Project: Wolverine Rocket Force
Resources Needed: 2Alpha III Rocket Bulk Pack, Wizard BUlk Pack, Rocket Engine A8-3, T-minus 5 Rocket Starter Set
School Poverty Level: High
Location: M C Williams Middle School, Houston, TX
Total Cost: $578.81
Still Needed: $554.81 $401.81
Expires: Sep 11, 2014
Teacher's Comments from Mr. Kirkpatrick:
My Students: Controlled chaos! Students intensely running around solving problems and accessing materials...these are descriptions of my STEM-Project Based classroom. Highly differentiated and accessible projects with high interest and participation characterize the projects at M.C. Williams STEM Academy.
M.C. Williams STEM Academy is the 3rd most highly rated Middle School in Houston ISD and is located in a subdivision of Houston called Acres Homes; the sixth most poverty stricken community in America. Acres Homes is a proud community with origins in the post Civil War Era and M.C. Williams is a shining beacon for the students in the area.
The students at M.C. Williams typically have an 8 to 4 day but half of our students stay for tutoring until 5pm and have all three meals at school. We have Saturday School every Saturday with over half of our students attending and having 2 meals at school.
We have few discipline problems primarily because our students are highly motivated and feel privileged to be part of the Project Based Learning at M. C. Williams STEM Academy.
My Project: We will be using the rocket kits for an integrated Science and Math lesson touching on a few Social Studies elements as well. During the month of June, I will be conducting a group of advanced students in our Bridge Summer Program. My goal with the rocket kits is to introduce and reinforce Newton's Three Laws of Motion
(Introduction to Physics), use the clinometer function of home made astrolabes and tangent tables to calculate altitude of launches (Trigonometry) and use the Internet to research Goddard's history (Social Studies).
The lessons will be self-differentiating and accessible to all functional levels with numerous hands on components as well as computations with pure research and documentation.
The goal of the project is primarily two fold. First we intend to reinforce the Introduction to Physics that some of the students will have already had during the regular year and to introduce new material to others who have not had the exposure. Second we intend to counteract the negative academic effects of not attending school during the Summer; to keep the students engaged in academic endeavors.
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