Reading directions activities
19 Activities for Middle School Students to Improve Following Directions
Whether 1-step directions or multi-step directions, students need practice and clear expectations. Students follow hundreds of directions every year at school and at home. In order to improve their ability to process oral directions and listening skills, you can incorporate fun activities into your school day.
Try some of these 19 activities and notice the difference you will see over a period of time, as students improve with following directions.
1. Science Experiments
Incorporate your school curriculum into teaching kids to follow directions. Using science experiments in your school setting will improve academics, engage students, and strengthen students' following directions skills and abilities.
Learn More: Moms
2. Learn to Code
Further developing science skills and learning to code are beneficial for so many reasons. In addition to helping students learn computer science skills, they can also work on fine motor skills and improve following directions skills. Coding is ideal and appropriate for all grade levels.
Learn More: Teach Your Kids Code
3. Following Direction Logic Puzzle
This worksheet takes on the form of a riddle or secret code to be solved. For students who need a break from screen time, let them try to decipher the code by solving the riddles. The following directions worksheet is a good way to also encourage critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Learn More: Centervention
4. Paper Folding Activity
Simple instructions will be easy to follow and form a unique craft! This activity uses multi-step directions to have students create a paper masterpiece. Students will need to pay attention to directions and details to be successful in this awesome activity.
Learn More: Speech Snacks
5.
Boat Craft This fun and challenging activity allows some creative freedom but requires multi-step directions as well. This activity is great for upper elementary teachers or middle school teachers to use with their students.
Learn More: Pedia Staff
6. Building From Scratch
This activity will require key listening skills. Teaching students to make something with their hands is a great way to improve following directions. This is ideal for motor skills as well. Students may have a harder time working with their hands, so making the teacher aware of expectations is key.
Learn More: Moms
7. Coloring Worksheets
Giving the child directions for this printable activity is key. Lists of directions are included for students to read themselves or for the teacher to call out to them. Precise directions will help students know when to do each step in the process.
Learn More: Tam Aqua K12
8.
Summer Olympics Following Directions Game This adorable summer Olympics game is great for following directions. Perfectly themed activity sheets are designed for listening activities that focus on teaching students 1-step directions, 2-step sequential directions, and even 3-step sequential directions.
Learn More: Speech Time Fun
9. Leaf Craft
This leaf craft is a perfect hands-on activity for teaching students the importance of following directions. As they listen and perform each task in each step, students' following directions skills will improve with practice.
Learn More: Inspontaneous Speech
10. Following Directions Map
These easily printable maps are easy to use. There are several themes to choose from. Each is accompanied by a list of instructions. Students can read them or listen as teachers read them aloud.
Learn More: Making Learning Fun
11.
Star Wars Directions Game Fun games, like this Star Wars following directions game, are great for helping students practice how to properly follow directions. This interactive game allows students to work within groups and collaborate and interact with others.
Learn More: Teach This
12. Glyphs
Glyphs are a fantastic resource for upper elementary and middle school students who need to practice following directions. Students will use white drawing paper to draw a picture, based on listening to directions and using what applies to them individually.
Learn More: Teach With Me
13. Before and After Statements
These before and after statements are great for older kids. This is a way to let students interact in groups and follow directions. On slips of paper, you will write in events and use them to complete this activity.
Learn More: Miss Barrett Speech Language
14.
Listening Skills Holiday Sheet These printable worksheets will be helpful for children with language skills needing improvement or for students to practice following directions. They are holiday themed and ideal for key listening skills and multi-step directions.
Learn More: Resources From Rachel
15. Can You Follow Directions Quiz Sheet
This fun quiz-type sheet is helpful in assessing how well students follow directions. This is a great way to see if they can follow targeted directions and if not, where the breakdown occurs so you will know what to work on.
Learn More: The Worksheets
16. Following Directions: Directions Sheet
This directions sheet is a breakdown of 4-step directions. Each section requires students to look ahead to see what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. They are working to follow directions in each step.
Learn More: The Worksheets
17.
Relay Races Relay races get students up and moving. Teachers can customize this activity to get students to practice following directions in a nontraditional way. Students can follow directions and work with their teams to see who can win each challenge.
Learn More: Mr Physed
18. Following Direction Worksheet
This following directions activity is good for working on following directions and literal directions. Students can cut and place items in places, dependent on prepositional directions. This is especially good for bilingual students.
Learn More: The Worksheets
19. Paper Airplanes
Constructing paper airplanes is fun and ideal for practicing following directions.
Let students use a template and guide for directions or orally tell them what to do. Either way, they will get good practice and finish with a nice end result.
