Scribd
Upload
11 views3 pages

CGBlast Off Lesson 1

This lesson plan explores engineering concepts related to air power and rocket design. Students will build and test paper clip rockets powered by air using different straw configurations. They will make predictions, conduct experiments, and retest their designs. The goal is for students to discover which rocket design flies the best through an iterative process of testing and evaluation.

Uploaded by

ariguindetty
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
11 views3 pages

CGBlast Off Lesson 1

This lesson plan explores engineering concepts related to air power and rocket design. Students will build and test paper clip rockets powered by air using different straw configurations. They will make predictions, conduct experiments, and retest their designs. The goal is for students to discover which rocket design flies the best through an iterative process of testing and evaluation.

Uploaded by

ariguindetty
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

CURIOUS GEORGE: BLAST OFF!

Lesson Plan

During this lesson, children explore the following engineering concepts:


• Air power can be used to move objects.
• Engineers build and test different designs to determine which works best.

As children go through the activities, they will be using the following science skills:
• Asking questions
• Making predictions
• Planning and conducting experiments
• Testing and retesting

Materials
¨ “Space Monkey Blast Off!” handouts, folded in half
¨ Paper clips
¨ Scissors
¨ Straws (for each student: one wide, cut into thirds; one thinner straw, full length)
¨ Tape

Preparation
• Using the “Space Monkey Blast Off!” handout, build your own rocket so you can
anticipate where and how children may need guidance.
• Arrange to have one or two assistants who can help children assemble their
rockets.
• Be sure you have straws of two different diameters. The wider straw should fit
smoothly over the narrower one.
• Cut out one Curious George rocket for each student ahead-of-time.
Directions

1. Watch the Curious George video, “Curious George’s Rocket Ride.”


Before students watch the video, ask them to notice what happens just before the
launch of the rocket. What is special about the way the scientists count? You may want
to preview vocabulary words such as ignition, orbit, rocket, and International Space Station.

2. Introduce the activity.


• Tell children they’ll be building a rocket that is powered by air.
• Invite them to name other things are that also moved by air (e.g., kites,
windmills, sailboats, leaves, flags, wind chimes).
• Ask for a volunteer to demonstrate how to launch the rocket, using one you’ve
built ahead of time.

3. Build and launch rockets. [Note: Tell children to point their rockets away from
people before launching.]
• Help students build their rockets, following the instructions on the handout
(Steps 1 and 2).
• Ask students: What makes your rocket launch? What happens if you blow hard into
the straw? What if you blow gently? How can you make your rocket go higher? (Angle
it upwards.) How can you make the rocket go far? (Launch it horizontally.)
• As the students work, circulate to watch, listen, and engage children in
conversations. If a rocket isn’t launching, check that the straw’s flattened end is
tightly sealed with tape so that no air escapes.

4. Test and evaluate.


• Have students change their rocket designs by adding a paper clip to the top of it
(Step 3).
• Have them test the rocket with and without the paper clip.
• Ask: Which design flies the best? Why was testing important? What does testing help
you discover about your rocket?

Home-School Connection
You may want to distribute additional copies of the “Space Monkey Blast Off!” handout
for children to take home and do with their families.

Extend with Games


“Blast Off!” at http://pbskids.org/curiousgeorge/busyday/rocket/teacher.html is a game
specifically designed for a classroom whiteboard. The game, which is also available in
Spanish, models counting backwards. As the whole class plays, they can count down to
zero. You may also want to invite children to play. For other Curious George whiteboard
games, go to http://pbskids.org/curiousgeorge/busyday/teachers.html.

Students may also enjoy the counting game “Super Bouncy Blast Off” at
http://pbskids.org/curiousgeorge/games/super_bouncy/super_bouncy.html.

Extend with Books


Encourage students to use these books as they continue to learn about rockets.

Curious George and the Rocket by H. A. Rey (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2001)
Curious George becomes the first space monkey!

Roaring Rockets by Tony Mitten (Kingfisher, 2000)


Join an animal crew as they launch into space.

Rockets and Spaceships by Karen Wallace (DK, 2011)


Photos and pictures explain the basics of space travel.

You might also like

pFad - Phonifier reborn

Pfad - The Proxy pFad of © 2024 Garber Painting. All rights reserved.

Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.


Alternative Proxies:

Alternative Proxy

pFad Proxy

pFad v3 Proxy

pFad v4 Proxy