Race to the Moon Rocket Blast!

Title: Race to the Moon Rocket Blast! Simulation
Materials needed:
1. Air compressor/Bicycle tire pump
2. 2-liter bottle for each group
3. Cardboard, paper
4. Scissors
5. Duct tape
6. Bucket of water
7. PVC tube mechanism to launch rockets (simply do a web search to create this piece)

Summary: Students will simulate the race to the moon of the 1960s by designing rockets propelled by air and water. Students will study forces and motion and use their critical thinking skills to observe how well their rocket works and then redesign their rockets to get better results (e.g., higher propulsion).

Plan:
Note: This lesson is a 2-week long experience that engages students’ interests in history, science, and math.

Week 1 First Encounter

Day1
Objectives:
• In order to build sufficient schemata for the rocket experiment :
based on Ohio Department of Education standards
o Students will view video footage about the race to the moon during the 1960s
o each student will read 2 or more appropriately leveled books about the events that took place during the 1960 race to the moon
o each student will answer general questions about the 1960s ‘race to the moon’ era

Day2
Objectives:
• Students will develop critical thinking and communication skills by observing rocket designs during the 1960s and compare those to current models used by astronauts:
Objectives based on Ohio Department of Education standards
o students will discuss how inventing new types of rockets and using better fuel-efficient rockets may help NASA to explore space without hurting the environment
o students will determine ways for NASA to be more eco-friendly by inventing ways to reuse machines used by NASA (small groups of students, then compare ideas)

Week 2 Blast Off!

Day 1
Objectives
Objectives based on Ohio Department of Education standards
• Students will develop scientific inquiry skills during the design process of their rockets
o In groups, students will answer a set of questions to help students develop an idea of what they think would be the best design for a rocket based on Week 1’s observations
o Students will identify mathematical shapes that make up a rocket’s design.
• Students will build communication skills during the design process for their rockets
• Students groups will develop a set of questions on how they can build the best rocket.
o Students will create a blueprint design of their rocket

Day 2
Objectives
• Students will build communication skills during the construction process of their rockets
• Students will use scientific tools during the creation of their rockets
o Student groups will use their designs to build the rocket for the experiment

Day 3
Objectives
• Student groups will test their ideas during a test launch of their rockets
• Students groups will use critical thinking skills while making observations and taking notes on how to improve the rocket.
• Student groups will use critical thinking skills to make necessary improvements and make final launch.

Ohio Standards Met based on grade 2:
2.Social_Studies.History.Daily_Life.4;
2.Social_Studies.History.Daily_Life.6.b;
2.Science.Science_and_Technology.2
2.Science.Science_and_Technology.3;
2.Science.Science_and_Technology.3;
2.Science.Science_Inquiry.3
2.Math
2.Science.Science_Inquiry.10
2.Science.Science_Inquiry.10
2.Science.Science_and_Technology.4
2.Science.Science_Inquiry.2