Module 5: Assignment
Choose one of the activities or activity sets outlined in this module – How would you use the activity in your classroom?
I would conduct a lesson with first class students on designing a balloon rocket. Students will understand the basic principles of rocket propulsion and how air pressure can propel an object forward. They will design and launch their own rocket.
I would begin by showing the Marvin & Mile cartoon on balloon rockets. Discuss what the characters are doing and how rockets work. I would explain that rockets move by pushing air out, which makes them go forward. I would demonstrate this for the pupils. Rockets would be designed using string through a straw. Stretch the string across the classroom and tape each end to a wall. Inflate the balloon, but don’t tie it and tape it to the straw.
Student launch their balloon rockets by letting go of the inflated balloon. I would encourage them to observce how the air coming out of the balloon makes the rocket move along the string. Use measuring tape to measure how far each rocket travels. Question the students on what they observces about how the balloons move, what made the balloon rocket fo forward?, how far did your balloon rocket travel?
To conclude, we would create a classroom chart to record the distances travelled by different balloon rockets and analyse the data together.