, Guam and Puerto Rico. NASAO
members organize, promote, and fund a wide variety
of aviation programs across the nation as the
role of state programs and the responsibilities
of the state aviation agencies expand. Countless
aviation activities including statewide meetings,
airport symposiums, pilot safety seminars, and
aviation education forums are also organized annually
by the states.
In 1986,
the non-profit NASAO Center for Aviation Research
and Education was created to "enhance the
public good through an increasingly safe air
transportation system." The NASAO Center
manages the FAA's Airport Safety Data Program
and plays a role in promoting aviation education
programs that are developed by state agencies
and other organizations. It is also a major
participant in the International
Aviation Art Contest for children and other
aviation education efforts.
•
National
Coalition for Aviation Education (NCAE)
The National Coalition for Aviation Education
(NCAE) represents industry, labor, sport, and
youth organizations united to promote aviation
educational activities and resources in the United
States at the local, state and national levels.
NCAE’s web site will help you identify and
obtain aviation oriented educational materials
and information from its member organizations.
The list of the NCAE member organizations will
provide you with their contact information and
detailed information about the programs and resources
that are available from that organization. Visit
the NCAE
web site to find information and resources
available from member organizations.
•
National
Congress on Aviation and Space Education (NCASE)
National Congress on Aviation and Space Education
(NCASE) is an educational symposium that brings
educators, industry leaders, and gifted speakers
from around the nation together to discuss aviation
and aerospace education. There will be a variety
of professional development and personal growth
opportunities at NCASE, and breakout sessions
featuring hands-on classroom activities will be
scheduled. Visit the NCASE
web site for more information.
•
State
Aviation/Aeronautics Departments with Education
Offices
Almost every state has an State Aviation/Aeronautics
Department that make policies about aviation activities
within the state. These departments or commissions
may employ people to work in the areas of airport
design and operation, flight safety, and promotion
of aviation activities in the state. Most of these
state departments have an aviation education and/or
aviation awareness programs. The aviation education
and aviation awareness programs offer various
information, publications, instructional materials,
and resources for teachers and students. Visit
your State
Aviation/Aeronautics Department to learn more
about their aviation education programs (if available).
•
State
Aviation Education Councils Numerous State Aviation
Education Councils and similar organizations have
been established in several states to promote
a variety of aviation education activities and
programs (such as ACE Camps, Aviation Education
Expos and Fairs, and Teacher Training Workshops)
for elementary and high school students, and teachers.
To learn if there is a council in your state,
click
here.
•
Young
Eagles
The Young Eagles program is sponsored by the Experimental
Aircraft Association (EAA) and offers everyone
between the ages of 8 and 17 an opportunity to
fly an airplane with a qualified pilot. Over 1
million youngsters have experienced this program.
To learn more about more information about the
Young Eagles and how you might participate, visit
the Young
Eagles web site.
AvScholars Publishing,
LLC. (AvScholars) provides lists of books, resources,
and links to other web sites for the user's convenience.
Listing of materials and resources on this web
site should not be construed or interpreted as
an endorsement by AvScholars. The inclusion of
links is not intended to endorse any views expressed
on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring
the sites. AvScholars does not control or guarantee
the quality of this outside information. Please
read our Terms
& Conditions. If you would like
to add your organization to this list, contact
us.
