LineUp With Math and FlyBy Math are two activity sets developed under Smart Skies, a key part of the NASA Airspace Systems Program's educational efforts. The two activity sets are standards-based and enable students to use mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills to investigate and solve air-traffic control distance-rate-time problems. The activities are appropriate for grades 5-9.

Check out the lesson plans below to use Smart Skies right away in your classroom!

Lesson Plans:

FlyBy Math (Grades 5-9):This set of activities uses real-life applications of mathematics: students predict air traffic conflicts as air traffic controllers, pilots, engineers, and NASA scientists. There are five different problems for students to solve, each building upon the previous one and using the same parameters: starting distances, speeds, and separation distances.

LineUp With Math (Grades 5-9): Applying decision-making and proportional reasoning skills to distance-rate-time problems using authentic air traffic control scenarios. Using a web-based interactive Air Traffic Control (ATC) Simulator and accompanying workbooks, students learn the mathematics and strategies to solve air traffic control problems that involve two or more planes. The students' challenge is to "line up" the planes safely at a given intersection of jet routes.