This facilitators’ guide and corresponding interactive student notebook addresses a growing need for solid instruction, inquiry, and development of 21st century skills in aviation, at the high school level. This instructor guide delivers the resources necessary for high school teachers to provide an excellent introduction to aviation. The guide promotes aviation as an innovative field and includes exploration of aviation as an industry and the study of the fundamentals of flight, while exploring the various career opportunities available within the aviation industry.

The guide and accompanying digital materials include plans for research-based teaching of technical information, standards-based activities, assessments and resources all designed to engage students’ different learning styles. It is intended to be used by professionals entering a high school aviation classroom with varying industry expertise and experiences. All lessons are planned for a standard, 50-minute lesson time, or could be combined to accommodate block scheduling. Lessons may be taught independently within any subject (science, technology, engineering, math, history, language arts) or used as a comprehensive aviation-themed curriculum. Each lesson plan includes an introduction, education standards, essential questions, purpose, how to accomodate students with special needs, preparation, comprehensive directions for the lesson activity, steps, instructor guidance, and assessments. The curriculum is intended to be used for grade levels 9-12, and is aligned to Next Generation Science Standards, Common Core State Standards for Math and Language Arts, and North Dakota Aviation Standards.

This curriculum provides 14 essential topics divided into chapters to engage the next generation of the aviation workforce. It has been backwards designed; that is, goals were set before choosing instructional methods and forms of assessment. Topics include: the science of flight, aviation history, career paths, aerodynamics, principles of navigation and flight control and related operations and services. As part of a rigorous curriculum, this guide helps teachers to develop students’ skills and passion to pursue careers in the aviation and aerospace industry. With this guide, non-aviation teachers, who have the skill to teach new topics, will have the resources and aviation-related activities needed to engage students and develop their passion for aviation.