Roles Cards

How do engineers safely land rovers on Mars? One method is to design high-strength parachutes! In this lesson, you will build your own Strawbees parachute and collect data about how the shape and size of a parachute affect its fall time and accuracy.

Teacher Notes

Overview and Objectives

Preparation

Engineering Design Process

Assign Group Roles

Identify

Imagine

Plan

Overview

Parachute Lander

Part 1/2

Base

Part 2/2

Parachute

Create

Improve

Extension

Time for Cleanup!

STEAM Classroom

United States

The student takes an active role in learning by using a design process to solve authentic problems for a local or global audience, using a variety of technologies.

TEKS Technology Applications

5.3B

The student uses digital strategies to collect and identify data.

5.5A

The student uses data to answer questions. The student is expected to use digital tools to analyze and transform data and make inferences to answer questions.

The student communicates data through the use of digital tools to inform an audience. The student is expected to use digital tools to communicate and display data using appropriate visualization to inform an intended audience.

The student takes an active role in learning by using a design process and creative thinking to develop and evaluate solutions, considering a variety of local and global perspectives.

6.3B

The student uses digital tools to transform data, make inferences, and predictions. The student is expected to use digital tools to transform data in order to identify and discuss trends and make inferences.

The student creates digital products to communicate data to an audience for an intended purpose. The student is expected to use digital tools to communicate and display data from a product or process to inform an intended audience.

The student applies mathematical process standards to develop concepts of expressions and equations.

TEKS Mathematics

5.4H

The student applies mathematical process standards to use geometry to represent relationships and solve problems.

6.8D

The student knows the nature of forces and the patterns of their interactions.

TEKS Science

5.7B

The student analyzes and interprets data to derive meaning, identify features and patterns, and discover relationships or correlations to develop evidence-based arguments or evaluate designs.

5.2A

5.2B

5.2C

5.2D

The student, for at least 40% of instructional time, asks questions, identifies problems, and plans and safely conducts classroom, laboratory, and field investigations to answer questions, explain phenomena, or design solutions using appropriate tools and models.

6.1F

6.1B

6.2D

The student knows the nature of forces and their role in systems that experience stability or change.

Parachute Lander Part 1: Foundation

Overview and Objectives

In this lesson, students will: