How are Catapults like Drones?
Almost since the dawn of warfare, armies have sought ways to inflict the most damage on their enemies at the lowest cost to their own troops. Technologies from catapults to cannons have been developed with these simple goals in mind. Modern Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are just the latest version of these weapons, and like so many other ideas devised for warfare, military drones have spawned an entire industry of non-military UAVs. In this Inquiry Unit, students explore the origins of drones and their related technologies. They discuss the military and non-military applications of UAVs, as well as the ethical questions raised by their use.
IEEE REACH creates free units of study, following the Inquiry Design Model, that engage your students in an exploration of the interaction of technology and history. Our C3 units span the spectrum of history from Athenian triremes to military drones, all while honing historical thinking skills like document analysis and persuasive writing. Every unit is the product of professional research by historians of engineering and technology adapted for high school students by experienced educators – and everything we offer is free to teachers and their students!
Technology is an integral part of history. It didn’t start with STEM – it’s been there all along. No matter your level of technological understanding, you can bring the stories of technology and engineering into your history classes with IEEE REACH. Registration is easy, fast, and everything is FREE! Create an account today, and bring technology and history together in your classroom – just like it is in real life!
To download this unit, or any of the free REACH resources, click on the link below and share with your class today!
Photo by Jared Brashier on Unsplash
