Wright Brothers Lessons and Resources KS1
Explore how the Wright brothers changed the history of flight
Investigate the brothers’ invention, their first powered flight and why they succeeded where others failed. Pupils examine sources and consider how aircraft changed in the years that followed.
Explore teaching resources
Everything for this history topic in one place
The enquiry sequence
Key questions and activities to develop pupils’ historical understanding
7 lessons
Wright Brothers end of unit quiz – KS1
You have learned all about the Wright brothers, who built the first successful flying machine. They were curious, inventive, and never gave up, even when things went wrong. Their hard…
Read MoreWright brothers – assessment task
In this brief diagnostic assessment task , supported by 4 pictorial clues, pupils are asked to show if they understand the notion of significance by describing not only what the…
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Wright brothers knowledge organiser – KS1
For centuries, man had dreamed of flying like birds. By the end of the 19th century, men could rise into the air using balloons, kites and gliders, but always needed…
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Teaching the Wright Brothers as a Famous Person in Key Stage 1
The Wright brothers offers an exciting opportunity for pupils to explore a topic that should engage their interest, provide plenty of opportunities for drama and creative thinking and should fit…
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Wright Brothers – KQ1 – What do you think the Wright brothers did to make them famous?
At the very start of the topic, on the assumption that you haven’t told them what the topic is about!! pupils are shown slide 2 in the form of a…
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Wright Brothers – KQ2 – How did the Wright brothers manage to be the first to launch a man powered flight?
This enquiry comprises a series of three smart tasks: the first is a sequencing task based on storytelling; the second a ‘living graph the third an optional ‘reconstruction relay drawing…
Read MoreWright Brothers – KQ3 activity 1 – Why did the Wright brothers succeed where others had failed?
Sarah Duck describes how her class tackled this key question. The task involves children reading small diamond-shaped text cards, to decide which statements are true or false. They then put…
Wright Brothers – KQ3 activity 2 – Spying on the Wright Brothers.
This reconstruction relay – part of KQ3, Why did the Wright Brothers succeed where others had failed – is fantastic fun as well as helping pupils to look carefully at…
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Wright Brothers – KQ4 – The Wright Brothers first flight. KS1 Prove it!
How can we possibly know about the Wright Brothers first flight when there’s nobody alive now who saw it? This is a question about evidence, one which makes pupils consider…
Read MoreWright Brothers – KQ4 – one teacher’s alternative approach – Wright brothers: prove to me that it really happened
This lesson was taught by Sarah Duck, Leading Teacher for History, Hampshire LA. She kindly describes for us how the lesson went. “Work had already begun on the Wright Brothers’…
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Wright Brothers – KQ5 – How did flight change as a result of the Wright Brothers’ work?
This activity goes beyond simple sequencing of images, which pupils first attempted at the start of the topic, to explaining the nature of the changes that have taken places in…
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Wright Brothers – KQ6 – How should the Wright brothers be remembered?
Commemorating the Wright brother’s achievements with words young children can understand Pupils have to create a plaque to commemorate the Wright brothers’ achievements to replace the incomprehensible one on the…
Read MoreWritten by Neil Thompson
All content on Keystage history is written and quality assured by Neil Thompson, a former history teacher, county history adviser and Ofsted inspector with more than 30 years’ experience in history education.