Lesson Overview

Students explore the forces of flight and compare traditional glider construction with 3D printed fabrication. This hands-on lesson introduces the principles of lift, weight, drag and dihedral design, then guides students through assembling and testing a 3D printed unpowered glider. The lesson follows a compare-assemble-test-reflect pedagogical model, connecting theory with practical outcomes during flight testing.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1
Explain the forces acting on a glider: lift, weight and drag
2
Compare traditional glider building with 3D printed glider construction
3
Describe the 3D printing workflow and its advantages for rapid prototyping
4
Assemble a 3D printed unpowered glider correctly and safely
5
Observe and record flight behaviour, then suggest design improvements
6
Reflect on the trade-offs between traditional and digital fabrication methods

Singapore Curriculum Alignment

Aligned to MOE Design & Technology (Lower Secondary): visualisation and modelling of design ideas, understanding materials, construction and prototyping, and application of digital fabrication technologies. Supports the Applied Learning Programme (ALP) framework for computational thinking and design iteration.

Prior Knowledge Required

Basic understanding of forces (push, pull, gravity)
Familiarity with simple flying objects (paper planes, kites)
No prior 3D printing experience required

Materials & Resources

Item	Quantity
3D printed glider components (wings, fuselage, tail, nose weight)	1 set per student
Student worksheet (v3)	1 per student
Assembly reference guide	1 per student
Digital stopwatch or timer	1 shared per group
Measuring tape or metre rule	1 shared per group
Gentle launch area (clear indoor space or outdoor calm day)	1 shared area

Safety Notes

Handle glider components carefully — 3D printed parts can be fragile at thin sections
Launch gliders gently and only in the designated direction
Ensure launch area is clear of people and obstacles before each flight test
Do not throw gliders hard or aim at other students
Pick up gliders carefully after landing to avoid stepping on components