Key Stage 1 Beyond Living Memory: Commemorating History
The First Aeroplane Flight

Learn about the Wright brothers and the story of their historic first aeroplane flight on December 17th 1903. Find out about the history of flight and begin to understand how aeroplanes fly. Consolidate your learning by using music and role play to recreate the events of that auspicious day.

Session 1 How did people try to fly?

Objectives

History

  • Develop an awareness of the past, through finding out about changes within living memory.
  • Develop an awareness of the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements.

English

  • Give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings.
  • Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates.

Lesson Planning

Watch footage of man’s early flight attempts and think about the time before aeroplanes were invented. Watch the BBC clip ‘Story of Icarus’ and act out the story creating your own character dialogue.

Teaching Objectives
To find out about different ways people tried to fly before the invention of aeroplanes, find out the difference between fact & myth.
To retell the story of Icarus and invent a character dialogue.

Children will:

  • Understand the difference between fact and myth.
  • Act out the Icarus story and create a character dialogue.
  • Find out about the ways humans have tried to fly in the past.

Provided Resources

This session does not need any provided resources.

You Will Need

  • Paper and glue
  • Coloured feathers

Session 2 Who invented the aeroplane?

Objectives

History

  • Develop an awareness of the past, through finding out about changes within living memory.
  • Develop an awareness of the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements.

English

  • Give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings.
  • Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates.

Lesson Planning

Sing the song ‘Flying Machines’. Read through information and learn about the Wright brothers and the events of December 17th1903. Create an airstrip in the classroom and re-enact that special day.

Teaching Objectives
To find out about the Wright brothers and the flight of the first power driven aeroplane.
To participate in a class drama/improvisation.

Children will:

  • Recall some key facts about the Wright brothers.
  • Think about how people may have reacted at the event of the first flight.
  • Participate in a drama/improvisation of the first flight event.

Provided Resources

  • Those Magnificent Men in their Flying Machines song lyrics
  • Quiz about the Wright brothers

You Will Need

  • Range of role play resources, e.g. hats, moustaches and bonnets

Session 3 Events in flight history with Orville Wright

Objectives

History

  • Develop an awareness of the past, through finding out about changes within living memory.
  • Develop an awareness of the lives of significant individuals in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements.

English

  • Give well-structured descriptions, explanations and narratives for different purposes, including for expressing feelings.
  • Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates.

Lesson Planning

Complete a challenge and then meet Orville Wright. Listen to Orville’s version of events as he talks through a PowerPoint presentation.

Teaching Objectives
To order events in flight history, understand how aeroplanes have changed.
To participate in a drama/improvisation.

Children will:

  • Know some differences between the Wright flyer and a modern aeroplane.
  • Put events flight history in a timeline.
  • Participate in a group drama/improvisation.

Provided Resources

  • Events in the history of flight
  • Images & events in the history of flight: timeline
  • PowerPoint presentation on the history of flight
  • Setting up a cockpit: teacher guidance
  • Spot the difference
  • I'm A Little Aeroplane song lyrics

You Will Need

  • Orville Wright costume: moustache or top hat and coat
  • Tracing and plain paper

Session 4 How aeroplanes work

Objectives

Science

  • Perform simple tests, using their observations and ideas to suggest answers to questions.

Design and Technology

  • Select from and use a range of tools and equipment to perform practical tasks [for example, cutting, shaping, joining and finishing.

Lesson Planning

Sally has a question: How can a huge aeroplane full of passengers fly in the sky? Read Planes by Fiona Patchett and begin to understand how planes can actually fly.

Teaching Objectives
To have some understanding about how a plane flies through experimenting.
To follow instructions to make a paper aeroplane.

Children will:

  • Begin to understand how a plane can fly.
  • Know parts of a plane.
  • Take part in experiments.
  • Make paper aeroplanes and helicopters.

Provided Resources

This session does not need any provided resources.

You Will Need

  • Planes by Fiona Patchett
  • Paper and card for making aeroplanes and helicopters

Session 5 Sharing our achievements

Objectives

English

  • Participate in discussions, presentations, performances, role play, improvisations and debates.
  • Maintain attention and participate actively in collaborative conversations, staying on topic and initiating and responding to comments.

History

  • Find out about changes within living memory, and develop an awareness of the lives of significant individuals who in the past who have contributed to national and international achievements.

Lesson Planning

Consolidate the learning throughout this block by hosting a celebration. Recreate the events of December 17th 1903 through roleplay and perform the song ‘Flying Machine’.

Teaching Objectives
To participate in a class drama/improvisation.
To consider and use the knowledge and facts gained about the Wright brothers.

Children will:

  • Participate in a drama or improvisation of the first flight event.
  • Present their learning about the Wright brothers to invited audience.
  • Host the celebration.
  • Celebrate their achievements.

Provided Resources

This session does not need any provided resources.

You Will Need

  • All creative outcomes from block D for display
  • Arrange tables, the airfield and provide white tablecloths
  • Organise soft drinks and cakes

Weblinks

There are no weblinks needed for this session.