Homeschool Half Days

September 29 – History of Flight 

• Learn how humanity's dream of flight became a reality. Students ages 5-8 will explore how birds and other flying creatures inspired aviation pioneers. Students ages 9-12 and 13-17 will investigate early flight innovations, including kites, balloons, and gliders, and discover how these inventions paved the way for modern aircraft.

October 20 – Space

• Celebrate Space Month at the EAA Aviation Museum. Students ages 5-8 will design and build rockets using simple everyday materials. Students ages 9-12 and 13-17 will construct and launch model rockets powered by real rocket engines.
• Note: Model rocket launches will take place off EAA property due to flight restrictions near the airport. Parents/guardians are responsible for transportation to and from the launch site.

November 17 – Four Forces

• Discover the four forces that make flight possible: lift, weight, thrust, and drag. Students ages 5-8 and 9-12 will explore these concepts through hands-on engineering challenges and experiments. Students ages 13-17 will take a deeper dive into aerodynamics and analyze flight performance through wind tunnel testing.

January 26 – Airport Environment & Communication

• Learn how pilots and air traffic controllers work together to keep airports operating safely and efficiently. Students ages 5-8 and 9-12 will be introduced to coding and problem-solving as they program robots to navigate an airport environment. Students ages 13-17 will explore aviation communication procedures and gain hands-on experience with air traffic control concepts.

February 23 – Flight Planning

• Discover what it takes to make safe and successful flying decisions. Students ages 5-8 will learn about weather, maps, and basic navigation. Students ages 9-12 will build on these skills by reading aeronautical charts and practicing on computer flight simulators. Students ages 13-17 will tackle more advanced flight planning and fly using Redbird flight simulators.

March 23 – Fabrication

• Explore the skills and techniques used to build an airplane. Students will gain hands-on experience with riveting, soldering, composite materials, and/or other fabrication methods. Each participant will complete a take-home project while learning the craftsmanship and precision required in aviation.

April 20 – Engineering

• Build, test, improve, and try again! Students ages 5-8 will continue developing coding and programming skills through engaging robotics challenges. Students ages 9-12 and 13-17 will use drones to solve real-world aviation and engineering problems while learning about design, teamwork, and innovation.

May 25 – Take Flight

• Celebrate the end of an exciting year of aviation exploration with a memorable flight experience. Young Eagles flights will be available for students ages 8-17, weather permitting. Registration for this free event will open in early April.