Blast Off to Learning!Blast_off.jpg
Activities Page



Day One:

Directions:

1. For the first 15 minutes of class please review the previously covered chapter on Chemical reactions and the assigned section on Energy.

2. In your previously assigned groups you will then design a rocket and the goal is to blast off as high as possible (with your assigned reactants ONLY!). But also keep in mind your creativity and design. You will have 20 minutes to get together and complete your rocket. Be sure to follow the rubric and fill the lab worksheet. Once you have finished you will take a picture of your rocket. Do Not Blast off your rocket until told to do so.

Here are the list of reactants and their corresponding group numbers
CokeMentos.jpg VinegarBakingSoda.jpg H2O&AS.jpg


Cola and Mentos: Groups 1, 4, 7 * Vinegar and Baking Soda: Groups 2, 5, 8 * Water and Alka-seltzer: Groups 3, 6, 9


Here is a video to give you some ideas of where to start. But keep in mind we are not using a hot glue gun and not everyone will have the same reactants as in this video.





The Rubric (you only need to print one per group) *Remember this is what I will be using to grade your rockets so word to the wise read it.

Rocket Rubric


The Lab Worksheet (you only need one per group), this must be complete!

Blast Off Lab Worksheet


3. We will go outside and “race” the rockets one group per category (Baking soda and Vinegar versus Alka-Seltzer and Water versus Mentos and Cola) and video record each race. This should only take 10 minutes. Do not forget to complete your lab worksheet!

4. Once we finish we will had back to class and ALL Rubrics and lab worksheets must be turned in. Please remember to sit with your assigned group tomorrow! (5 minutes)

Day Two:

Directions:

1. You should all be seated with your assigned group, please pair up with the groups you raced against yesterday, you all should now be in 3 super groups. I will provide you with 3 items: Distance data and excel directions from your raced rockets, instructions to make a wikispace, and an assigned flash drive. You will use these in the Media center. (6 minutes)

2. Once we arrive at the media center there will be 3 stations, one super group per station. I will log each of your groups into a wikispace and open Microsoft excel. Complete the excel assignment first and save it to the flash drive then complete the wikispace page. This should take about 24 minutes.

Wikispace Rubric:

Wikispaces Rubric


3. Now you will separate and use all three computers at your station to research information on alternative energy resources compared to our main energy source (OIL). You may use these links to approved search engines and links to approved science websites. You may use the websites but you MUST look for 10 other reliable sources as well and copy them down. (10 minutes)


Search Engines
Websites
Ask Kids
Energy Videos
Kidrex
Energy Movie Room
Kigose
Kids and Energy
Kids Click
Kids Science Spot
Quintura Kids
Energy for Kids

4. When you are finished or time is up your super group will come together and share your thoughts and ideas and answer the two critical thinking questions. Turn in the Flash drive, critical thinking questions, and 10 resources. Then we will return to the classroom (10 minutes)

Be creative! Try not to go for the obvious when thinking alternatively. Here is a video to demonstrate what I mean. Now this video is an example on a small scale, try to think on a much larger scale.