Dec. 19, 2007: Getting There by Air

The Mini Page is a syndicated, four-page tabloid written for young children found each Wednesday in the Rocky Mountain News. This issue of The Mini Page is available through the eEdition Archive to registered eEdition subscribers. Click here to learn about subscribing to the eEdition at no cost to you (for Colorado teachers).

Activities:

1. Collect words and pictures from the newspaper that relate to airplanes and flying. Make an "Air Travel" collage with your words/pictures.

2. What would you take in a backpack carry-on? Draw a backpack on a piece of paper. Then find at least five things in the newspaper that will fit in your backpack and will keep you entertained on a long flight. Write the names of the items on your backpack.

3. Draw a large circle on a piece of paper. Divide the circle into four equal parts. Label the parts: Knowledge, Skills, Personality, Physical Abilities. List the qualifications a pilot must have in each of these categories on your circle.

4. Why is each of these items important to air travel: (a) long runways, (b) pressurized cabins, (c) jet planes and (d) established air routes?

5. Use resource books and the Internet to learn more about a special type of plane, like the Flying Clipper or the Concorde. Use these questions to guide your research: When did the plane fly? What was unique about it? How large was it? What special need did it serve? What was the plane ride like for passengers? Why was the plane retired? Write a paragraph discussing your findings.

This week's standards:

• Students develop understanding about science and technology. (Science: Science and
  Technology)
• Students understand the role of technology in communications, transportation, information processing, weapons development or other areas. (Social Studies: Power, Authority and Governance)
  
  

(standards by Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi)