It Really IS Rocket Science- Part One
It’s not…wait! It IS! It really is rocket science! And, Pop, Pop, Fizz Fizz…oh, what sweet rocket science it is! In the beginning of this fun three part series students learn how a hero spins when it gets all steamed up, pop a top to start their engines, go back in time, mark up maps as they wander all over the world, have a blast with bottles, and find out why Wan-hu said Wahoo! It’s a crazy adventure that just might make you feel over the moon!
Bigger, Better, BOOM- Part Two
Since the earliest days of discovery and experimentation, rockets have evolved from simple gunpowder devices into gigantic vehicles capable of traveling into interplanetary space. Wouldn’t it be interesting to hear the thoughts of those earliest rocket pioneers, with their fire arrows and spinning spheres if they could be brought through time and shown where their discoveries have led (would Wan-hu say wahoo?) In this second installment students find out who first paid the price of the race to space, discover who deserves the fame of the name Rocket Man, debate the rights of some brave four-footed explorers, try to balance a bird on its nose, taste the sweet sensation of speed (and space food!), meet Mr. Newton, and try to break some laws. Rockets have certainly opened an important door to the universe and some brand new doors in our minds!
The Rocket's Red Wet Flare - Part 3
We’ve practiced, studied, and waited, and learned and wondered with our breath bated! When would it be our turn to fly and send water up in the sky! It’s time! Time to build and launch and create, that most marvelous marvel, a rocket that’s great! A rocket that’s launched with dramatic flair. How fun to see water bursting in air! We’ll build it a body that’s perfect and neat and will shoot up high and not fall at our feet! After that we’ll design some fins, for stability and balance are key in controlling the spins! And if our rocket tumbles like a football in a 20 yard fumble, we’ll laugh and we’ll fix and we’ll learn and we’ll run, and we’ll truly discover…rocket science is FUN!
Links for Rocket Unit: Part One:
Access Prior Knowledge:
Watch the fun (and funny!) animated short Pigeon: Impossible: by Lucas Martell to introduce the topic of rockets at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEjUAnPc2VA . or http://martellanimation.com/pigeonimpossible/ (or do a search for Pigeon Impossible)
Or the extraordinary and gorgeously animated short film Countdown by Céline Desrumaux. Athttp://vimeo.com/28760604 or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lym-L3PAFM4 .
Wan Hu Rocket Chair-Sample experiment (not Mythbusters)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmqK7y4DyAs
Links for Part Two:
Soda Geyser Car Manual:
https://www.beamazing.com/Admin/Editor/assets/Product%20Instructions/3825-SodaGeyserCar.pdf
Balloon Rockets:
Find an excellent explanatory/demonstration video of this activity here: http://www.scienceoffcenter.org/science/162-balloon-rockets
Laika:
LAIKA, a short 8:48 minute long film from Avgousta Zourelidi, is a more light-hearted re-imagining of the true story about the first dog in space and what may have happened to her on her momentous journey. An intelligent creature, curious and proud she fulfills her duty taught to her by the scientists back on earth. Laika daydreams of her life before space travel and her humble beginnings on the streets of Moscow. Have students watch it at https://vimeo.com/54536669, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FZ7Pr-AHdw, or http://www.pinterest.com/pin/9781324162678273/
Space Food
“Dining on the Space Station” in which Expedition 26 Commander Scott Kelly provides a look at food and beverages aboard the International Space Station.
http://www.feelslikehomeblog.com/2013/09/how-to-make-astronaut-pudding/ or at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLmc6CJQwLM
These videos are awesome, too:
A tour of the food console from an astronaut and a cosmonaut: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_4aWoZPEd2w&feature=youtube
The following is a tour of the ISS from Sunita Williams, the woman who holds the record for the longest space flight is an awesome space video for kids to watch. She explains how to go to the bathroom in space, how to brush your teeth, how to eat, and lots of other things. It’s incredibly memorable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doN4t5NKW-k&feature=youtube
Moving Up, Moving On:
A fun little animated short related to what might happen at a future moon landing is found here, https://vimeo.com/71196739
Rewind & Review Rockets with YOU!
Have students go on a journey through time as we explore the history of man's greatest achievement - breaking through the space barrier. For a quick and memorable review of what you have discussed with students and other key points in rocket history have students go to Tiki Toki and explore http://www.tiki-toki.com/timeline/entry/90841/A-Brief-History-of-Rockets-and-Space-Travel#vars!date=1255-09-14_15:05:26!
Additional Resources: Apps
Junior Astronaut: Breaking Through The Space Barrier available for iPad. Built with source material from NASA and WIKIPEDIA. From mass, weight, and gravity, to an introduction on aerodynamics, Junior Astronaut is packed full of science.
Links for Part Three:
Soda-straw rocket template, http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/education/images/pdf/sodastrawrocket.pdf
