NASA LIFTOFF

Instructional Case

Understanding Motion and Forces Through Rocketry author: Rachel Melogno

NASA Lift Off, 2010

NASA LIFTOFF

Instructional Case

teacher: Rachel Melogno

school: I-Poly High School

course/grade: Physics, grade 12

district: LACOE

email: RachelMelogno@gmail.com

NASA LIFTOFF

Instructional Case

What is most important to consider when building a space faring rocket?

Using the 5E model, students will explore how rockets are launched to a specific location (destination), the requirements for planning and implementing the acquisition and use of the resources (logistics), and design considerations for scientists (safety).

generative question:

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Instructional Case

Motion and Forces #1, a, b, c, d, f, h, i, j

Investigation/Experimentation#1 a, b, c, d, e, f, g, i, j, k, n

learning objectives (key standards):

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Instructional Case

•Pre-instructional unit assessment•Daily homework•Students generated questions•Cornell Notes•Frequent quizzes•Labette write-ups•Lab reports•Cumulative kinematics and dynamics test.•Post-instructional unit assessment

assessment overview:

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Project MARS 2011Student teams will construct water

rockets and successfully launch them. Each team will be issued a budget, write a report on, and launch a rocket designed to stay in the air for the longest time possible.

capstone project:

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Instructional Case

21-day Instructional Case

•11 group problem solving days, most of these days allot for direct instruction; roughly 65% problem solving, 35% direct instruction. •1 formal test day•9 hands-on activity days; labettes, lab, capstone activity

key lessons & activities:

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Instructional Case

•Labettes: Activities found in NASA Rockets Educator’s Guide (five of them worked with my IC)•Lab: To Infinity and Beyond!•Capstone: Project MARS 2011

5E inquiry activities:

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•PROJECT BASED LEARNING•Essential Questions•Group based-learning•5E Emphasis•Open Ended Labs with Solid Extensions•Multiple Measures for Assessment•Reflection (KWLH Technique and Cornell Notes)•Rubrics•21st Century Skills Emphasis

integrated pedagogy:

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•NASA Facts sheets (such as Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster Retrieval Ships.pdf, Solid Rocket Boosters and Post-Launch Processing.pdf, etc…)

•Rockets, An Educator’s Guide in STEM (NASA resource): http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Rockets.html

NASA resources:

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Instructional Case

Top 3 Skills – Emphasis of Pedagogy•Critical Thinking and Systems Thinking: Apply scientific knowledge and skills to make reasoned decisions about the use of science and scientific innovations.

•Problem Identification, Formulation and Solution: Plan and conduct practical tests to solve problems or answer a question, collect and analyze data using appropriate instruments and techniques safely and accurately.

•Accountability and Adaptability: Create a culminating team project that demonstrates content knowledge and conceptual understanding and shows connections between science content and real-world settings.

key 21st century skill integration: