Professional Learning  ›  Content-Area Teaching  ›  Workshops  ›  Aviation & Aerospace
a ready-to-run workshopAviation & Aerospace
← Professional LearningContent-Area Teaching · Workshop

Teaching Aviation & Aerospace Education (Workshop)

Aviation and aerospace education captures students' imagination while teaching serious STEM, from the physics of flight to navigation, weather, engineering, and careers from pilot to aerospace engineer. It turns fascination with flight into rigorous, career-connected learning.

Key takeaway

Aviation and aerospace education turns fascination with flight into rigorous STEM, physics of flight, navigation, weather, engineering, and connects to a wide range of aviation and aerospace careers.

Format
PLC / team meeting
Length
45 minutes
Group size
Any (works 4-40)
Who can run it
Any teacher-leader
You will need
Slides (5)Printed handoutAn aviation topic in mindA timer
Aligned to
Learning Forward: Rigorous ContentInTASC 4: Content KnowledgeNext Generation Science Standards; CTE
Share / assign

Why it works

Aviation and aerospace education is a growing field that leverages students' fascination with flight and space to teach rigorous STEM, the physics and aerodynamics of flight, navigation, meteorology, engineering, and more, while connecting to a wide range of high-demand careers (pilots, mechanics, air traffic, aerospace engineering, drones). Strong programs combine rigorous science and math, hands-on and simulation-based learning, real-world and career connections, and often industry-aligned pathways. Teaching it well channels the natural interest into genuine STEM learning and career awareness, not just excitement about planes.

The research: Aviation and aerospace education standards; NGSS; CTE.

The run-of-show

Choose your slot. The agenda, timings, and length update to match.

    The core activity: channel fascination into STEM and careers

    Teachers leave with an aviation lesson teaching rigorous STEM and careers.

    Fascination with flight, into real STEMAviation and aerospace education teaches rigorous STEM, physics, navigation, engineering, and connects to many careers. Channel the fascination into genuine learning.

    Facilitator notes

    Excitement about planes alone is not STEM learningAviation education that stays at the wow-factor misses the rigorous STEM. Teach the physics, navigation, and engineering, and connect to careers.

    Adapt it

    Participant handout

    One page for every teacher. Print it, or save it as a PDF.

    K12 Academics · Professional Learning

    Aviation & Aerospace: fascination into STEM

    <b>Flight into real STEM:</b> physics of flight, navigation, weather, and engineering, with hands-on learning and careers.

    1. The aviation or aerospace topic:
    2. The rigorous STEM I teach (physics, navigation, weather, engineering):
    3. The hands-on or simulation learning:
    4. The career connections:
    5. How I channel the fascination into learning:

    Make it stick

    Fascination into STEM:

    Common questions

    Is aviation education just for future pilots?
    No. It covers a wide range of careers (pilots, mechanics, air traffic, aerospace engineering, drones) and teaches rigorous STEM, physics of flight, navigation, weather, engineering, useful far beyond flying.
    What STEM does it teach?
    The physics and aerodynamics of flight, navigation and math, meteorology, and engineering, rigorous content with a compelling real-world context.
    How do I make it hands-on?
    Use simulations, models, and real-world and industry connections, and tie the fascination with flight to genuine STEM learning and careers.

    Go deeper

    Build it into a bigger day

    Workshop
    Teaching Engineering & Design
    Workshop
    Teaching Science Through Phenomena
    Workshop
    Career & Technical Education