Planespotting
An outdoor activity where kids track planes in the sky and learn about navigation
In this outdoor STEM activity, kids will use a free plane tracking app to learn about compasses, speed, navigation, and more...
Basics
- Duration: 1 hour
- Ages: 8+
- Price: $250
- Location: in-person in Montréal, outdoors
- Materials: compasses (provided), devices with free FlightRadar24 app installed
Québec Curriculum Connections
Mathematics
Geometry
A. Space
- 1. Gets his/her bearings and locates objects in space (spatial relationships)
Measurement
A. Lengths
- 1. Compares lengths
G. Time
- 1. Estimates and measures time using conventional units
-
2. Establishes relationships between units of measure
Mathematics
Measurement
D. Angles
- 1. Compares angles
-
2. Estimates and determines the degree measurement of angles
G. Time
- 1. Estimates and measures time using conventional units
-
2. Establishes relationships between units of measure
Science & Technology
Material World
C. Forces and motion
- 5. Characteristics of motion
- a. Describes the characteristics of motion (e.g. direction, speed)
D. Systems and interaction
- 6. Transportation technology (e.g. car, airplane, boat)
- a. Recognizes the influence and impact of transportation technology on people’s way of life and surroundings
- 7. Electron technology
- a. Recognizes the influence and the impact of electric appliances on people’s way of life and surroundings (e.g. telephone, radio, television, computer)
E. Techniques and instrumentation
- 1. Use of simple measuring instruments
- a. Appropriately uses simple measuring instruments (rulers, dropper, graduated cylinder, balance, thermometer, chronometer)
Mathematics
Measurement
A. Lengths
- 4. Estimates and measures the dimensions of an object using conventional units
-
c. metre, decimetre, centimetre, millimetre and kilometre
-
- 5. Establishes relationships between units of measure for length
-
b. metre, decimetre, centimetre, millimetre and kilometre
-
D. Angles
- 1. Compares angles
-
2. Estimates and determines the degree measurement of angles
G. Time
- 1. Estimates and measures time using conventional units
-
2. Establishes relationships between units of measure
Science & Technology
Material World
D. Systems and interaction
- 3. Other machines
- a. Identifies the main function of some complex machines (e.g. cart, waterwheel, wind turbine)
- 6. Transportation technology (e.g. car, airplane, boat)
- a. Recognizes the influence and impact of transportation technology on people’s way of life and surroundings
- 7. Electron technology
- a. Recognizes the influence and the impact of electric appliances on people’s way of life and surroundings (e.g. telephone, radio, television, computer)
E. Techniques and instrumentation
- 1. Use of simple measuring instruments
- a. Appropriately uses simple measuring instruments (rulers, dropper, graduated cylinder, balance, thermometer, chronometer)
What Your Class Will Learn
- understand how to use a compass
- how to track which planes are flying overhead
- learn how fast and how high planes fly
- apply their new knowledge of compasses to track what each plane's "bearing" is
Activity
Students will be put into groups and given a compass. They'll learn what the numbers on the outside mean and how that relates to direction.
Students will then get an overview of how the FlightRadar24 app works.
Afterwards, we'll head outside into an open area and watch for planes flying overhead.
Students will be given a "Log Sheet" where they note the current direction, altitude, speed, and destination of the aircraft.
Throughout the activity, students are encouraged to ask questions, such as:
- what is a knot, and why is that unit used to measure speed?
- how many planes appear to be flying over Montréal? Canada? North America?
- why are some planes bigger than others?
Book Now
Fill out the form below and let's get in touch! You'll receive an email confirmation, then I'll follow-up to confirm a date and anything special you'd like for your presentation.