Summary
Early aircraft could only glide. The Wright brothers made the first machine to truly fly! Inspired by nature and the inventors who came before them, Orville and Wilbur Wright designed the first powered and fully controllable airplane. Working out of their bicycle shop, the brothers studied the innovations of aviation pioneers like Sir George Cayley and Otto Lilienthal. They discovered the secret of wing warping, copying how birds make tiny adjustments to maintain their balance. They also experimented with different materials and engine types to create a lightweight frame that could stay aloft. On December 17, 1903, the Wrights finally put their ideas to the test on the beaches of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. The historic flight of their Wright Flyer lasted only 12 seconds, but it marked the dawn of modern aviation! So buckle up and press "Play" to learn more about these high-flying innovators.
Viewer safety
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
A few questions to talk through after watching Wright Brothers:
- What is one new thing you learned about wright brothers?
- Can you explain it to a partner in your own words?
- Where might you see this in the real world?
- What is one question you still have?
Quick work-a-long
Try it:
- Write one sentence explaining wright brothers.
- Draw or give one example of your own.