Why Rockets are Why Rockets are AwesomeAwesome

…….and how they can be .and how they can be used to teach your students used to teach your students experimental designexperimental design

By Ringo Dingrando

This presentation, and all the This presentation, and all the presented material, is available on presented material, is available on

www.ringophysics.blogspot.com

Ringo DingrandoRingo Dingrando

High School Physics teacher at the High School Physics teacher at the International School of ManilaInternational School of Manila

7 years teaching physics, 3 years 7 years teaching physics, 3 years teaching IB Physics, teaching IB Physics,

BS in Science Education – U of MissouriBS in Science Education – U of Missouri MS in Educational Studies – State MS in Educational Studies – State

University of New York University of New York

Rocket Liftoff ClipRocket Liftoff Clip

Rocket Liftoff Clip

Rocket Launcher Rocket Launcher demonstrationdemonstration

A youtube clip of the rocket launcher in use.

A Poor Rocket A Poor Rocket AssignmentAssignment

First……….First………. Build a rocket! Build a rocket! You are graded on You are graded on

this. this.

Afterwards…Afterwards… Discuss the physics Discuss the physics

of your rocket.of your rocket. (boring)(boring)

Not gradedNot graded

Emphasis is wrong! Emphasis is wrong!

A Better Rocket A Better Rocket AssignmentAssignment First…First… BuildBuild Maybe Re-buildMaybe Re-build Ungraded Ungraded

Afterwards…Afterwards… Design an ExperimentDesign an Experiment Collect data Collect data Analyze dataAnalyze data IMPORTANTIMPORTANT

Why Lab Design is Why Lab Design is ImportantImportant

Independent Variables?Independent Variables? This is a variable the student will manipulate.This is a variable the student will manipulate.

Dependent Variables?Dependent Variables? This is a variable the student will measure.This is a variable the student will measure.

Variables to Control?Variables to Control?

Why is it important for students to be able Why is it important for students to be able to do this?to do this?

The IB thinks Lab Design The IB thinks Lab Design is Importantis Important

The IBThe IB ““experimental science courses should aim to experimental science courses should aim to

develop experimental and investigative develop experimental and investigative scientific skills” scientific skills” (p. 9 of the group 4 syllabus)(p. 9 of the group 4 syllabus)

AP thinks it is importantAP thinks it is important

How to Make a Great How to Make a Great Design LabDesign Lab

This will relate to the rocket launcher seen earlierThis will relate to the rocket launcher seen earlier

But the steps can be used for any type of But the steps can be used for any type of design lab you likedesign lab you like

1. Get plenty of 1. Get plenty of EquipmentEquipment

Simpler is BetterSimpler is Better

Focus on lab design, NOT mastery of equipmentFocus on lab design, NOT mastery of equipment

Should be interestingShould be interesting

Link: Link: Plans For “Stomp” rocket launcher

Link: A more high tech launcherLink: A more high tech launcher

2. Make students 2. Make students familiar with equipmentfamiliar with equipment

Students play with different variablesStudents play with different variables

My original assignment (LINK)My original assignment (LINK)

Middle Schoolers BuildingMiddle Schoolers Building

High Schoolers LaunchingHigh Schoolers Launching

3. Brainstorm on 3. Brainstorm on variablesvariables

Different combos of independent and Different combos of independent and dependentdependent

Few labs should be duplicatesFew labs should be duplicates

Stick ‘Em Up Stick ‘Em Up BrainstormingBrainstorming

Independent Variables

Dependent Variables

4. Show examples of 4. Show examples of good labsgood labs

Examples should involve different materialsExamples should involve different materials

Here is part of a student labHere is part of a student lab

Student Student lablab

What are some other design lab ideas What are some other design lab ideas that could work well?that could work well?

• An example shown to students (LINK)

Other Lab Ideas?Other Lab Ideas?

5. Write Design Lab5. Write Design Lab

Can be done in class or out of classCan be done in class or out of class

Submitted in soft copy Submitted in soft copy or hard copy or hard copy

Middle School Design LabMiddle School Design Lab

Middle School Design lab example on heart rate (LINK)

High School Design LabHigh School Design Lab

High School Design lab example on rockets (LINK)

6. Provide Feedback6. Provide Feedback

Pick your favorite formatPick your favorite format

IB Rubric is goodIB Rubric is good

It can be modified for non-IB classesIt can be modified for non-IB classes

The IB Lab Design RubricThe IB Lab Design Rubric

My Feedback SheetMy Feedback SheetG4IA Assessment sheet 11/3/2008

Student: Gonzales, JoseInvestigation: Rocket Design LabTime: 2HrsDate(s): 08/01/08

Design

22Defining the Defining the problem and problem and selecting selecting variablesvariables

You formulated a research question and identified the relevant You formulated a research question and identified the relevant variables.variables.Great idea to change the center of gravity of the rocket! No Great idea to change the center of gravity of the rocket! No one else thought of that!one else thought of that!Great sketch graph to help visualize your hypothesis.Great sketch graph to help visualize your hypothesis.

11 Controlling Controlling variablesvariables

You do not effectively control variables.You do not effectively control variables.By adding extra tape to the tail every time, you WILL change By adding extra tape to the tail every time, you WILL change the center of mass, but you are ALSO changing the very the center of mass, but you are ALSO changing the very important variable of rocket mass.important variable of rocket mass.

11 Describing a Describing a method for method for collection of collection of datadata

:) Excellent drawing.:) Excellent drawing.You do not state the increments of your independent variable You do not state the increments of your independent variable measurements.measurements.You do not list the range of your measurements.You do not list the range of your measurements.It is quite clear how and where you intend to add the mass, but It is quite clear how and where you intend to add the mass, but how much tape each time? What will be your maximum how much tape each time? What will be your maximum amount?amount?What about multiple trials?What about multiple trials?

44This criteria is only addressedThis criteria is only addressedThis grade will not appear on the PSOWThis grade will not appear on the PSOW

General comments

You are making similar mistakes as you did on previous labs.You are making similar mistakes as you did on previous labs.Please see the feedback on previous labs before you do your next one!Please see the feedback on previous labs before you do your next one!

Ringo Dingrando

Feedback Sheet Feedback Sheet produced by G4IAproduced by G4IA

G4IA: http://www.eduap.com/

You could end here….You could end here….

But if you have time……But if you have time……

7. Do the best labs7. Do the best labs

Or all of them if possibleOr all of them if possible

Or kids do other students’ labsOr kids do other students’ labs Promotes transparency in procedure writingPromotes transparency in procedure writing

8. Take the data8. Take the data

stopwatch

Data recording

Cones for distance

More Data TakingMore Data Taking

Continue on to the endContinue on to the end

Analyze data with graphsAnalyze data with graphs

Write a conclusion and evaluationWrite a conclusion and evaluation

Contextualizing LabsContextualizing Labs

contextualized research grant assignment (LINK)contextualized research grant assignment (LINK)

The EndThe End

This presentation, as well as all This presentation, as well as all supporting materials, student work, and supporting materials, student work, and links are available on my blog…….links are available on my blog……. www.ringophysics.blogspot.comwww.ringophysics.blogspot.com

ringodin@gmail.comringodin@gmail.com dingrandor@ismanila.orgdingrandor@ismanila.org