Rubber Band Models Teach Students

Gordon Schimmel and Art Ellis still play with rubber band powered airplanes -- but they claim it’s all in the name of science.

In this case it really is true. The hallway testing was being done prior to the demonstration at the Aerospace Educators workshop at the Women in Aviation Conference in Orlando, FL. The two are "trained professionals," members of the Academy of Model Aeronautics.

Demonstrations in science make the lessons more meaningful and memorable. The rubber band-powered airplanes and foam plate gliders are part of the AeroLabs lessons to teach science middle and high school students. With 1,000 twists of the rubber band airplane and the right formulas the students are able to calculate certain unknowns like speed and distance. They are learning about Newton’s Law and forces via demonstration.

Sponsored by the Academy of Model Aeronautics and the Alcoa Foundation with support from the FAA, over 200 teachers in six states have been introduced to the AeroLabs lessons.

AeroLabs supports the "hands-on, minds-on" approach. A DVD/CD AeroLabs activity package is the result. The package contains ten lessons and quizzes (yes, there’s always tests) along with classroom tips. Online support is available as well.

FMI: www.modelaircraft.org, www.buildandfly.com, www.wai.org