This week in Year 2, our classroom transformed into an aircraft hangar as we took to the skies—through design and technology! Building on our History of Flight topic, where we learned about the incredible achievements of the Wright brothers, we explored the design of early aircraft and brought our own flying machines to life.
The Wright brothers, Orville and Wilbur, made history in 1903 with the world’s first powered flight. Their famous aircraft, the Flyer, was a biplane, which means it had two wings stacked one above the other. We learned that this design helped provide extra lift and stability. As aircraft design evolved, engineers began to favour monoplanes—planes with a single pair of wings—for their speed and efficiency.
In DT, we put our knowledge into action. Children were challenged to design and build their own model aircraft using materials such as cardboard, paper straws, lolly sticks, and glue. First, we looked at key features of biplanes and monoplanes, then sketched out our designs, thinking carefully about structure, balance, and wing placement.
The classroom buzzed with creativity and collaboration as we tested different shapes and materials to ensure our planes were both strong and aerodynamic. Some of us chose to replicate the Wright brothers’ biplane, while others experimented with monoplane designs. We even held a mini “test flight” session to see which designs flew the furthest—or stayed up the longest!
This hands-on project helped us deepen our understanding of historical innovation and the principles of flight, all while developing our problem-solving, sketching, and construction skills.
We’re so proud of the children’s imaginative designs and how confidently they linked their learning across subjects. The sky’s the limit for Year 2!
How to help at home
If your child has been inspired by our DT and history work, here are some fun and simple ways to extend their learning at home:
Try a Paper Plane Challenge
Experiment with different paper plane designs together. See which ones fly the furthest or stay in the air the longest. Talk about why some designs work better than others—just like real engineers do!
Read Together
Look for books or videos about the Wright brothers or the history of flight.
Get Creative with Junk Modelling
Use recycling materials like cereal boxes, tubes, and bottle tops to create your own model aircraft at home. Encourage your child to think about how to make it strong and balanced.