Learn More: Speech Snacks
7 Core Following Directions Activities for Kids That'll Improve Listening
Inside: Quick and easy following directions activities for kids that will help them practice self-control, emotional regulation and improve listening skills.
There was a joke traveling around years ago from Carrie On Y’all that said, “Maybe if I start yelling ‘Get your shoes on!’ the night before, we could get to school on time the next day.”
Honestly, the struggle is real.
Kids need A LOT of practice to learn basic life skills.
Following directions activities can support better listening skills in your child.
Teaching kids to follow directions isn’t as simple as doing a listening activity for kids, watching fairy dust shower from above, and seeing your kids transform into magical listeners.
Several years ago I was getting ready to take my son to school. He insisted—like life or death insisted—that he needed to wear his green shoes.
So I helped him find his green shoes, laid them out on the floor, and then realized I made a horrible mistake.
He shook his head and said, “No green shoes, mom. Nooo!”
In exactly two minutes, the green shoes went from being my complaining child’s most prized possession to the most horrible and disgusting shoes one could don.
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- 2 year old not listening? Try this remarkable tip.
- 10 Totally Awesome Tricks for Independent Kids
Teaching kids to follow directions – let’s simplify.
1. Connection first. Attention follows.
A few brief moments using SAY WHAT YOU SEE®, where you describe what your child is thinking, doing, feeling or saying, makes a big difference. This is the building block of connection, and when kids feel connected to you, they are for more likely to cooperate.
It might sound something like, “You’re drawing a picture with big green squares and red lines.”
No brainer, right? And yet, I still find myself talking to my kids without taking a brief moment for connection.
Sharing a set of instructions before you briefly connect with your child is like speaking foreign language. It can fall flat.
I know I have my child’s full attention when I have two things:
- Eye contact
- Eyes level (get down to the child’s level).
2. Be short and specific.
Kids tend to hear a lot of conversational white noise when adults are speaking to them. Say exactly what needs to be said for your child to follow your directions. Trim everything else out.
Instead of… “Hurry up. We gotta get out the door for this appointment. Get your coat lets go.”
Try… “Coat please.” Or, “You’re missing a coat.”
3. Use “wait time.”
This is a great strategy that I learned from a teacher. After giving a set of instructions to your kids, pause for 3-7 seconds to allow their brain to process and apply the information.
Research shows kids are more likely to follow directions if you give them “wait time” or a hearty pause.
As adults, we are used to processing information much quicker, but kids…they take time.
Think of it this way: Keeping realistic expectations and waiting is the difference between you giving up and throwing your tea in the air vs. you calmly taking a sip of your tea while you employ “wait time.”
4. Unless you are offering a choice, don’t ask.
If your directions aren’t up for negotiation, keep that door firmly closed. Offering choices is a fabulous way to help end power struggles and enjoy a happier home.
But…everything in life is not always a choice. If you can’t offer a choice within a parental boundary you feel good about, give instructions as a statement, rather than a question.
Instead of… “Can you pick up your toys?”
Try… “I see toys on the floor and it’s time to leave.”
Or if you’d like to offer a choice, you can say something like, “I see blocks and dolls.
Show me which one you want to put away first.”
5. Practice using following directions activities.
In order to build great listening skills, kids need a lot of practice…A LOT.
Which makes sense! I think we all can relate to needing a lot of practice before we can get good at anything. I could tell you a few stories about burnt dinner rolls for the past five years, but that’s a story for another day 🙂
Related:
- 50+ Best Simple Games for 2 Year Olds and Up
- The Ultimate List of Board Games for 2 Year Olds
7 core following directions activities for kids.
There are several good ‘ole fashioned standby games to play with kids to help them 1) Listen and hear what you are instructing and 2) Practice following the directions you shared.
1. Simon Says
One person is Simon or Elmo or Dora or Spiderman or Teacher or Whoever, and this person is the “leader.” Simon gives a set of instructions and everyone else follows.
The person who doesn’t follow the instructions is “out.” And the person who follows the instructions throughout the game, wins Simon Says.
2. Red Light, Green Light.
One person is the leader who calls out “Red Light” or “Green Light.” When the leader calls out “Red Light,” everyone stops. When the leader calls out “Green Light,” everyone goes. Anyone who doesn’t stop or freeze during “Red Light” is out.
3. Follow the Leader.
Take a walk around your house or outside and whatever you (or the leader) does, everyone else must follow. This is a great game to allow your child to be the leader and have you follow your child. It’s a perfect opportunity to model following directions for your child!
4. Map Game
Try this map game and help your kids work their way through the grid following the directions given. Practice counting and using the words left, right, forward, and backward.
5. Two-step direction games.
Do one of these 2-step direction games with your kids.
This is perfect for preschoolers and above! Have your kids follow some of the 2-step directions throughout the day (e.g. Shake your head “yes” and then quack like a duck.) Brilliant!
6. Lego® Game
If you have kids who are old enough to play a board game, try this Lego Game to help your kids practice reading directions and following them.
7. Visual direction activities.
With kids, visual directions are so important! You can make life simpler and fun using visual directions for your kids, such as a printable daily schedule for kids.
- Bedtime routine cards
- Morning routine cards
- Mealtime routine cards
Using routines is a great way to support cooperation and help your kids learn to follow directions.
They are also energy saving, AND a great way to avoid yelling “Green shoes!” ten times every morning or “Eat your dinner!” six times every evening.
Grab your FREE Following Directions Checklist Here!
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Adjust the direction and position of text in a shape or text box in Word
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Text boxes and most shapes can include text. Text can be arranged horizontally or vertically, as well as on a single line or wrap around it in multiple lines.
You can change the direction of text and the margins of text boxes and shapes for optimal spacing, or resize shapes to better fit text.
Set the text direction in a shape or text box
You can change the reading direction of text in a shape or text box. So you can power text at 90 or 270 degrees to make it highlightable.
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Right-click the edge of a shape or text box.
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Select Format Shape from the shortcut menu.
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In area Shape Format click Size & Layout & Properties .
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In the Text field list box, select the desired option in the Text direction list box.
Rotate (mirror) text in a shape or text box
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Right-click the box or shape and select shape format .
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In the area Shape Format , select Effects .
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Select rotation 3-D, and then in the field Rotation X or Rotation Y enter 180.
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(Optional) If the text box is filled with color, you can delete it in the Format area of the shape. Select Fill & Lines , select Fill , and then select No Fill .
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(Optional) To remove the text box outline, right-click it, on the mini toolbar, click Outline, and select no outline .
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You can select the paragraph, line of text, shape, or text box you want to change.
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Navigate to main and select the desired horizontal alignment option.
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Right-click the border of a shape or text box.
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In the shortcut menu (Shape Format), select Format Shape.
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In the Shape Format area, select the Size and Layout & properties .
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Select the desired option from the list Vertical alignment .
When text wraps, it automatically continues on a new line as it reaches the right border of a shape or text box.
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Right-click the border of the shape or text box that you want to wrap.
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Select Format Shape from the shortcut menu.
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In the Format Shape area, select Size and Layout & Properties, and then select Wrap Text in Shape .
Margin is the distance between the text and the outer border of the shape or text box.
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Right-click the border of a shape or text box.
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Select Format Shape from the shortcut menu.
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In the Shape Format area, select the Size and Layout & properties .
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Specify the size in centimeters or millimeters (mm) for any of the following fields:
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Left margin Distance between the left border of the shape and the text on the left
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Right margin Distance between the right border of the shape and the right text
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Top Margin . Distance between top border of shape and top text -
Bottom margin Distance between bottom border of shape and smallest text
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You can automatically increase the vertical size of a shape or text box so that the text fits inside it.
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Right-click the border of a shape or text box.
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Select Format Shape from the shortcut menu.
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In area Shape Format Select Layout & Properties , select Text Box , and then select Shape Size Fit Text .
Tip: To shrink text to fit a shape or text box, select Shrink Text on Overflow .
Set the text direction in a shape or text box
You can change the direction of text in a shape or text box. For example, you can rotate text 90 or 270 degrees to display vertically.
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Right-click the edge of a shape or text box containing text.
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In the shortcut menu (Shape Format), select Format Shape.
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In the left pane of the dialog box, select the text box .
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In the list Text markup, select the desired option in the list Direction text.
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Select Close .
Rotate (mirror) text in a shape or text box
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Insert a text box or shape into your document, and then enter and format the text.
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Right-click the box or shape and select shape format .
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In the dialog box Shape Format, select Left Rotation.
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In field X-axis enter 180.
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Select Close .
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Click the paragraph, line of text, shape, or text box you want to change.
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On the Home tab, select the desired horizontal alignment option.
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Right-click the border of a shape or text box.
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Select Format Shape from the shortcut menu, and then select Text Box from the left pane.
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In the list Text layout select the desired option in the list Vertical alignment .
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Select Close .
You can automatically increase the vertical size of a shape or text box so that the text fits inside it.
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Right-click the border of a shape or text box, the size of a shape or text box.
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In the shortcut menu (Format figure) select item Format Shape (Format figure), and then select Text box (Text box) in the area on the left.
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In the AutoFidden area, select Fit shape to text.
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Select Close .
Tip: To shrink text to fit a shape or text box, select shrink text at on overflow .
The inner margin is the adjustable distance between the text and the outer border of a shape or text box.
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Right-click the border of a shape or text box.
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From the shortcut menu, select Format Shape , and then select Text Box in the left pane.
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In the Internal field field, select one or more of the following options:
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ARROW LEFT Specifies the distance between the left border of the shape and the text.
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RIGHT ARROW Specifies the distance between the right border of the shape and the text.
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Top Specifies the distance between the top border of the shape and the text.
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Bottom . Specifies the distance between the bottom border of the shape and the text.
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Select Close .
Set the text direction in a shape or text box
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Press control and click the border of the shape or text box with text, and then select Shape format .
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In the Shape Format area on the right, select Text Options .
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Select the third Text message icon, and then select the option you want from the list Text direction .
Horizontal position of text in a paragraph, text box, or shape
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Click the paragraph, line of text, shape, or text box you want to change.
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Navigate to main and in the group Paragraph select the desired horizontal alignment option.
You can automatically increase the vertical size of a shape or text box to fit text inside it.
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Click the border of the shape or text box, the size of the shape or text box, the size of the shape, and select Format Shape.
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In the Shape Format area on the right, select Text Options .
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Select Layout & Properties and then select the box next to the Shape Size box to enter text .
By default, text automatically wraps as you type into a text box or shape. To prevent this from happening, follow the steps below.
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Click and click on the shape that contains the text, and select the format shape .
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In the Shape Format area on the right, select Text Options .
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Select Layout & Properties and then collapse it next to Text Wrap to figure .
Specify the direction of text in a shape, text box, or table cell
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Enter text in a shape, text box, or table cell, and then output the text.
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Click the selected text by pressing CTRL and choosing format figures . On the Text box tab in the dialog box, select a direction in the Text box Direction text.
Position text horizontally in a shape or text box
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You select text in a shape or text box.
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On the Home tab , in the Paragraph area, select the horizontal alignment button.
( Align Left, Center , Align Right, Right or Spread Text )
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You select text in a shape or text box.
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On the Home tab, in the Paragraph area, select , and then select the desired vertical alignment.
By default, text automatically wraps as you type into a text box or shape. To prevent this from happening, follow the steps below.
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You select text in a shape or text box.
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Go to > Shape Format .
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On the left side of the dialog box, select the text box .
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In the Inner box box, to display the text in the shape, expand it.
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You select text in a shape or text box.
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Go to > Shape Format .
In menu Format select item Shape .
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On the left side of the dialog box, select the text box .
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In the AutoFidden area, select Fit shape to text.
XLIX Gagarin Readings
April 11-14, 2023 the XLIX International Youth Scientific Conference "Gagarin Readings" will be held at MAI.
The conference will be held on in person : in person at the MAI in compliance with all measures to counteract the spread of coronavirus infection.
Students, graduate students and young scientists of higher educational institutions, research centers and institutes, aerospace complex are invited to participate under the age of 27 (inclusive) .
Scientific directions of the conference:
- Aviation systems;
- Aircraft, rocket engines and power plants;
- Control systems, informatics and electric power industry;
- Information and telecommunication technologies for aviation and rocket and space systems;
- Economics and management of aerospace enterprises;
- Rocket and space systems;
- Robotics, intelligent systems and aviation weapons;
- Mathematical methods in aerospace science and technology;
- New materials and production technologies in the field of aviation and rocket-space technology.
Also within the framework of the conference there will be a school section and a section for foreign students (in English).
Please note that this year the Proceedings of the conference will be formed from the abstracts of the participants who spoke at the conference with a report.
Attention!!! All conference participants, including MAI students, are required to draw up and attach an expert opinion in their personal account.
The conference will be held in the Main Academic Building of the Moscow Aviation Institute at Volokolamskoe sh. 4, bldg. 6. Entrance from the street. Dubosekovsky.
On April 12, 1961, a new era in the development of civilization was opened - the era of human exploration of outer space. The beginning of this era is inextricably linked with the name of Yuri Gagarin, the first cosmonaut of our planet.
In memory of this outstanding event, in the spring of 1974, on the eve of Cosmonautics Day, the first student Gagarin readings were held at MATI - Russian State Technological University named after KE Tsiolkovsky, laying the tradition of an annual student scientific conference.
In turn, the Moscow Aviation Institute also had its own traditional youth scientific conference, known since 2010 as the scientific and practical conference of young scientists "Innovations in Aviation and Cosmonautics". The conference was also held in April.
In connection with the merger of the two universities, in 2016 the relatively young May conference was integrated into a conference with a richer past.
