D.I.G. Title:

Roller Coaster Madness!

Creator (s):

Amy Pearson

E-Mail Address:

apearson@seaford.k12.de.us

Reviewed by:

 Todd A. Fishburn & Julie Hanenfeld

Grade Level: 

5^th

Date created:

February 20, 2002

Standards/Performance Indicator Match:

Science- 5.304, 5.305, 5.306

Language Arts-5.176, 5.120 thru 5.128 Informative Writing

D. – iscover

 Motion and design concepts are used by engineers to design and build the rides you ride at amusement parks.  You will use your knowledge of motion and design to create your own roller coaster!  Hold on Tight!!!!!

I. – nvestigate

You will be investigating the Internet site below for this D.I.G.  Follow the following steps to complete the D.I.G.

1.      Once there, read the entire page.

2.       Next, look at the drawing of the roller coaster and the controls.  Click on the green  > to watch  the coaster roll on the track.

3.      Your Challenge:

Make the coaster run on the track from start to finish in under 40 seconds

4.      Decide what you need to increase or decrease to make a coaster that will do the run on the track in under 40 seconds.

5.      After you have fixed each part the way you want it, click on the green> to watch the coaster roll on the track.

6.      If you were not successful at meeting the challenge, click reset and repeat the above steps until you have a coaster that will stay on the track and run to the end in under 40 seconds

7.      Check it, print it,  and put your name on it!

8.      On the back of the page write a paragraph explaining what you did and why you designed your roller coaster the way you did.   Use proper paragraph format.

9.      Hand it in.

                    http://www.funderstanding.com/k12/coaster/

G. – enerate

You will be graded with a rubric on the following:

• Final print out of your roller coaster
• Paragraph
• Click here to see the grading rubric

Assessment Method (s):

Each roller coaster and paragraph will be graded using a rubric.

Suggestions/Hints:

There is a link  for students to see the rubric which will be used to determine their grade.