Teaching Strategies
Design Thinking and Modeling
Students will be introduced to Design Thinking through a workshop model. The steps of the design process will be modeled and explored. The students will apply the Design Thinking process throughout the scale modeling and the rocket design and construction parts of the unit. Some of the activities will use an abbreviated version of Design Thinking. Other activities will require students to go through the entire process.
Collaborative Groups
Ideally students will work in collaborative groups. This will allow them to help each other and talk through their ideas, iterations, and calculations.
Guest Speakers
It is always nice to engage with experts in the field. For this unit, I read Chasing Space by Leland Melvin. He is a former NASA astronaut and graduate of my alma mater, the University of Richmond. I am hopeful that he can visit my school and speak to my students. Another option is a friend who is an aeronautical engineer and is involved with rocket launches. Either of these potential guest speakers will engage the students and help them to envision careers that involves astronomy.
Guided Research Projects/Presentations
The students will follow guidelines to conduct research and put together a multi-media presentation about bodies in the solar system.
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