Bringing Math Forward

In this STEM project, students will design, build, test, and redesign straw rockets to collect data on flight time and distance. Students will then use lines of best fit, slope, and y-intercept to analyze the data they have collected and make recommendations as to the best design.

This project requires that students use data, either provided data or data that they collect, to write and use linear equations in two variables to predict a person's height when given the length of the radius, humerus, or tibia. Students may work individually or in pairs, in the classroom or remotely. The project also gives two options: to graph the data physically, draw trend lines, and then determine the equations from the trend lines or to use the STAT function on a graphing calculator. Stud

This project is designed to be an introduction or review for the Engineering Design Process. Students work in groups to design and construct a tower made from straws and masking tape which will hold a softball aloft for a minimum of 60 seconds. After testing their first design, students will re-design, build, and assess another tower. This project can be cross-curricular with ELA. Rubric is included with the project.

Two worksheets are included as well as an answer key for both. The first worksheet asks students to solve an equation which contains two variables, x and y, for the variable y. The second worksheet asks students to use common math and science formulas to solve for the indicated variable.

This PowerPoint contains data for use in the project, Rattle those Bones, to easily share with students.