NGSS Lesson Planning Template

Lesson # __7__ in a series of

_7___ lessons
Brief Lesson Description: The mission is complete and we will need to get the crew back to Earth.
Performance Expectation(s):
3-PS2-1 Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balanced and
unbalanced forces on the motion of an object.
3-PS2-2 Make observations and/or measure of an objects motion to provide evidence that a pattern
can be used to predict future motion.
Specific Learning Outcomes: By investigating the best model design for a straw rocket, students
will be able to build and test a straw rocket and then test the rocket to determine the best
construction. Students will finish up the storyline and complete the unit.
Lesson Level Narrative
Our mission is to get our crew launched into orbit from the surface of Mars. You will build the rocket on the
surface of the planet to send the mission crew back to Earth when they are done with their mission.
Grade/ Grade Band: 3-5th grade

Topic: Straw Rocket

Science & Engineering

Disciplinary Core Ideas:
Crosscutting Concepts:
Practices:
PS2.A Forces and Motion
Patterns
Planning and carrying out

Each force acts on one

Patterns of change can be

investigations to answer questions
particular object and has
used to make predictions
or test solutions to problems:
both strength and a
Cause and effect

Plan and conduct and

direction. An object at rest
Cause and effect
investigation
typically has multiple forces
relationships are routinely
collaboratively to produce
acting on it, but they add to
identified
data to serve as the basis
give zero net force on the

of evidence, using fair tests

objects speed or direction
in which variables are
of motion.
controlled and the number

Patterns of an objects
of trails considered
motion in various situations

Make observations and/or

can be observed and
measurements to produce
measured; when that past
data to serve as the basis
motion exhibits a regular
for evidence for an
pattern, future motion can
explanation of a
be predicted from it.
phenomenon or test a

design solution.
Possible Preconceptions/Misconceptions:
Students tend to call the active actions force but do not consider passive actions as forces Gunstone, R.,
Watts, M. (1985). Force and motion. In Driver, R. (Ed.), Children's ideas in science (pp. 85-104). Many students
know that a force can cause an object to move. A typical example of students sharing their understanding of
forces is that the source of motion comes from outside the object (for example, the soccer ball moves because
someone has kicked it). Students need activities to engage in that will help them uncover the four sources of
change in motion. Force can change an objects speed and make an object move. Force can stop an object and
change Its direction.
LESSON PLAN 5-E Model

Teacher:

Student

EXPLORE: Lesson Description What should the teachers ask and do? What will the students do?

Review what we have done.

What do we do now? We come back home.

How are we going to get home? Build another rocket

EXPLAIN: Concepts Explained and Vocabulary Defined:

Video of lift off on earth including detachment of all components

Video of a rocket blast off of mars (The Martian)

Pictures of lift off of Mars (The Martian)

This is a great way to eventually bring back not only samples but, also astronauts.

Importance of samples

Samples much like when we took samples in the volcanoes activity.

Vocabulary
ELABORATE: Applications and Extensions:

Today we will design small rockets to get samples back to earth.

Make a cut on your sheet of paper

Roll the cut piece around the pencil tightly and tape down the end

Make the tip of one side a point

Put straw through

Launch test

Make adjustment

Make fins (wings)

Make more adjustments

See if they can hit the planet

EVALUATE:

What changes did you make?

What was different from yours and your partners?

Formative Monitoring (Questioning / Discussion):
.
Summative Assessment (Quiz / Project / Report):
is needed.
Students will define what alive is and will make sure that this is represented in their model.
Elaborate Further / Reflect: Enrichment:
Review entire program lesson and congratulate on a successful mission to Mars!