Scribd
Upload
66 views6 pages

Grade Level: 4th NGSS Core Ideas/ Science and Engineering Practices

This 4th grade science lesson teaches students about engineering and rocketry. Students will learn key vocabulary, design basic rocket blueprints by choosing fin and nose cone shapes, create prototypes using plastic bottles, and test their rocket designs. The goal is for students to understand the engineering design process and answer the question of what rocket design flies highest through experimentation and testing different variables like drag, velocity, fuel, and thrust.

Uploaded by

api-287954898
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
66 views6 pages

Grade Level: 4th NGSS Core Ideas/ Science and Engineering Practices

This 4th grade science lesson teaches students about engineering and rocketry. Students will learn key vocabulary, design basic rocket blueprints by choosing fin and nose cone shapes, create prototypes using plastic bottles, and test their rocket designs. The goal is for students to understand the engineering design process and answer the question of what rocket design flies highest through experimentation and testing different variables like drag, velocity, fuel, and thrust.

Uploaded by

api-287954898
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

FUN WITH ROCKETS

Grade Level: 4th


NGSS Core Ideas/ Science and Engineering Practices:
*(4-PS3-1)- Use evidence to construct an explanation relating the speed of an object to the
energy of that object
*(3-5-ETS1-3)- Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points
are considered to identify aspects of a model prototype that can be improved
Objectives:
-Understand concept of engineering
-Learn to draw basic blueprints
-Learn Rocketry vocabulary
-Create and Evaluate prototypes
Materials:
-Rocket Launcher
-2L Bottles
-Bike Pump
-Rocket shapes and printouts
-Cardstock
-Tape
-Scissors
-Scratch paper/pencils
5E Plan for Lesson:
Who is an engineer?: students discuss in groups and write their own definition of the word.
Class share out to see where opinions are similar and different.
*an engineer is someone who makes something that is driven by a problem or question
Introduce Vocabulary: On attached sheet
Our driving question of the day: What rocket design is most efficient in creating a rocket that
flies high up for the longest amount of time?
Before activities begin, set out example sheets of Fins, Cones and Rocket (See Attached)
Activity One:
In groups of two, design a blue-print on scratch paper and discuss the best fin and cone shapes
to optimize height and length of flight
*have the class share out their blueprints and their rationale behind their choices
Activity Two:
In the same pairs, grab scissors, tape, cardstock, and one 2L bottle and create a prototype of
their rocket design.
Have students refer to the example sheets in their design process
Testing:

Go out into an open area and take the rocket launching equipment. If time permits, test every
groups prototype and see which one has the best flight. If running short on time, test two
prototypes that you make yourself that are very different in design.
Which worked best? Return to the class and facilitate a class discussion on the testing of the
rockets, noting which characteristics worked best and which ones did not work as well. Talk
about how these elements are important when testing a prototype, and that many different
things we use today went through a lot of different prototypes before finding something that
works. This is what engineers do for a living!
VOCABULARY:
Drag: Force acting against a moving object (run in wind)
Velocity: Speed with a direction
Fuel: Gives the rocket its power
Thrust: what pushes you forward

Different Rocket Shapes

Nose Cone Shapes

Fin Shapes

You might also like