From videos to ready-to implement classroom activities, we’re here to help you get your learners excited about air and space.

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Activity/Lab Interactive

Supersonic Flight

Find out how a whip and a Slinky can help us understand the speed of sound.

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Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 7, Grade 6, and Grade 8
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Science
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cc-by-nc
http://howthingsfly.si.edu/media/supersonic-flight
Activity/Lab Interactive

Three Types of Engines

Learn how piston engines, jet engines, and rocket engines all depend on the same basic principles to produce thrust.

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Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8
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Aircraft, Missiles, Rockets, and Technology and Engineering
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Student, Teacher, and Parent/Caregiver
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cc-by-nc
http://howthingsfly.si.edu/propulsion/engines
Activity/Lab Interactive

Thrust: Propellers

Learn how propellers generate thrust.

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Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8
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Aircraft, Physical science, and Technology and Engineering
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Teacher, Student, and Parent/Caregiver
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http://howthingsfly.si.edu/media/thrust-propellers
Activity/Lab Interactive

Thrust: Rocket Engines

Explore how rocket engines generate thrust.

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Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8
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Rockets, Missiles, and Science
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Student, Teacher, and Parent/Caregiver
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cc-by-nc
http://howthingsfly.si.edu/media/thrust-rocket-engines
Lecture Video

Air and Space Live Chat: Artemis with Randy Komrade Bresnik

In this edition NASA Astronaut Randy Komarade Bresnik discusses the Artemis program which will land the first woman and next man on the Moon; and takes viewer questions.

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Human spaceflight
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vp7TuIA-pas
Activity/Lab Interactive

Lift: Lighter Than Air Aircraft

Learn about the history and dynamics of hot-air balloons.

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Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8
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Airships, Balloons, and Science
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http://howthingsfly.si.edu/media/lift-lighter-air-aircraft
Activity/Lab Interactive

Lighter Than Air

Helium and hot–air balloons float in air, but how? Is floating a type of flying?

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Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8
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Balloons, Airships, and Science
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http://howthingsfly.si.edu/sites/default/files/attachment/LighterThanAir.pdf
Activity/Lab Interactive

Pressure Drag

Learn about pressure drag and how it affects flight

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Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8
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Aircraft, and Science
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Student, Teacher, and Parent/Caregiver
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http://howthingsfly.si.edu/aerodynamics/pressure-drag
Activity/Lab Interactive

Rocket Lab

Build your own rocket and complete a mission.

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Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8
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Rockets, and Technology and Engineering
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Student, Teacher, and Parent/Caregiver
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http://howthingsfly.si.edu/activities/rocket-lab
Activity/Lab Interactive

How Things Fly

Learn how things fly

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Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8
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Aircraft, Aviation, Physical science, Science, Rockets, and Spaceflight
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Student, Teacher, and Parent/Caregiver
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cc-by-nc
http://howthingsfly.si.edu/
Activity/Lab Interactive

Hypersonic Vehicles

Learn about what happens to vehicles at hypersonic speeds and what happens to air at high speeds.

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Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 3, Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8
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Aviation, Physical science, and Science
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cc-by-nc
http://howthingsfly.si.edu/structures-materials/hypersonic-vehicles
Activity/Lab Interactive

Kepler’s Laws of Orbital Motion

Kepler’s laws show the effects of gravity on orbits. They apply to any object that orbits another: planets orbiting the Sun, moons orbiting a planet, spacecraft orbiting Earth.

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Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, and Grade 8
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Physical science, Satellites, Small solar system bodies, Solar System, and Spaceflight
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Student, Teacher, and Parent/Caregiver
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cc-by-nc
http://howthingsfly.si.edu/flight-dynamics/kepler’s-laws-orbital-motion