Rocket Riot

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Constructive Learning | Infusion Level
Subject: Math

Video Transcription

This is sixth grade earth science, and one of the things we do in earth science of course is to study earth’s place in the universe, so we study space. I like to culminate that unit with the study of rockets. NASA has put together a wonderful program, which takes a couple of weeks to do.

The idea of course is to get them interested in rockets, which is the catch of this program, but along the way they’re learning how to write checks, they’re learning how to work in groups, they’re learning how to manage, they’re learning how to delegate work to people who are more expertise in other areas of the project than others.

We bring weather in this, because obviously today is a windy day, as you can tell by my hair being blown, and they have to decide do they want to angle their launch into the wind. To help them out NASA has also put a great simulation rocket simulator together, where they can go in an type in all the perimeters of the rocket, the length of the rocket, the weight of the rocket, the width, even the thrust that they’re going to have coming off of this. The simulator will give them an idea of how high it will go and also accurate it will be when its coming in on its landing.

[Student 1 speaking]

First we found a rocket simulator, built really really close to this rocket. You just enter the measurements, and like diameter, width, and then you can do the materials and then it just simulates a launch, and you can set the angle, and set the wind speed.

[Student 2 speaking]
And have some fun times playing around with it.

Video Transcription

[Teacher voice over]

This is sixth grade earth science, and one of the things we do in earth science of course is to study earth’s place in the universe, so we study space. I like to culminate that unit with the study of rockets. NASA has put together a wonderful program, which takes a couple of weeks to do.

The idea of course is to get them interested in rockets, which is the catch of this program, but along the way they’re learning how to write checks, they’re learning how to work in groups, they’re learning how to manage, they’re learning how to delegate work to people who are more expertise in other areas of the project than others.

We bring weather in this, because obviously today is a windy day, as you can tell by my hair being blown, and they have to decide do they want to angle their launch into the wind. To help them out NASA has also put a great simulation rocket simulator together, where they can go in an type in all the perimeters of the rocket, the length of the rocket, the weight of the rocket, the width, even the thrust that they’re going to have coming off of this. The simulator will give them an idea of how high it will go and also accurate it will be when its coming in on its landing.

[Student 1 speaking]

First we found a rocket simulator, built really really close to this rocket. You just enter the measurements, and like diameter, width, and then you can do the materials and then it just simulates a launch, and you can set the angle, and set the wind speed.

[Student 2 speaking]
And have some fun times playing around with it.

Objectives

Students will develop rocket building companies (groups of 3 or 4).
Students will design, draw to scale, and construct a bottle rocket.
With a budget of $1,000,000.00, each company will develop a budget and plans for a bottle rocket.
Students will identify rocket specifications and evaluate rocket stability by determining center of mass and center of pressure.
Students will use NASA’s RocketModeler to evaluate their rocket’s flight. This is accomplished by taking accurate measurements of their rocket and entering these values into the simulator program.
Students will successfully launch their rockets for maximum height.
Students will develop a financial analysis and demonstrate the most economically efficient launch.

Procedure

Day 1- A request for proposals is given to students to develop a rocket, using materials from a specific list. Students form their companies, discuss design ideas, and make preliminary rocket sketches.
Day 2- Companies make their materials list and develop a budget.
Day 3- Companies begin buying materials and constructing their rockets.
Day 4- Building day
Day 5- Finish building rockets
Day 6- Begin rocket silhouette construction to find center of pressure and begin rocket analysis. Use NASA RocketModeler Simulator to evaluate rocket stability.
Day 7- Complete pre-launch analysis and simulation evaluations.
Day 8- Launch Day!
Day 9- Complete paper work on post launch results.

Technology Present

Copy/team of NASA’s Project X-35
Altitude calculator
NASA RocketModeler Simulator

Grade Level: 6-8

Note: The TIM is about teaching, not technology. The placement of a lesson on the TIM is based entirely on the teaching practices demonstrated in the lesson and not on the specific technology employed. Effective pedagogy is our concern, not whether the tech involved is the latest, greatest, or most expensive. In fact, most of the sample videos were recorded some time ago as part of the original development of the Technology Integration Matrix. As you view these videos, focus on the teaching practices. When using the TIM-O to observe a lesson, remember that you can display the detailed indicators by clicking the tab on the right if you are completing a Matrix-based observation or are reviewing the TIM profile of a question-based lesson. The TIM Tools Admin Guide contains additional suggestions for observing a lesson and developing a TIM profile.

Video Reference Number: 1094

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