Engage and Prompt
Begin the lesson by reading the children’s book “Roaring Rockets” which describes rockets and the space theme astronauts, countdowns, blast-offs and moon samples. Use the engaging rhymes and illustrations to captivate the students’ attention. After reading, ask open-ended questions to stimulate curiosity, such as: “What do you think makes a rocket rise and soar?” and “How do you imagine astronauts prepare for a rocket launch?”
Wonder and Explore:
Have students engage in small group discussions to share their observations and ideas from the book. Prompt them to think about aspects of rocket launches and space travel that interested them. Ask questions like: “What do you think helps a rocket stay on course?” and “How do you think we could test different rocket designs?” Each group should identify testable questions based on their discussions such as “How does the size of a rocket affect its flight distance?”
Investigate:
In the investigation phase, students will create and race their own rocket mice using the Rocket Mouse template, milk cartons and different sized bottles. They will experiment with different designs and bottle sizes to observe how these factors affect the performance of their rocket mice. Children will be encouraged to apply their testable questions by altering the variables and taking notes as they go.
Reflect and Share:
Each group will present their rocket mice, describe their design process and explain the outcomes of their experiments. Ask guiding questions such as: “What did you learn about how different designs impact the rocket’s performance?” and “What might you do differently next time?” This reflection helps consolidate their understanding and allows them to discuss what worked, what didn’t and why.