West Virginia State University
College of Professional Studies: Department of Education
Teacher Candidate Jordan Bailey, Sara Tulley, Morgan Davis, Whitney Vance
Date October 26, 2013
School WVSU
Lesson Topic Foam Rockets
INSTRUCTIONAL OBJECTIVES/ STUDENT OUTCOMES
-Students will learn about rocket stability and trajectory with rubber band-powered foam rockets.
-Students will understand the relationship between the projected angles of a rocket verses the
distance it travels.
-Students will be able to properly measure distances and record them accurately
WV CSOs
M.O.5.1.11
solve real-world problems involving whole numbers, decimals and fractions
using multiple strategies and justify the reasonableness by estimation.
SC.O.5.2.16
describe how the variables of gravity and friction affect
the motion of objects
NATIONAL STANDARDS
2.3 Mathematics: Candidates know, understand, and use the major concepts and
procedures that define number and operations, algebra, geometry, measurement,
and data analysis and probability. In doing so they consistently engage problem
solving, reasoning and proof, communication, connections, and representation;
MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK
Overall Time
20 minute lesson
Time Frame
5 min. assembly of rockets
15 min. launching rockets
STRATEGIES
Guided instruction along with a hands-on activity.
PROCEDURES
Introduction/ Lesson Set
WVSU students will demonstrate how to construct a foam rocket. To get students excited we
will demonstrate how we launch a rocket. Ask students which angle they think the rocket will
travel the furthest? Why?
Body & Transitions
Constructing a Foam Rocket
1. Using scissors, cut one 30-cm length of pipe
foam for each team.
2. Cut four equally spaced slits at one end of
the tube. The slits should be about 12 cm
long. The fins will be mounted through these
slits.
3. Cut a 12 cm length of duct tape down the
middle to make two pieces. Place one piece
over the other, sticky to shiny side, to make
the tape double-strong.
4. Slip a rubber band over the tape and press
the tape around the nose end of the rocket
(opposite the end with the slits). Press the
tape tightly and reinforce it with another
length of tape wrapped around the tube.
6. Cut fin pairs from the foam food tray or stiff
cardboard. Refer to the fin diagram. Both
fin pairs should be notched so that they can
be slid together as shown in the diagram.
Different fin shapes can be used, but they
should still “nest” together.
7. Slide the nested fins into the slits cut in the rear end of the rocket. Close off the slits with a
piece of duct tape wrapped around the foam tube. The rocket is finished.
Procedure
Making the Launcher
1. Print the quadrant pattern (page 78) on card
stock paper.
2. Cut out the pattern and fold it on the dashed
line.
3. Tape the quadrant to the meter stick so that
the black dot lies directly over the 60 cm
mark on the stick.
4. Press a push tack into the black dot.
5. Tie a string to the push tack and hang a small
weight, such as a nut or a washer, on the
string. The weight should swing freely.
6. Refer to the diagram to see how the launcher
is used.
Using the Launcher:
Loop the rubber band over the launcher end.
Pull on the fin end of the rocket until the nose
cone is aligned with the 30 cm mark. Tilt the
launcher up at the chosen angle as indicated
with the string and weight on the quadrant.
Launch the rocket!
Once the rockets are assembled the students will take turns launching them down a long hallway.
The floor will be marked off in increments of 12 inches (1 foot). After the students record his/her
angle on a piece of paper, they may launch their rocket. The student will then walk where the
rocket landed and record the distance it traveled on their data sheet. Each student will have time
to launch their rocket multiple times.
Ask students what would happen if the rocket was launched at a 90 degree angle.
Closure
Review the data that each student collected. What was the best angle to a launch of rocket for the
longest distance traveled? The average should be around 45 degrees.
ASSESSMENT:
Diagnostic: Students will be asked, “What angle do you think will cause the rocket to go the
furthest?”
FORMATIVE:
Students will be assessed on how well they work together and how well they follow directions.
SUMMATIVE:
Students will be asked what angle was most successful at launching their rocket the furthest.
MATERIALS
Materials list
-30 cm-long piece of polyethylene foam pipe for each rocket
Insulation (1/2” size pipe )
-Rubber bands (size 64)(thick rubber bands)
-Duct tape
-Scissors
-Meter sticks
-Press tacks (1 per rocket)
-Washer or nut (1 per rocket)
-String-to hold washer
-3 pieces of Posterboard
EXTENTED ACTIVITIES
Students will receive a packet to take home that includes how to make a straw rocket.