Which will make it fly better? Individuals build paper rockets with fins that are launched using straws. After determining an average flight distance, they make adjustments, such as size and location of fins, and try again. A second activity requires learners to build a rocket without fins and determine whether it is stable like those with fins.

Concepts

rockets, center of mass, air pressure, technology resources

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Instructional Ideas

• Gather the data from everyone and graph it using appropriate graphs
• Have the class determine the variables that would affect the rocket's flight

Classroom Considerations

• Requires an open space in which to launch the rockets
• It will take some time for everyone to build three different rockets and launch each one three times 

Pros

• Provides different design ideas on how to build the rocket
• The resource contains background information that is important to the design

Cons

Common Core

6.SP.B.5.c MP6