When is it okay to fold and fly paper airplanes in class? Well, when you're working on a flight unit, of course! :)
After lots of reading and research, one of our first experiments has been to use our flight knowledge to design a paper airplane that: a) stays in the air the longest, and b) that travels the farthest distance (a little math link there, to measurement!!)
During the brainstorming session, students talked about streamlined design (to reduce drag) and considerations for aerofoil design (to increase lift). Then they built and tested their paper airplanes, and we had a little in class contest, complete with second timer and trundle wheel to measure distance. (The farthest distance hit the back wall of the classroom; approximately four of the 25 paper aircraft achieved that dubious accomplishment.)
While experimenting, we also discovered that some aircraft did not stay in the air as long as other, not because they were poorly designed, but because they were so fast, they crashed into the back wall before breaking any time records!!
During the contest, one plane got stuck in the light and had to be rescued. Although, as one student noted, "hey, it's still technically in the air!"
After lots of reading and research, one of our first experiments has been to use our flight knowledge to design a paper airplane that: a) stays in the air the longest, and b) that travels the farthest distance (a little math link there, to measurement!!)
During the brainstorming session, students talked about streamlined design (to reduce drag) and considerations for aerofoil design (to increase lift). Then they built and tested their paper airplanes, and we had a little in class contest, complete with second timer and trundle wheel to measure distance. (The farthest distance hit the back wall of the classroom; approximately four of the 25 paper aircraft achieved that dubious accomplishment.)
While experimenting, we also discovered that some aircraft did not stay in the air as long as other, not because they were poorly designed, but because they were so fast, they crashed into the back wall before breaking any time records!!
During the contest, one plane got stuck in the light and had to be rescued. Although, as one student noted, "hey, it's still technically in the air!"
Afterwards, I posted a not-so-little follow up assignment, using my new favourite media app, "thinglink":
| INSTRUCTIONS You will be using the photo of your paper airplane to make a Thinglink. Use the photo you took in class. Label each of the following information with a link showing the appropriate number.
|
I am excited to see students' follow up assignments, and will post some of them here soon.
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