Scream Machines- Paper Roller Coaster Unit
For many people, there is only one reason to go to an amusement park: the roller coaster. Some people call it the "scream machine.” The history of roller coasters reflects a constant search for greater and more death-defying thrills and in this lesson, kids find them. Well, not death defying, but desk defying at least! Students get up and moving, hands in and minds on, as they create their own coasters from the first rough sketch of that glimmer of an ideaand rocket all the way to a fully 3D model tested, retested, and ready for competition. So lower your lap bars, keep your hands and feet inside the ride at all times, and get ready to launch learning in 3, 2, 1…
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Lesson Links and Resources
Saturday School Scream Machines Unit
Find Templates to make your paper Roller Coasters. http://www.paperrollercoasters.com
Advanced Coaster template videos:https://paperrollercoasters.com/advanced.htm
Want to go behind the scenes and see what Kingda Ka's hydraulic building looks like? Check out the “How Kingda Ka Works photo gallery”
at http://themeparks.about.com/od/photoandvideogallery/ss/KingdaHydraulic.htm.
Roller Coaster Database http://www.rcdb.com/ A searchable database of roller coaster statistics, covering more than 450 rides.
WHOAHler coaster! Have students build an online roller coaster and give Ruff the ride of his life! http://pbskids.org/fetch/games/coaster/game.html
Free Roller Coaster Creator Game showing potential and kinetic energy transfers http://www.girlsgogames.com/game/rollercoastercreator.html
Create your roller coaster using the simulator at Funderstanding Roller Coaster. Please note that this site may take a long time to load, you’ll need Java, and that you may need to scroll down a bit to see the content. http://www.funderstanding.com/slg/coaster/. The player is responsible for setting the controls for the height of hill #1, hill #2, the size of the loop, the initial speed of the coaster, its mass, the gravity at work and the amount of friction on the track and offers a great way for students to play a roller coaster game, and learn while doing it.