User:CaroleannDelJuidice
NAVIGATE TO: Mini-Course: How To Teach Rocketry
About Me
I am the K-5 Instructional Technology Specialist for the Bronxville Union Free School District. Bronxville is a beautiful small suburban community located in Westchester County. It is a unique building because we are K-12. Technically we are three schools housed under one roof. I have 699 elementary students. I teach computer science and robotics to Kindergarten through 5th grade. My job is about 70% instructional and 30% staff development. I work with the K-12 staff to integrate technology into their curriculum. This is my third semester in Albany's CDIT program. I look forward to this journey and all the educational adventures it will bring. Look forward to learning with you all!
My Topic/Purpose
This project is deeply rooted in design thinking and engineering. Rocketry investigates what we know about force and motion, and the principles of flight. Some teachers have a fear of teaching Science. This course allows teachers to comfortably explore Design Thinking and Rocketry to creatively incorporate this knowledge into their curriculum. Teachers will learn how to teach students rocketry and design. By the end of this course they will feel comfortable to walk students through the research process for Isaac Newton, NASA, and concepts of flight and apply the research to their original designs in small groups.
The guided question of this unit is… how can we grow as learners and STEAM teachers to successfully deliver curriculum to students and apply the principles of flight to rocketry design?
Needs Assessment
In today's world, there are few authentic experiences to connect Science, Technology, Mathematics, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics (STEAM). It is necessary to create hands-on exploratory lessons that spark curiosity, drive inquiry, encourage collaboration and to allow for multiple iterations of varying ideas. The concept of rocketry, aerodynamics, properties of flight, and design thinking are complicated topics. However, some teachers have a fear for teaching Science and STEAM-related projects.
Through this hands-on journey for you will have the opportunity to learn in multiple pathways to enhance collaboration skills and encourage teamwork through the design thinking process. Rocketry investigates what you know about force and motion, and the principles of flight. This study will allow you to creatively incorporate this knowledge into your rocket designs. You will research Isaac Newton's Laws of Motion, and princples of flight and apply the research to original designs.
At the end of this course, you will feel comfortable to teach Rocketry to your students and present them with this challenge: How Can We Build a Better Rocket That Will Launch The Highest?
Analysis of the Learner and Context
Students will collect authentic data and make comparisons in teams throughout the whole design process. Teams will collaborate to design and build their rockets. Throughout the process, someone will be the “scribe” who documents the step by step evolution of the project. Students will do their research with Google and other Internet resources. Students will record and document all data in their student Google Drive accounts. They will take notes on Google Docs and share all findings with their team. Teams will use the “comment feature” to reflect, discuss, and plan their next steps of design. They will create team inspiration boards on poster board or can use Google Drawing. Teams will create drawings of their rockets which will include: size, shape, nose cone, number of wings, wing placement, and amount of water needed in a water bottle. A peer assigned team member for each team will record the data recorded on the two launch days. Teams will make note of the angles (using clinometers) and use trundle wheels to measure how far the rocket has landed from the launch pad. Students will graph their findings.
The link between NGSS and CCSS/Math are inherent in the project as students are gathering authentic data to learn the science concepts. Students are graphing their data and creating Google drawings. ELA is included as each student will document and reflect using Google’s G Suite applications. Students will submit team shared documents and slides to support their evidence. Each student is responsible to write an individual “Rocketry Reflection”. Students in each team will work to put together a presentation with all supporting facts and inspiration board showing collected data to present to parents and administration during their launch share day. Design thinking and engineering are deeply rooted in this entire process. Students have little teacher guidance and are encouraged to be as creative as possible. Their designs must have research to support their design. This project directly aligns and touches on all of the tenets of Nature of Science in the Next Generation Science Standards.
Performance Objectives
- Use a multitude of materials to explore designing, constructing, and eventually launching uniquely created rockets.
- Utilize the design process to create multiple iterations of their rockets based on data analysis.
- Problem solve and work through the design process collaboratively with a team.
- Measure and record the angles of the rocket using a clinometer.
- Graph the angles of their rocket.
- Use the basic principles of trigonometry to convert angle measurements to linear measurements.
Curriculum Map
Justification And New York State Standards Connections
Students will collect authentic data and make comparisons in teams throughout the whole design process. Teams will collaborate to design and build their rockets. Throughout the process someone will be the “scribe” who documents the step by step evolution of the project. Students will do their research with Google and other Internet resources. Students will record and document all data in their student Google Drive accounts. They will take notes on Google Docs and share all findings with their team. Teams will use the “comment feature” to reflect, discuss, and plan their next steps of design. They will create team inspiration boards on poster board or can use Google Drawing. Teams will create drawings of their rockets which will include: size, shape, nose cone, number of wings, wing placement, and amount of water needed in water bottle. A peer assigned team member for each team will record the data recorded on the two launch days. Teams will make note of the angles (using clinometers) and use trundle wheels to measure how far the rocket has landed from the launch pad. Students will graph their findings.
The link between NGSS and CCSS/Math are inherent in the project as students are gathering authentic data to learn the science concepts. Students are graphing their data and creating Google drawings. ELA is included as each student will document and reflect using Google’s G Suite applications. Students will submit team shared documents and slides to support their evidence. Each student is responsible to write an individual “Rocketry Reflection”. Students in each team will work to put together a presentation with all supporting facts and inspiration board showing collected data to present to parents and administration during their launch share day. Design thinking and engineering are deeply rooted in this entire process. Students have little teacher guidance and are encouraged to be as creative as possible. Their designs must have research to support their design. This project directly aligns and touches on all of the tenets of Nature of Science in the Next Generation Science Standards.
References and Resources
Isaac Newton Resources to support student research:
Click this resource to see more interesting ways to research Isaac Newton with your students
Isaac Newton Resources
Newton and NASA:
- NASA has a Digital Learning Network (DLN) that links teachers to NASA Scientists via Skype type lessons. We signed up for 10 Things About Rocketry and were literally blown away by the lesson, the visuals, the connections, the questions, the answers and the new thinking that grew out of that lesson.
- David Kelley, founder of Stanford’s d.school and IDEO, wrote a book about capturing one’s Creative Confidence, and his TED Talk is a great precursor to the book. Both are great for a professional book club or in small excerpts for students. It’s an excellent way to frame a conversation on Design Thinking as students will see it’s relevance in the world beyond your classroom.
- As a professional resource, I find myself returning to my original inspiration, the d.school at Stanford. You’ll see why once you travel around their site. Here is a link to their resources page.
- Twitter is a friendly place to grow as an educator. It’s a place to connect with like-minded folks who are passionate about what they do. If you are a tweeter, you know what I mean. If you’re not, I urge you to sign up and get started.
- PBS has created a treasure trove with their Design Squad television show and website. Take the time to watch a few episodes of Design Squad Nation to grasp how brilliant they really are! These young engineers will lead your students through the design process as they take on real challenges and collaborate to meet project deadlines.
Sites For Purchase: