Mrs. Boyer’s 7th Grade Weblog

http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/topnav/materials/listbytype/Space.Shuttle.Glider.html

This link is to a hands-on activity where students create their own Space Shuttle Glider that is a scale model to the actual U.S. Space Shuttle Orbiter.  This activity caught my attention because it is hands on and seventh graders love to build things!  I also think it’s really neat to learn something about the orbiter while practicing math skills, specifically ratios and proportions.  Project materials are included in the downloadable PDF file.  Some additional materials must be supplied.

The project challenges students to follow directions to build an accurate glider that will “take flight.”  Then students have to apply ratios and proportions to find the scale factor between their glider and the real orbiter.  Next students find the glide ratio (height to distance) of their glider as they launch it horizontally and it makes a safe landing on the ground.  This will lead students to research and compare the glide ratios of other aircraft.  Lastly, students use a fishing line guidance system to simulate the landing of an orbiter on the airstrip.