Plotting the Path
Put your geographical knowledge and mapping skills to the test and plot out the route that the Vickers Vimy travelled in its epic 27 days and 20 hour flight.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
Practise researching skills to learn about the story of the Vickers Vimy G-EAOU.
Create a mapped flight path and flight ledger, reflecting the reality of the Vimy’s epic flight.
SUCCESS CRITERIA:
Demonstrate research skills, geographical understanding and mapping abilities to complete the task.
GETTING STARTED
Have your students ever heard of Australia’s Great Air Race? Do they know the names Ross and Keith Smith? If so, what do they know about them? What is their understanding of the beginnings of air travel?
Get to know the story with one or both of these short videos:
The Greatest Air Race – Trailer
Epic Flight Centenary
Optional: Complete the Reading Comprehension lesson to bolster students overall understanding of the topic.
PLOTTING THE PATH
Students will be learning about the Vickers Vimy and its flight path and apply their knowledge to the task. Begin by reading/researching about the aircraft. Students can work in small groups to complete the Yesterday and Today worksheet, comparing flying on the Vimy with flying today. Discuss the findings as a class.
Hand out the Plotting the Path worksheet and instruct students to work with the timeline and any other mapping resources that they need to complete the flight ledger and flight path map.
Take time for students to share their maps and compare their findings.
NEXT STEPS
There are so many things to learn, so dive deeper and sink your teeth into one or more of these single-lesson or longer format activities available on the Vickers Vimy Learn page.
CURRICULUM LINKS
Year 3
Mathematics – Interpret and create two-dimensional representations of familiar environments, locating key landmarks and objects relative to each other (AC9M3SP02).
HASS – Interpret information and data displayed in different formats (AC9HS3S03). Locate, collect and record information and data from a range of sources, including annotated timelines and maps (AC9HS3S02).
Year 4
HASS – Locate, collect and record information and data from a range of sources, including annotated timelines and maps (AC9HS4S02).
Year 5
HASS – Locate, collect and organise information and data from primary and secondary sources in a range of formats (AC9HS5S02).
Year 6
HASS – Locate, collect and organise information and data from primary and secondary sources in a range of formats (AC9HS6S02).
Year 7
Geography – Create descriptions, explanations and responses, using geographical knowledge and methods, concepts, terms and reference sources (AC9HG7S06).