Lesson 1
Project Goals
– Make a rocket and launch it;
– Learn the structure and function of the parts of a space rocket.
Teacher’s Guide
– Divide students into groups;
– Pupils should be familiar with the topic of spaceships;
– Before starting the experimental part, familiarize and provide the students with all the necessary materials;
– Conduct a brief instruction on working with scissors and cardboard products.
Safety in Steam Lessons
Before starting a lesson, the teacher is advised to familiarize himself with the safety precautions. If necessary (in the case of using the items specified in the TB), conduct a brief briefing for students. Follow this link Safety in Steam Lessons
Theoretical part
What is a rocket? Or how can we get to space? A rocket (from Italian rocchetta – a small spindle) is an aircraft moving in space due to the action of jet thrust.
Photographer: Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/ru-ru/photo/73871/
The space rocket has a jet engine. Fuel is loaded into the rocket tanks and set on fire. The fuel begins to burn and turns into a highly heated gas. This highly heated jet of gas escapes with great force through a hole in the bottom of the rocket and pushes the rocket in the opposite direction. You could see how the air in the inflated balloon escapes when released and the balloon quickly flies in the opposite direction. We will use this principle in the practical part. So let’s get started.
Practical part
1. Take paper and wrap it in a tube.
2. Cut out the circle and divide it in the middle.
3. Take one half and make a cone.
4. Install the cone on one end of the pipe using tape.
5. Now let’s make the bottom part. Cut out triangles and glue them to the body of the rocket.
6. Take a ball, a tube, and an elastic band. As in the photo, place the tube in the ball and wrap it tightly with an elastic band so that the air comes out only from the tube.
7. Put the balloon in the rocket and inflate it from the tube. To hold the air, hold the tube and release allowing the air to escape through the tube.
Ready. When a lot of air comes out of a narrow hole in one direction it allows the rocket to move in the opposite direction. Like a jet engine in space rockets.
In this project, each student will be awarded a STEAM title in two categories:
– You understand how rockets take off into space, you are a real physicist!
– You reproduced the flight of a rocket using jet power, you are a real engineer!
Evaluation
PBL grading criterion:
Project-based learning is a learning method in which students acquire knowledge and skills by working on a single project to explore and find an answer to a genuine, interesting, and complex question, problem, or challenge.
