C.S. Duncan Books

Veteran • Author • Aviator • Advocate

Grandfather teaching two children aviation STEM concepts while building and flying paper airplanes inside a realistic aviation workshop classroom.

Complete STEM Curriculum • Ages 6–12

Children learning about aviation with pilot, air traffic controller, and smiling airplane at an airport runway with planes flying overhead

Aviation for Kids

A complete 40-lesson STEM curriculum that teaches children how airplanes fly — through hands-on experiments, real-world aviation concepts, and structured lessons built by a retired military helicopter pilot.

40

Lessons

129

Slides

4

Sections

2

Exam Levels

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Child learning aviation skills inside a realistic aircraft flight simulator with illuminated cockpit controls and educational aviation displays.
aviation STEM program
 

Overview

What Is the Aviation for Kids STEM Program?

The Aviation for Kids STEM Program is a complete, step-by-step curriculum that teaches children ages 6–12 the fundamentals of flight. Through 40 structured lessons, students learn how airplanes fly, explore aircraft parts and systems, study aviation history, and connect flight to broader STEM concepts like physics, engineering, and mathematics.

Created by C.S. Duncan — a disabled veteran and former military leader with real-world aviation experience — the program is designed to be taught by any parent, teacher, or educator with no prior aviation knowledge required.

Educational aviation poster showing a commercial airplane with arrows illustrating the four forces of flight: lift, thrust, drag, and gravity. The poster introduces Flight Fundamentals lessons 1–10 for beginner aviation students.

Flight Fundamentals

The four forces of flight, lift, thrust, drag, gravity, how airplanes take off, cruise, and land. The physics of why flight works.

Educational aviation poster featuring a small green-and-white airplane labeled with key aircraft parts including wings, engine, rudder, elevator, flaps, landing gear, and fuselage. Designed for aviation lessons 11–20.

Aircraft Parts & Control

Airplane components, cockpit instruments, engines, wings, landing gear, control surfaces — roll, pitch, yaw, flaps, and ailerons.

Educational aviation poster showing a commercial jet on a runway with sections about aircraft systems, navigation, communication, airport operations, and flight procedures. Covers aviation lessons 21–30.

Systems & Operations

Elevators, rudder, fuel systems, weight and balance, navigation, communication, ATC, airports, runways, and taxiways.

Educational aviation poster featuring an airliner on a runway with storm clouds, weather graphics, safety topics, drones, urban air mobility vehicles, and future aviation technology concepts. Covers lessons 31–40.

Weather, Safety & Future

Weather, wind, turbulence, clouds, storms, visibility, icing, decision making, aviation careers, and the future of flight.

Every Lesson Includes

How Each Lesson Works

Every lesson follows the same repeatable 10-section format — designed for engagement, retention, and real learning.

 

Big Idea

Core concept in one sentence

What to Know

Age-leveled explanation

Guided Practice

3 questions with answers

Draw It

Visual learning activity

Try It

Hands-on experiment

Real World

Aviation connection

Think About It

Critical thinking

Vocabulary

5 key terms per lesson

Quick Check

Assessment questions

Extension

Challenge activity

Two children assembling a model airplane together during a hands-on aviation STEM classroom activity.

Built by an Aviation Professional

Created by a Retired Military Helicopter Pilot

This curriculum was developed by C.S. Duncan — a retired U.S. Army aviator with 24 years of service, including special operations aviation, aircraft accident investigation for NAVAIR, and teaching aeronautics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

Every lesson reflects how aviation is actually taught — simplified for young learners, but grounded in real-world principles.

Read the author's full story →
Young girl studying a historic aircraft inside an aviation museum while holding aviation sketches and STEM learning notes.

Latest Articles

Aviation Lessons & Activities

Every lesson follows the same repeatable 10-section format — designed for engagement, retention, and real learning.

 

Create Your Own Paper Airplane (With Science!)

Build, fly, test, repeat! Learn how lift, balance, and weight affect flight.

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Kids learning to build paper airplanes with a pilot and air traffic controller, teaching STEM concepts like lift, thrust, and aerodynamics

Air Traffic Control for Kids

Safety and teamwork — how voices in the sky keep every flight safe.

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Kids learning air traffic control with radios and runway model, understanding communication, teamwork, and flight safety

What's Inside a Cockpit?

Step inside the pilot's world — instruments, screens, pedals, and controls

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Kids learning inside an airplane cockpit with controls like yoke, throttle, and instruments, understanding how pilots fly safely

The Four Forces of Flight Game

Turn physics into play — lift, thrust, drag, and gravity in action.

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Kids demonstrating the four forces of flight—lift, thrust, drag, and gravity—through a fun hands-on learning activity

Common Questions

Common Questions About the Program

What is the Aviation for Kids STEM curriculum?
Aviation for Kids is a complete 40-lesson STEM curriculum that teaches children ages 6 to 12 how airplanes fly. It covers four sections: Flight Fundamentals, Aircraft Parts and Control, Systems and Operations, and Weather, Safety, and Future Flight. The complete kit includes student workbooks, instructor guide, 129 slides, two final exams, answer key, and a Junior Aviator certificate. Aligned with NGSS and CCSS standards. Created by C.S. Duncan, a retired U.S. Army helicopter pilot.
 
The four forces of flight are Lift (upward force from the wings), Gravity (downward force of weight), Thrust (forward force from engines), and Drag (backward force of air resistance). When all four forces are balanced, an airplane flies straight and level. This concept is the foundation of aeronautics and is taught in Lesson 1 of the Aviation for Kids curriculum.
 
Aviation for Kids is designed for ages 6 to 12 with two levels. Level 1 (ages 6-8) uses simplified language, drawing activities, and hands-on experiments. Level 2 (ages 9-12) includes technical vocabulary, critical thinking, and written analysis. Each level has its own workbook and final exam. The instructor guide includes differentiation strategies for both age groups.
 
The complete kit includes a Welcome Letter, Start Here setup guide, Level 1 student workbook (ages 6-8), Level 2 student workbook (ages 9-12), comprehensive instructor guide, four PowerPoint slide volumes with 129 total slides, Final Exam Level 1, Final Exam Level 2, complete answer key with explanations for every question, and a printable Junior Aviator certificate. All files are delivered as an instant digital download.
 
Yes. All 40 lessons are aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) for engineering and physical science, and Common Core State Standards (CCSS) for reading and mathematics. The curriculum is suitable for homeschool families, classrooms, co-ops, after-school programs, and STEM enrichment programs.
 
Aviation for Kids was created by C.S. Duncan (Clemons S. Duncan), a disabled U.S. Army veteran who served 24 years as a helicopter pilot, led aircraft accident investigations for NAVAIR, and taught aeronautics at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Every lesson reflects how aviation is actually taught — simplified for young learners but grounded in real-world principles.
 

Let Their Dreams Take Flight

If a student completes all 40 lessons, they will understand how airplanes fly better than most adults.

Get the STEM Program — $79
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