Time Travelers: Exploring Our Past and Present · 2nd Year

Active learning ideas

Leonardo da Vinci: Inventor and Artist

Active learning helps students grasp Leonardo da Vinci's genius by connecting observation, experimentation, and invention directly to his methods. When students sketch bird wings, build parachutes, or design nature-inspired creations, they experience firsthand how observation led to innovation in his work.

• NCCA Curriculum Specifications
• NCCA: Primary - Story
• NCCA: Primary - Life, Society, Work and Culture in the Past

• 30–45 min
• Pairs → Whole Class
• 4 activities

Activity 01

• Museum Exhibit
• 30 min · Pairs

Observation Sketching: Bird Wings

Students observe toy birds or printed images, then sketch wing structures noting feathers and joints. Pairs compare sketches and brainstorm flight ideas like da Vinci's. Share one key observation with the class.

Analyze how Leonardo da Vinci's observations of nature influenced his art and inventions.

Facilitation Tip

During Observation Sketching: Bird Wings, remind students to focus on the joint structure and feather arrangement, not just the overall shape.

What to look for

Present students with images of a bird in flight and a Leonardo da Vinci ornithopter sketch. Ask them to write down two similarities in how he observed and depicted movement, and one difference in his approach versus a modern engineer's.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 02

• Museum Exhibit
• 45 min · Small Groups

Model Building: Parachute Drop

Provide plastic bags, string, and cups for groups to assemble parachutes based on da Vinci's sketches. Test by dropping from a height, measure descent times, and tweak designs for improvements. Record results on charts.

Explain how his ideas, though sometimes centuries ahead of his time, still impact us today.

Facilitation Tip

For Model Building: Parachute Drop, ask guiding questions to help groups troubleshoot: 'What happens if you add more weight? How might the shape change the descent?'

What to look for

Facilitate a class discussion using the prompt: 'Leonardo da Vinci's ideas were often centuries ahead of his time. Choose one of his inventions or scientific observations and explain how it connects to something we use or understand today. Why do you think it took so long for some of his ideas to be realized?'

• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 03

• Museum Exhibit
• 40 min · Individual

Invention Design Challenge: Nature Inspired

Individuals brainstorm and draw a simple invention from observing classroom objects or outdoors. Small groups refine one shared design with labels. Present to class explaining nature links.

Design a simple invention inspired by one of Leonardo's concepts.

Facilitation Tip

In Invention Design Challenge: Nature Inspired, circulate to prompt students with: 'Which part of your design is inspired by nature? How does it function?'

What to look for

Provide students with a small card. Ask them to draw one simple invention inspired by nature, similar to Leonardo's approach, and label one part explaining its function. For example, a seed dispersal mechanism or a water-lifting device.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

Activity 04

• Museum Exhibit
• 35 min · Whole Class

Notebook Mimic: Da Vinci Journals

Whole class starts personal notebooks with mirror writing practice and mixed sketches of art plus inventions. Add daily observations over a week. Review in pairs for connections to da Vinci's methods.

Analyze how Leonardo da Vinci's observations of nature influenced his art and inventions.

Facilitation Tip

When students mimic Leonardo's notebooks, encourage them to include labels, measurements, and questions alongside their sketches.

What to look for

Present students with images of a bird in flight and a Leonardo da Vinci ornithopter sketch. Ask them to write down two similarities in how he observed and depicted movement, and one difference in his approach versus a modern engineer's.

• Apply
• Analyze
• Create
• Self-Management
• Relationship Skills

A few notes on teaching this unit

Teach this topic by balancing hands-on exploration with structured reflection. Research shows that students retain more when they connect abstract concepts to physical models or sketches. Avoid overwhelming them with too many historical details; instead, focus on the process of observation and iteration that Leonardo used. Use small groups to encourage collaboration and language development as students discuss their designs and discoveries.

Students will demonstrate understanding by accurately observing details, testing designs through iterative building, and integrating artistic and scientific perspectives in their creations. Success is seen when they explain how Leonardo's approach influenced their own work and identify connections between his sketches and real-world engineering.

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Watch Out for These Misconceptions

• During Observation Sketching: Bird Wings, students may assume Leonardo built fully functional ornithopters.

  Use this activity to highlight that his sketches often represented theoretical designs rather than practical solutions. Have students compare their sketches to actual bird wings and discuss why some features might not be feasible to replicate.

• During Invention Design Challenge: Nature Inspired, students might think all of Leonardo's inventions were practical or successful.

  Use this challenge to emphasize that many of his ideas were conceptual. Ask students to identify one limitation in their design and brainstorm how it could be improved, mirroring Leonardo's iterative process.

• During Model Building: Parachute Drop, students may believe all of Leonardo's inventions failed completely.

  Have students analyze their parachute models for partial successes, such as slower descent or stability. Use this to discuss how some of his designs contained working principles that were later refined.

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Methods used in this brief

• Museum Exhibit