Schools Workshops at the National Museum of Flight

Your pupils will discover more about the forces of flight by building three experiments of their own.

• Suitable for: P5-P7
• Cost: £75
• Dates available: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
• Timings: 10:15/11:45/13:15 (75 mins)

Please check your booking for timings and arrive at the museum at least 15 minutes before the start of your workshop. This session has been adapted to work within current COVID-19 guidelines to provide your class with a safe and enjoyable visit.

Please email schoolsnmof@nms.ac.uk to enquire about availability.

What will my pupils do in the workshop?

By building three experiments of their own, pupils will discover more about the forces involved in flight and how aeroplanes fly.

What will pupils do?

• Learn what a force is
• Find out that air is stuff and can move things
• Learn about the four forces of flight; lift, weight, drag and thrust
• Fold and fly a paper aeroplane to find out about lift
• Make a paper rocket to find out about lift
• Conduct a simple experiment to find out about drag

Useful resources and activities

• Visit our Fantastic Flight interactive flight science exhibition.
• Use the teachers' notes to guide you around the rest of the museum.

Curriculum links

• Science (First)
  • By investigating forces on toys and other objects, I can predict the effect on the shape or motion of objects (SCN 1-07a).
• Science (Second)
  • By investigating how friction, including air resistance, affects motion, I can suggest ways to improve efficiency in moving objects (SCN 2-07a).

Discover what it was like for the pilots who flew in the Second World War.

• Suitable for: P5-P7
• Cost: £75
• Dates available: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays
• Timings: 10:15/11:45/13:15 (75 mins)

Please check your booking for timings and arrive at the museum at least 15 minutes before the start of your workshop. This session has been adapted to work within current COVID-19 guidelines to provide your class with a safe and enjoyable visit.

Please email schoolsnmof@nms.ac.uk to enquire about availability.

What will my pupils do in the workshop?

Explore flying clothing that the pilots at East Fortune wore and find out why this corner of East Fortune became such an important airfield during the Second World War.

What will pupils do?

• Study contemporary photographs and maps and learn how to interrogate them.
• Handle original flying clothing and other equipment from the Second World War.
• Take part in drill that was used to train all Royal Air Force personnel during the conflict.

Useful resources and activities

• Visit the Military Aviation hangar to see Second World War aircraft including the Spitfire.
• Visit Fortunes of War to see interviews with people who served at the museum site during the Second World War.
• Use the teachers' notes to guide you around the rest of the museum.

Curriculum links

• Social Studies (Second)
  • I can investigate a Scottish historical theme to discover how past events or the actions of individuals or groups have shaped Scottish history (SOC-2-03a).
  • I can discuss why people and events from a particular time in the past were important, placing them within a historical sequence (SOC 2-06a).
  • I can compare and contrast a society in the past with my own and contribute to a discussion of the similarities and differences (SOC 2-04a).