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March Contest
This is the sixth of many contests celebrating Wright
Flyer Online. These contests are open to all students between the grades
of Kindergarden through twelveth. The grade categories are as follows:
K through 4th
5th through 8th
9th and 12th
Congratulations to the Winners!
Read the directions and rules below for this month's
contest. We hope you enjoy participating in these activities.
Wright Flyer Creative Writing Contest
Contest Description
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High School (grades 9 - 12) Writing Prompt
Descriptive essay of 2 - 3 pages
This Spring a replica of the Wright Brothers'
Flyer will be tested in the wind tunnel at Ames Research Center. During
the test, many measurements will be taken for yaw, pitch and roll,
the airplane's stability during these motions as well as its lift-to-drag
ratio at various angles of attack. Pretend you are the replica as
it is tested in the wind tunnel. Describe the sights, sounds and the
feel of what is happening all around you before, during and at the
tests' conclusion.
Include a description of the process of attaching
the measuring devices to your fuselage and wings. Describe how it
feels to you, the airplane to have the engineers embed these devices
into you. Include a description of the mounting procedure as you are
placed on the sting and mounted in the tunnel. Describe what the wind
tunnel looks like and what kinds of sounds it makes during the test.
From your perspective as the aircraft, describe your movement during
the tests and how the airflow changes and moves around you. Conclude
with how you feel about the entire procedure after the tests are finished.
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Middle School (grades 5 - 8) Writing Prompt
Descriptive essay of 1 - 2 pages
During the wind tunnel test of the replica of
the Wright Flyer, many measurements will be taken. While the aircraft
is going through the motions of yaw, pitch and roll, the tests will
measure the airplane's stability . Measurements will also be taken
for lift and drag at different angles of attack. Pretend you are the
replica as it is tested in the wind tunnel. Describe the sights, sounds
and the feel of what is happening all around you before, during and
at the end of the test.
Explain how you, the airplane, feels as the measuring
instruments are attached to your fuselage and wings. Picture with
words how you are mounted on the sting and placed in the wind tunnel.
Describe what the inside of the wind tunnel looks like and the sounds
it makes once the test begins. As you, the airplane, are being tilted
into different positions with the air flowing around you, describe
what all your senses are picking up. End your story with how you as
the airplane felt about the entire wind tunnel test.
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Primary School (grades K - 4)
Picture essay (length is open)
Pretend you are the Wright Flyer replica being
tested in the wind tunnel. Using all your senses tell about what it
was like to be put tested in the wind tunnel. Tell about how you are
tilted as the wind blows around you. Tell how you feel during the
test and after the test is done.
How To Submit
1. It is preferred that entries be submitted by e-mail.
If this is not possible you may use postal mail to submit your entry.
2. For E-mail Submission:
In the e-mail message include:
Address your submission to: aerocontest@quest.arc.nasa.gov
All entries must be e-mailed no later than March 30th, 1999.
3. For Postal Submission:
On the back of the paper include the following
information:
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Your name
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Your grade
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Your return address
Put it in an envelope and mail it to the address
listed below:
AeroContest
NASA Ames Research Center
MS-223-3
Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000
All entries must be postmarked no later than March
30th, 1999.
Judging Criteria
Judging criteria:
Entries will be judged according to the following
criteria:
-
That it follows the content as specified by
the prompt.
-
The writer's use of figurative language and
descriptive expression.
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Proper grammar and punctuation usage.
Please note:
Winning entries and entrants names will be posted
on this web site.
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