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December 2007
Teachers and administrators in all elementary and secondary grades are keenly aware of the importance of their students’
solid foundation in the basics … math, sciences and history.
The perception, however, that technology and the arts are completely separate was seriously attacked nearly fifty years ago
by C. P. Snow (both a novelist and a scientist) in his book The Two Cultures and the Scientific Revolution. Mr. Snow
noted that the purely "practical" approach led to both an intellectual and creative loss to our society, arguing that the
lack of communication between the sciences and the arts would lend cause to a spiritual and visionary loss as well.
The theme of the 2008 program, "Design an Aviation Stamp" was chosen to give the students an opportunity to learn through
research, enjoy the expression of their artistic abilities and consider the relationships between the "basics" and the aviation
education curriculum as students and their mentors interact through the learning medium to arrive at the student’s chosen
design.
The "simple" lesson approach:
• One approach has teachers providing students with information about aviation and aerospace heroes and heroines. Each
student is guided in the development of a short outline describing their theme choice, and then enjoys the transformation
of the written structure into an artistic, creative equivalent.
• In another, students were supplied with topic sentences such as "In rural America, agricultural aviation is vital
to crop yield while urban America knows that airport transportation brings overall community success." Students were then
asked to write additional sentences to support their chosen theme and share their ideas in a "workshop" approach as the "practical"
was transformed into the romantic joy of artistic creativity.
• What are the different types of aircraft? Big transport planes that fly people, mail, animals, food, fresh flowers,
and all sorts of other stuff all over the world – and from place to place in the United States. Helicopters can take
off and land vertically and they are used as an “air taxi” to transport people from one location to another where
landing space is limited. Helicopters are used to saves lives by taking people to hospitals for medical care; helicopters
are used as “air cranes” for construction to help lift steel and other heavy items necessary to build bridges
and other complex structures; and they are used by the military for various missions. What are some other types of aircraft?
EDUCATOR NOTE:
If you or your students would take the extra time, our panel of judges would welcome a note included with each art submission
to help them "see" what the child is seeing in his or her artwork.
Can you think of other uses of the aircraft in your community?
Does your library have books about airplanes?
Have an Aviation Education Day and invite a speaker – call the local airport manager and ask for a recommendation, or
invite a pilot or other aviation career person to be a guest in your classroom.
Please keep the feedback coming in and we will continue to post your comments in the Teachers Lounge where we can all share
ways to use art and science to enhance learning through creative expression.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon!
Frank G. Brewer, III
President and CEO
BTAEA
Click here for a printable version of this page (pdf)
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