Captain Barrington Irving is in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the youngest pilot and first black man to fly solo around the world. He was born in Jamaica and raised in Miami where he was a stand-out football player until a pilot that was a mentor challenged Barrington to try flying.
Captain Irving started Flying Classroom to expand the STEM+ curriculum that was available to schools. With specialized expedition leaders zooming into the classrooms twice a week the students get to work through engineering design projects that come in a special kit provided by the Flying Classroom. Each class will get an expedition lesson with embedded activities. Each expedition lesson also has a career connection component to help students learn about the STEM+ professional that is involved.
We have 3 schools that through a special grant are getting a chance to experience these STEM+ activities first-hand, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Brooklyn, Saints Joachim and Anne and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in South Ozone Park. The Kindergarten through 2nd grade classes will be learning about aerobatic flight school, the Bionic Chef and animal conservation. The 3rd through 5th grade will have the chance to dive into honey bees, water hydrodynamics and regenerative medicine. While the 6th through 8th grade will be tackling the world of sustainable cities, weather and flight plans and the Orbis Flying Hospital.
Captain Irving will also be setting up a Family STEM+ night where the students will bring special kits home and then the family can join a Zoom session to have a learning experience together on the topic of HALO jumps.
