Hi, my name is Sarah and my favourite space fact is ‘There are more stars in the universe than grains of sand on all the beaches on Earth’.
Inquiry-based activity in the classroom.
Experiment taken from Discover Primary Science
Rocket Launch
Students will explore how a rocket launches through exploring forces such as push and pull.
Materials:
Large balloons (long shaped), Balloon pump, String 3-4 m long, Drinking straw, Clothes-peg, Sellotape,Two chairs
Introduction: Show a video of a rocket launching
Ask, “What do you see?, ‘How is the rocket launching?, ‘How does it stay in one direction?’
Engagement: Show a video of a rocket launching
Discuss the terms push and pull
Exploration: Provide the materials
Blow up a long shaped balloon and let it go. Notice what happens.(The balloon will travel off in random fashion as the air rushes out the back of it.) Now control the path of the balloon by connecting it to a piece of string. (The balloon will whiz along the string).
Explanation: Gather students and have them share their models.
Discuss how the air coming out of the back of the balloon pushes the balloon forward. This is Investigating and experimenting how rockets work – the hot burning gases rushing out the back of the rockets push them forwards.
Elaboration: What will happen if we use different shape balloons?
Evaluation: Ask students to draw their models and discuss if the balloon went further with more or less air in it.
Conclusion:
Reinforce the key points