Lesson Planning
Teaching
- Plan an investigation into the effectiveness of various parachutes.
- Identify variables that need to change and that need to stay constant.
- Record data using a ‘best of three’ approach.
- Video record findings offering possible explanations.
Activities
- Explore parachutes and air resistance, identifying enquiry questions for investigating effective parachutes.
- Set up and carry out a parachute investigation to determine which one travels the slowest (and safest). Recording data and drawing conclusions.
- Calculate the area of the parachute and its scaled up speed.
- Video recommendations for the best parachute design and materials for the job, based on findings.
Investigation - problem solving/fair testing
Investigate parachutes and air resistance.
Vocabulary
Variables, support, fall, Earth, gravity, air resistance, friction, moving surfaces