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Rockets in Motion: I= t is Rocket Science!

Major Unit of Study, Grades 6-8

Fall 2009

WI= NGS Program Goals

To develop the student’s thinking sk= ills

To develop the student’s communicati= on skills

To develop the student’s understanding of self and others=

 
 


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Overall Concept of the Co= urse

Students will explore the scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical foundations of rocketry through hands-on experimentation. Students will des= ign, construct, and test various devices that demonstrate the physical and mathematical principles of rocketry. In addition, students will learn about= the history of rocket science and speculate on its future.  The course objectives support stat= e and national educational standards for science, technology, and mathematics.

Unit Rationale

Rockets in Motion is a course of study specifically designed to meet the needs of gifted middle school students by providing opportunities for students to experience:

••••••••••••••••••••         Mechanical energy comes from the motion and/or relative position of an object

•         The motion of an object is described as a change= in position, direction, and speed relative to another object=

•         Fo= rces are classified as either contact forces or non-contact forces, that can be described in terms of direction and magnitude

•         Newton’s Laws of Motion explain the interaction of mass and forces, and are used to predict changes in motion

•••••         Technological solutions to problems often have drawbacks as well as benefits

•         Social, political, economic, ethical and environmental factors strongly influence, and are influenced by, the direct= ion of progress of science and technology

•         Represent and analyze mathematical situations = and structures using algebraic symbols

•         Use mathematical models to represent and understand quantitative relationships

•         Apply appropriate techniques, tools and formulas to determine measurements

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Understa= ndings

       Stud= ents will UNDERSTAND that:

••••••         Distinguish between examples of kinetic and potential energy

•         Identify and describe the types of forces actin= g on an object in motion and at rest

••••••••••••••         Interpret a line graph representing an object’s motion in terms of distance over time

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Assessments

v     Pretest and posttest of

Ø      the scientific and mathematical principles of motion

Ø      science process skills (observation,= communication, classification, measu= rement,  inference, and prediction)<= span style=3D'mso-bidi-font-size:12.0pt;line-height:150%'>

Ø      science interest and attitudes survey

 

 

Resources=

Phelps, SPS, local and home libraries, and the Interne= t are great sources of information.  Many more resources than the following list will be used.  Some sources are:

   &nbs= p;        Hands-on Physics Activities by James Cunningham

   &nbs= p;        Mastering Basic Skills in Science by Donald Abramson

   &nbs= p;        National Aeronautics and Space Administration:

   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       Beginner’s Guide to Rockets

   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       Beginner’s Guide to Aerodynamics

   &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;       Educator Resource Center at Louisiana Tech University

   &nbs= p;        Reforming Gifted Education by Karen Rogers

   &nbs= p;        Science Olympiad: www.soinc.org<= /u>

   &nbs= p;        The Story of Science by Joy Hakim

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