LESSON MATERIALS

First

Aerospace Engineer

Helicopter Heroes: Design and Fly with Aerospace Engineers!

SPONSORED BY

OBJECTIVE

By the end of this lesson, students will:

  • Understand that aerospace engineers design flying machines and test different versions to improve them.

  • Explore how blade length and helicopter weight affect how long a helicopter stays in the air.

  • Practice thinking like scientists by testing one change at a time and observing what happens.

  • Learn to identify and talk about “what we change,” “what we measure,” and “what we keep the same” in an experiment.

FUTURE READY

In this lesson, students explore the work of aerospace engineers—professionals who design, test, and improve flying machines like helicopters, rockets, and satellites. Through building and testing paper helicopters, students practice key engineering skills such as designing solutions, testing one variable at a time, analyzing results, and refining their designs. They also learn that these high-demand skills connect directly to real careers on California’s Central Coast, where aerospace companies and Vandenberg Space Force Base support a growing Space & Aerospace industry.

LESSON DURATION

45 minutes