This fact sheet discusses sustainability and practicality issues for the aviation industry related to electrifying flight as a climate solution.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This resource can help you teach your students about greenwashing, which is one of the best skills you can give them during this age of misinformation.
This helps students think critically about solving problems and considering many facets of an issue.
Additional Prerequisites
This is part of a series of greenwashing fact sheets from Stay Grounded.
Stay Grounded is a Europe-based network of groups aiming to reduce emissions from aviation.
You must copy and paste all resource links from the PDF, as they are not hyperlinked, and some of the links are not supported by secure websites (https).
Differentiation
In English class, groups of students could analyze marketing campaigns from aviation companies to see if they can spot greenwashing in their print or video materials.
You could also share this video that explains greenwashing and how to see through greenwashing.
In a language arts class, have students debate this solution using information from the resources provided and from other credible sources to support their stance. After the debate, have them look up the impact of aviation on greenhouse gases globally and the potential for solutions using the Project Drawdown's Table of Solutions and their fact sheet on Efficient Aviation.
Science classes can discuss the need for better battery technology, research the battery type(s) referenced in the resource materials, and determine what solutions might work using the technology we currently have to utilize solar and wind onboard as well.
Social studies classes could discuss the social impacts of limiting public flights as a transportation option and research the effects of limiting private aviation instead.
Scientist Notes
The resource explains the concept of greenwashing about electric aircrafts. It presents facts on the efficacy of electric aircrafts and their contribution towards achieving net zero from the industry. This is recommended for teaching.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
ETS1: Engineering Design
HS-ETS1-1 Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.
College, Career, and Civic Life (C3) Standards
Dimension 2: Economics
D2.Eco.11.9-12 Use economic indicators to analyze the current and future state of the economy.
D2.Eco.15.9-12 Explain how current globalization trends and policies affect economic growth, labor markets, rights of citizens, the environment, and resource and income distribution in different nations.
Dimension 3: Gathering and Evaluating Sources
D3.2.9-12 Evaluate the credibility of a source by examining how experts value the source.
Common Core English Language Arts Standards (CCSS.ELA)
Reading: Science & Technical Subjects (6-12)
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.11-12.10 By the end of grade 12, read and comprehend science/technical texts in the grades 11-CCR text complexity band independently and proficiently.
