This activity book is intended for ages 9+. It tells the amazing true story of how two bicycle-making brothers from Ohio, with no more than high-school educations, accomplished a feat that forever changed the world. At a time when most people still hadn't ridden in an automobile, Wilbur and Orville Wright built the first powered, heavier-than-air flying machine. Woven throughout the heart-warming story of the two brothers are activities that highlight their ingenuity and problem-solving abilities as they overcame many obstacles to achieve controlled flight. The four forces of flight - lift, thrust, gravity, and drag - and how the Wright brothers mastered them are explained in clear, simple text. Activities include making a Chinese flying top, building a kite, bird watching, and designing a paper glider, and culminate with an activity in which readers build a rubber-band-powered flyer. Included are photographs just released from the Wright brothers' personal collection, along with diagrams and illustrations. The history of human flight and its pioneers, a time line, and a complete resource section for students are also provided.
Mary Kay Carson is a nonfiction children's book author. She's written more than twenty books for kids about wildlife, space, weather, nature, and other science and social studies topics. She was presented with the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics 2009 Children's Literature Award for her book, Exploring the Solar System. For information about author visits, go to: www.marykaycarson.com.
