According to the movie Wildcats, "It's the sport of kings, better than diamond rings, football!" It is also, however, the sport of severe concussions and ongoing blows to the head. In order to keep our Seahawks soaring and Broncos bucking, we have to make sure the grapplers of the gridiron are protected. Kids learn how important it is to keep one's melon safe by creating a helmet to absorb impacts. Working in groups, they research head injuries, use cushioning materials to protect a cantaloupe from a fall, and write up a recommendation for a new material to be used in helmets.

Additional Tags

science

Show More Show Less

Pros

• Real-world application brings high engagement levels
• Hands-on experiment adds motivation 
• Well-described lesson plan is easy for teacher to follow

Cons

• None

Common Core

RI.7.9