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Sometimes the easiest answer is the best one. This is certainly the case when it comes to sparking kid’s interest in aviation, engineering, and STEM topics.
So what’s the easiest answer (and the best)? Intuitive, curiosity-lead teaching. Parents and educators can consider leaning into the benefits of the most positive parts of whatever topic they’re introducing,
Think of it this way: When introducing kids to a known positive like, say,broccoli, we don’t feed them stem first. But that’s exactly what we do with STEM.
Note also that the question of how to make something fun for others can be tightly tied to making it fun for yourself. In other words, the more parents and educators know and explore their own natural curiosities within a topic, the easier it will be for them to pick up genuine points of interest. Parents and educators benefit greatly from “taking their own medicine.” If you want to interest kids in aviation, flying, aerodynamics, or STEM topics of any kind,interest yourself first, and everything will be much smoother.
Cool things about aviation? There are a million options, and one of the tried-and-true points of interest is around aviators and pilots. History has many, and both kids and parents find them appealing. Some of the most interesting and talented aviators are also the most controversial. Manfred von Richthofen, the WW1 German fighter pilot, also known as the Red Baron, for instance, or the eccentric billionaire Howard Hughes. Who can resist these stories or these personalities? And who is to say they can’t be natural, positive entry points into the curious minds of children.
Amelia Earhart is a very well-known name from history. She was one of the first-ever pilots to cross the Atlantic in 1928. The accomplishment earned her a U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross.
James H. Doolittle was an expert pilot and American military general. Best known for his 1922 solo crossing of the continental United States,
Baron Manfred Von Richthoven, also known as the “Red Baron” became known during World War I as an incredibly talented pilot in the German Air Force. Afterward, the Red Baron became even more widely known because of his appearance in Peanuts Snoopy cartoons.
The Wright brothers – Wilbur and Orville – performed the first ever successful flight. The brothers are the founding fathers of modern aviation.
Giora "Hawkeye" Epstein (Hebrew: גיורא אפשטיין), today Giora Even (Hebrew: גיורא אבן), is a retired brigadier General in the Israeli Air Force (IAF). He’s one the most successful modern aviators with 17 credited victories, 16 against Egyptian jets and one against an Egyptian Mi-8 helicopter.
There you have it - 5 of history’s coolest pilots. Happy Flying!
If your child or student is interested in jumping into the more hands-on side of flying, here's a great resource for parents and educators: How to make a paper airplane.
If your kid or student is interested in learning about some of history's coolest planes or in making a paper airplane, check out these kid-friendly resources:
History's Coolest Planes | POWERUP for kids