Science with Ms Vaughan

This is a 4-7 lesson mini-unit or project. Students use straw rockets to investigate how mass and force affect the trajectory of a straw rocket. Can be used with kits from Pitsco or you can make your own straw rocket launchers. Contains a suggested lesson flow (but not step-by-step lesson plans), links to additional resources, and an exemplar.

Provides a simplified description of what designers do in each of the four main stages of the MYP Design Cycle. Provides space for students to take notes. I used it in my classes to have students analyze how a specific designer in a case study used the design cycle.

Note: This is an overview of a mini-unit with 3 lessons. I strongly recommend buying the bundled version to save money. The mini-unit takes 2-4 periods depending on your students' prior knowledge & experience with collecting data, graphing, and writing about their results. Period length is 45 min. Day 1: Students consider how to collect data about how the length of a ramp changes the force needed to lift an object to a given height. They predict the expected outcome. Day 2: Students experim

Note: This is one part of a mini-unit with 3 lessons. I strongly recommend buying the bundled version to save money. The mini-unit takes 2-4 periods depending on your students' prior knowledge & experience with collecting data, graphing, and writing about their results. Period length is 45 min. Lesson 1: Students consider how to collect data about how the length of a ramp changes the force needed to lift an object to a given height. They predict the expected outcome. Day 2: Students experim

Note: This is one part of a mini-unit with 3 lessons. I strongly recommend buying the bundled version to save money. The mini-unit takes 2-4 periods depending on your students' prior knowledge & experience with collecting data, graphing, and writing about their results. Period length is 45 min. Lesson 1: Students consider how to collect data about how the length of a ramp changes the force needed to lift an object to a given height. They predict the expected outcome. Day 2: Students experim

Note: This is one part of a mini-unit with 3 lessons. I strongly recommend buying the bundled version to save money. The mini-unit takes 2-4 periods depending on your students' prior knowledge & experience with collecting data, graphing, and writing about their results. Period length is 45 min. Lesson 1: Students consider how to collect data about how the length of a ramp changes the force needed to lift an object to a given height. They predict the expected outcome. Day 2: Students experime

Handout for an intro lesson on engineering. Lesson flow: Do Now: article about mechanical engineering Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocqceS7KlzE & t=180s (optional) Hands on activity: Do an engineering challenge of your choice, such as pasta & marshmallow structures, or supporting books with a single sheet of paper, you choose depending on your materials & time Reflection questions: students answer the reflection questions linking the activity in class to the engineering design cycle

Handout for an intro lesson on engineering. Lesson flow: Do Now: article about mechanical engineering, with connection to IB Learner Profile Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ocqceS7KlzE & t=180s (optional) Hands on activity: Do an engineering challenge of your choice, such as pasta & marshmallow structures, or supporting books with a single sheet of paper, you choose depending on your materials & time Reflection questions: students answer the reflection questions linking the activity i