Helping Your School Start an Aviation Class

By Cindy Hasselbring

It’s back to school time for many students across the country! Here at AOPA, we are working with teachers this summer to prepare them to teach new AOPA ninth grade aviation STEM courses this fall at their school. Approximately 80 high schools across the country will be teaching these classes; some of which are launching an aviation program for the first time. These courses are sure to excite students about aviation and aerospace through many hands-on activities, such as building a wind tunnel out of cardboard and testing foamboard airfoils, designing and launching tissue paper hot air balloons, designing a habitat for a marshmallow to survive the harsh environment of Mars, a.k.a. vacuum chamber, and much more! These courses are just the start of a four-year aviation STEM program AOPA is offering to high schools at no charge, thanks to donations to the AOPA Foundation. All teaching materials are provided – lesson plans, presentations, student activities, student assessments, teacher aids, and more.

One aspect of the curriculum that is especially important to students is a focus on college readiness and career readiness. Whether you are a senior or freshman in high school, it is never too early to start considering what your future options are. There are

many post-secondary options available to high school students beyond traditional routes into 2- and 4-year colleges and universities. While going to college is a great choice, the military, trade schools, and entering the work force also present great options for students. I hear more and more often about employers desperate for workers out of high school, and, offering to pay their college tuition entirely, regardless of their choice for a major. This is great news for students!

If you are interested in helping your school start an aviation class for the 2019-20 school year, please let us know at hs@aopa.org. We all hope that you have a great school year! Blue skies!