English/Language Arts
Explore the 2nd person hook
Have students carefully read Author Munro’s first paragraph. Ask students who the author is addressing here? Who does the “you” refer to? Time to define the 2nd person point of view for your students. Have them open their writing journals and try adding a short paragraph that speaks directly to the reader. Try adding a short question challenging the reader’s knowledge. Does it work? Do you make your reader want to learn more? Add this to students’ list of opening paragraph strategies designed to “hook” a reader.
Explore persuasive writing - argument
Author Munro tells readers that the motivation to make a transcontinental flight was provided by newspaper mogul Randolph Hearst who offered a cash prize to the pilot who could accomplish the task in under thirty days. This is one of many examples where private funding sponsored scientific advancement. Public tax dollars are also used to fund scientific research and advancement. After researching examples, have students use table discussion to establish the pros and cons of private and public funding. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
Social Studies
Explore US Geography
Use this Minute to reinforce map skills and geographic intelligence. Get out the US maps and have students find the places mentioned in the Minute, starting in Brooklyn and winding their way to California. Have students identify the Rocky Mountains Rodgers avoided, and use a compass rose to determine direction.
STEM
Explore aeronautics - the science of flight
How exactly do we get airplanes aloft? Use this Minute to begin the exploration of flight - how it works, how it has progressed, and what the possibilities are for the future.
Explore mechanical engineering
One of the critical components of Cal Rodgers success was the availability of spare parts and people who had the mechanical chops to keep the Vin Fizz flying. Despite multiple crashes, these mechanical were able to keep Rodgers flying. Have students take a look at the design of an early aircraft, What would the mechanical challenges be, and what would you have to learn to overcome those challenges?
Research Skills
Explore Media Messages
This Minute gives you a golden opportunity to discuss media messages and sponsorship with your students. Not only do we have a newspaper mogul sponsoring a contest, we also have a plane that was paid for and serviced by a soft drink company. Use this Minute to introduce the concepts of sponsorship and potential bias of media messages, then have students look at some home pages of news outlets to see if they can spot the “sponsored” content. Have them table talk about the potential pitfalls of sponsorship, especially in the news and science arenas.
Explore virtual museums
Thanks to the internet, students no longer have to physically visit museums to gain useful information and access to artifacts. From the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum’s online Wright Brothers exhibit to the Virtual Museum of Pioneer Aviation, have students explore online aviation resources.
Explore the 2nd person hook
Have students carefully read Author Munro’s first paragraph. Ask students who the author is addressing here? Who does the “you” refer to? Time to define the 2nd person point of view for your students. Have them open their writing journals and try adding a short paragraph that speaks directly to the reader. Try adding a short question challenging the reader’s knowledge. Does it work? Do you make your reader want to learn more? Add this to students’ list of opening paragraph strategies designed to “hook” a reader.
Explore persuasive writing - argument
Author Munro tells readers that the motivation to make a transcontinental flight was provided by newspaper mogul Randolph Hearst who offered a cash prize to the pilot who could accomplish the task in under thirty days. This is one of many examples where private funding sponsored scientific advancement. Public tax dollars are also used to fund scientific research and advancement. After researching examples, have students use table discussion to establish the pros and cons of private and public funding. What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
Social Studies
Explore US Geography
Use this Minute to reinforce map skills and geographic intelligence. Get out the US maps and have students find the places mentioned in the Minute, starting in Brooklyn and winding their way to California. Have students identify the Rocky Mountains Rodgers avoided, and use a compass rose to determine direction.
STEM
Explore aeronautics - the science of flight
How exactly do we get airplanes aloft? Use this Minute to begin the exploration of flight - how it works, how it has progressed, and what the possibilities are for the future.
Explore mechanical engineering
One of the critical components of Cal Rodgers success was the availability of spare parts and people who had the mechanical chops to keep the Vin Fizz flying. Despite multiple crashes, these mechanical were able to keep Rodgers flying. Have students take a look at the design of an early aircraft, What would the mechanical challenges be, and what would you have to learn to overcome those challenges?
Research Skills
Explore Media Messages
This Minute gives you a golden opportunity to discuss media messages and sponsorship with your students. Not only do we have a newspaper mogul sponsoring a contest, we also have a plane that was paid for and serviced by a soft drink company. Use this Minute to introduce the concepts of sponsorship and potential bias of media messages, then have students look at some home pages of news outlets to see if they can spot the “sponsored” content. Have them table talk about the potential pitfalls of sponsorship, especially in the news and science arenas.
Explore virtual museums
Thanks to the internet, students no longer have to physically visit museums to gain useful information and access to artifacts. From the Smithsonian’s Air and Space Museum’s online Wright Brothers exhibit to the Virtual Museum of Pioneer Aviation, have students explore online aviation resources.
© Karen Sterling, 2018 - May be used for educational purposes without written permission