Especially for Teachers

The Mini Page — 2003 Activities

Pioneers with Wings

This week´s standards:

Students understand that history relates to events and people of other times and places by identifying examples of interesting Americans. (Social studies: History)

Students use biographies and stories to understand the individuals who are honored by the nation. (Social Studies: History)

Activities:

1. Many flying clubs have their own flags and military groups have patches. Design your own flag or patch. Let your flag/patch show something you like to do.

2. Look in today´s Mini Page to find the pilots or astronauts who (a) had different careers before they became fliers, (b) went to military school, (c) flew in more than one war, and (d) were the very first to accomplish something related to flying.

3. Pilots and astronauts get a lot of attention, but there are many other people who help the fliers and service the airplanes and spacecraft. Make a list of all the people who support flying.

4. Make a list of the knowledge, skills and personal qualities demonstrated by the pilots and astronauts in today´s Mini Page. Now find people in the newspaper who have the same knowledge, skills and qualities even though they aren´t pilots.

5. Use reference books and the Internet to learn more about one of the pilots or astronauts. Use these questions to guide your research: When did the individual live? What was life like for African-Americans in that time period? What personal challenges did the individual face in trying to become a pilot/astronaut? What personal or professional triumphs did the person achieve?

Dr. Sherrye D. Garrett
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

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