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Bring Aviation to Middle Schools

If you can reach them, you can teach them.

The middle school years are a good time to talk to students about careers in aviation. [Shutterstock]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Successful aviation presentations for middle schoolers require pilots to prepare by collaborating with teachers, adapting content to the curriculum, and simplifying technical language.
  • Engage students with concise (10-15 min), interactive talks using visuals, simple demonstrations, and age-appropriate activities.
  • Inspire lasting interest by managing classroom expectations, answering questions about aviation careers, and informing students about external opportunities like Young Eagles.
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The middle school years (ages 12 to 14) are often when many develop the interests that they take into adulthood, where they may become careers. Aviation is a good example, especially now as so many schools have implemented STEM curricula (science, technology, engineering and math)—which is a natural fit, as most aviation careers involve several of these disciplines.

Sometimes middle school teachers reach out to the local aviation community looking for pilots who would be willing to visit their class to do a short, age-appropriate presentation about flying.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.

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