Roller Coaster Mania! July 9th-27th, 2012

California State University,

Northridge

Project STEPS

• 100 students from 4

middle schools in the San

Fernando Valley

– Byrd, Sun Valley, Van Nuys,

and Romer

• GEAR UP is a “discretionary

grant program designed to

increase the number of low-

income students who are

prepared to enter and succeed

in postsecondary education”

(US Dept of Education)

• Grant follows the students

from 7th grade to High School

graduation and beyond, with

grant funds also used to

provide college scholarships

Staff

Schuyler (Science)

Matt (Science)

Chris (Math)

Jenn (Site Director)

Paul (Tech)

Amy (Math)

Jafney (Site Director TA)

Stanley (TA)

Lauren (Tech)

Heather (TA)

Daily Schedule

• 8:15-8:30: Students arrive at CSUN

• 8:30-8:45: Morning announcements and snack

• 8:50-9:35: Rotation 1

• 9:40-10:25: Rotation 2

• 10:30-11:15: Rotation 3

• 11:20-11:30: Wrap-up and Highlights

Students arrived on buses and were given snack provided by STAR or

Project STEPS.

Students were divided into six groups.

Each group had a cool roller coaster name!

Students started in their home groups every day and each group had one

rotation of math, science, and technology

Day One

Meet your Roller Coaster Group!

Crazy Catapults!

Water Balloon Sling Shots

Dr. John Gerard's First Day! Dr. John Gerard of ACE has ridden almost 700 roller coasters!

He came every Wednesday to talk about coasters and help students

develop ideas for their own designs

Bungee Jumping Egg

Oh no! Success?

Coaster Design Project

In the math rotation,

students worked in

design teams to

create their own

coasters!

Each group had a

Project Manager, an

Architect, a Physicist,

and an Engineer

Students had to

research successful

coasters, develop

their own ideas,

design the track and

cars, determine the

energy in their

system, calculate the

cost of their coaster,

and make scale

drawings!

Calculations

Designs

Marshmallow Structures

Roller Coaster Building

On the last week, students

took all of their

knowledge and worked

in groups to take their

designs and build their

own coasters!

You won’t believe

what they came up

with!

Students used vinyl tubing,

styrofoam tubing,

cardboard, rubber

bands, cups, and lots and

lots of tape to build

their creations.

Each group had a coaster name and competed for the

“Overall Best Coaster Award”, plus others like “Scariest

and Deadliest”, “Biggest Loop”, and “Best Use of

Technology”.

Overall Best Coaster Award!

“Rocketeer”

Six Flags Magic Mountain Many students had never been to Six Flags before and

some had never been on a roller coaster before.

This what by far the favorite activity and was a great end to the camp!

Thanks to the effort of many donors,

students were able to take a trip to

Six Flags Magic Mountain!

“Partner to Education Award”

Bolliger & Mabillard is the world’s premiere

roller coaster design firm.

They are located in Switzerland and donated

to out trip!