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An outline of topics and main activities for each class and phase of the project provides the big picture.
Five phases of It’s a Wild Ride
Phase 1: Accessing prior knowledge about roller coasters. The unit begins with a short team assembly in the school auditorium to inform students about the project and get them excited about what’s ahead. Following the assembly, students begin project-related work in each subject area class that draws upon what they already know or have experienced related to roller coasters.
Phase 2: Investigating to build foundation knowledge about roller coasters. Students develop research skills in social studies, learn about technical reading and writing in language arts, and conduct experiments in math and science that build understanding about force and the laws of motion.
Phase 3: Expanding knowledge of roller coaster design from investigations. Students engage in mini architect (math), engineer (science), public relations (language arts), and researcher (social studies) tasks that prepare them for the group design challenge in Phase Five.
Phase 4: Applying knowledge to the design and construction of a roller coaster model using their mini architect and engineer experience. Students experience and connect their new understanding about roller coaster design during a field trip to a local amusement park.
Phase 5: Contributing knowledge to a group roller coaster design. Student teams prepare a roller coaster design proposal to save the Canyon Amusement Park from bankruptcy. Regular schedules and classes are abandoned as students take on one of four jobs on the design team: engineering, architecture, research, or public relations.
It's a Wild Ride at-a-glance
|
Project Phase |
Science |
Math |
Language Arts |
Social Studies |
1. Accessing Prior Knowledge
Team Assembly
|
Roller coaster videos, discussion |
Roller coaster statistics, graph matching |
Sensory writing with video clips |
Internet scavenger hunt for roller coaster sites |
2. Investigating to Build Foundation Knowledge
|
Newton's Law experiments |
Formulas, slope, linear equations |
Technical reading, descriptive writing |
3D history time-line of recreation and leisure in America |
3. Expanding Knowledge
|
Mini-engineer experience
Roller coaster experiments |
Mini-architect experience
Probeware labs |
Mini-public relations manager experience
Business letter and career jigsaw |
Mini-researcher experience
Roller coaster database |
4. Applying Knowledge
Amusement Park Field Trip
|
At-home roller coaster project |
At-home roller coaster project |
Continue with Phase Three |
Continue with Phase Three |
5. Contributing Knowledge
Group Design Task
|
Engineer formulas, safety report, car design |
Architect blue print and artistic rendition |
Public relations multimedia presentation, group planning time |
Magazine cover and stories, thesis statement for presentations |
< Return to It's a Wild Ride
< Return to Phase One