SHS3 Aviation And Aerospace Engineering · Semester 1 Week 1: Aircraft Structures and Control

Lesson notes

Learning Objectives

Indicator: 3.1.3.LI.1 - Identify the right materials for construction of a small UAV.

By the end of the lesson, learners can:

State at least four common materials used in small UAV construction and describe one key property of each.
Compare materials based on weight, strength, stiffness, and cost when selecting them for a specific UAV component.
Justify a material choice for a given UAV part (e.g., frame, wing, propellor) using at least two property-based reasons.
Build a simple scale model of a UAV airframe using an appropriate classroom material and explain why that material was chosen.
Evaluate a material selection decision made by a peer, offering one strength and one improvement based on engineering reasoning.

Sign in with your phone number to read the full note and download the GES plan - free.

Sign in with phone number

Curriculum details

Strand: Core Concepts in Aerospace Engineering (Strand 1)
Sub-strand: Aircraft Structures and Control (1.3)
Content standard: 3.1.3.CS.1 - Demonstrate knowledge of various types of aircraft construction. 3.1.3.LO.1 Identify the structural design of an airframe. 3.1.3.LO.2 Discuss the flight controls of aerospace vehicle and its impact on the movement of the vehicle. 3.1.3.LO.3 Explain the concepts of static dynamic stability of aerospace vehicles.
Indicator: 3.1.3.LI.1 - Identify the right materials for construction of a small UAV.
Suggested placement: Semester 1, Week 1 (Week 1 of the year)
Our suggestion, laid out in curriculum order across three terms of twelve weeks. NaCCA does not fix the week, so follow your school's scheme of learning.
Curriculum reference: NaCCA curriculum document, p. 93

Exemplars (from the NaCCA curriculum)

Talk for Learning: In a question and answer session, discuss with students, the properties of common materials, emphasizing their weight and strength when considering their suitability for aerospace vehicle construction. Summarise ideas using maps
Teaching and Learning Resources:
- construction * Styrofoam
- Cardboard
Assessment (3.1.3.AS.1). The document marks these depth-of-knowledge levels for this indicator: Level 3 Strategic reasoning.