“Where learning takes flight” is the motto for Plaza Elementary School in Baldwin, and that phrase took on a literal meaning on Friday, when fifth graders flew drones around their classroom.
The school has adopted an aviation theme focused on collaboration, creativity and character as part of the 6Cs in education (Character, creativity, critical thinking, communication, citizenship, and collaboration.) This school year, principal Mark Gray and assistant principal Nicole Glier introduced a school-wide project incorporating drones and other aviation-related themes across all grade levels.
As part of the Baldwin School District’s commitment to hands-on learning, the young pilots are now mastering the fundamentals of drone flight. In January, students underwent training using high fidelity, web-based flight simulators — a critical step in building muscle memory, precision control and safety awareness before transitioning to real-world flight.
“At Plaza, we’re starting to build upon our legacy,” Glier said. “Our fifth graders are working with drones, and they’re learning about the connection to our past here at Plaza.”
The school sits on the historic site where Arthur and Albert Heinrich built and flew the first American monoplane, tracing Baldwin’s aviation history to 1910.
The district’s connection to aviation, however, extends beyond Plaza. More recently, Baldwin High School alumna Jasmin Moghbeli, now a NASA astronaut, represents the next chapter in the community’s long-standing commitment to STEM, aeronautics and the exploration of the skies.
The district’s fifth-grade curriculum allows students to explore drone types, parts, history, career paths and regulations, reinforced through hands-on activities such as flight simulations and practical drone skills. Each Friday for the remainder of the school year, fifth-grade students will rotate through stations that include a discovery zone, a simulation lab and a flight school.
“The students get to see the beginning of flying, and then the future of flying,” fifth-grade teacher Lynette O’Brien said. “They get to see all of the different options of what they can do with drones — that they’re not just toys, but they’re actually learning skills that could give them the trajectory of having an amazing job in the future.”
Friday’s flight session allowed students to operate real drones following weeks of simulator training.
Working in small groups, students guided the drones through a classroom obstacle course under O’Brien’s supervision, applying safety protocols and precision controls learned earlier in the program. Teachers and administrators observed as students took turns piloting, spotting and resetting equipment, emphasizing teamwork and responsibility.
The activity was heavy on student collaboration, as the young pilots helped their peers feel comfortable and confident in their flying skills, providing encouragement and tips, when needed.
Mila Salim and Tori Matthias, two students in O’Brien’s fifth-grade class who flew the drones on Friday, told the Herald they relished the experience.
“I enjoyed learning how to land the drone,” Salim said. “Usually, I don’t land in a designated spot, but I landed good this time.”
While the students in the flight school were flying the drones, those assigned to the discovery zone, a curriculum-based group, researched drone pilot careers, including roles in agriculture and wildlife conservation, and created job fair flyers to showcase their findings. Meanwhile, students in the simulation group practiced flying drones in a virtual lab environment, before it was their turn to take flight inside the classroom.
Each station would rotate every 15 to 20 minutes during the 70-minute block, allowing students ample time to tackle each activity.
“The introduction to the drone program brings Baldwin’s Future Ready Competencies to life by engaging students in creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, and responsible citizenship,” Superintendent Anthony Mignella said in an email to the Herald. “By connecting the drone curriculum to Baldwin’s rich aviation history, students gain a deeper understanding of the science behind aeronautics and how innovations have driven progress. These hands-on educational experiences help students thrive in an interconnected world, making learning more meaningful and directly relevant to the skills students need to succeed today and in the future.”
