Lesson Overview
In this lesson, students will learn a brief history of rockets, rocket design, and build and test a foam rocket. This lesson can be used in a larger Force and Motion Unit.
Duration
Multiple days
Lesson Type
Project Based Lesson
Essential Question
What variables influence the maximum distance a rocket can travel?
Grade(s):
Subject(s):
Recommended Technology:
Other Instructional Materials or Notes:
5, 8
- Computers
- Interactive board/tv
- 1:1 devices
- NASA Apps for Smartphones and Tablets https://www.nasa.gov/connect/apps.html
- Padlet
- Apps for formative assessments (Socrative, Quizlet, Quizizz, etc
- NASA Rockets Educator’s Guide. The activities and lesson plans contained in this educator guide emphasize hands-on science, prediction, data collection and interpretation, teamwork, and problem solving. The guide also contains background information about the history of rockets and basic rocket science.
- “Procedures for Building a Foam Rocket” handout
- “Redesigning a Rocket Challenge” handout
- Directions and materials for building a foam rocket
- “Making Thinking Visible Strategy” (teacher resource)
- “Presentation Rubric”
- Missile to Moon, documentary. Published on Aug 15, 2013 This video is a documentary of Von Braun from "Alabama Public Television Documentaries"
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Log In to View LessonStandards
- Science and Engineering Practices
- Physical Science: Forces and Motion
- 8.P.2 The student will demonstrate an understanding of the effects of forces on the motion and stability of an object.
- 8.P.2A Motion occurs when there is a change in position of an object with respect to a reference point. The final position of an object is determined by measuring the change in position and direction of the segments along a trip. While the speed of the...
- 8.P.2A.3 Construct explanations for the relationship between the mass of an object and the concept of inertia (Newton’s First Law of Motion).
- 8.P.2A.4 Analyze and interpret data to support claims that for every force exerted on an object there is an equal force exerted in the opposite direction (Newton’s Third Law of Motion).
- 8.P.2A.5 Analyze and interpret data to describe and predict the effects of forces (including gravitational and friction) on the speed and direction of an object.
- 8.P.2A.6 Use mathematical and computational thinking to generate graphs that represent the motion of an object’s position and speed as a function of time.
- 8.P.2A Motion occurs when there is a change in position of an object with respect to a reference point. The final position of an object is determined by measuring the change in position and direction of the segments along a trip. While the speed of the...
- 8.P.2 The student will demonstrate an understanding of the effects of forces on the motion and stability of an object.
- Science and Engineering Practices
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Log In to View LessonLesson Partners: S2TEM Centers SC, Knowitall.org, ETV Education