5TH GRADE GT MATH - MARS ROVERS
Building Rovers:
Combining many math objectives related to the fractions unit, we put our engineering skills in action and built Mars rovers to honor the launch of NASA's Curiosity. We discovered how to work with fractions, measurement, ratio and proportion using hands-on discovery learning. We had a lot of fun and learned a lot along the way!
Combining many math objectives related to the fractions unit, we put our engineering skills in action and built Mars rovers to honor the launch of NASA's Curiosity. We discovered how to work with fractions, measurement, ratio and proportion using hands-on discovery learning. We had a lot of fun and learned a lot along the way!
Testing Rovers & Taking Data:
When it was time to test the design of each of our rovers, we headed to a smooth floor in the cafeteria and rolled our rovers down a ramp. We used a meter stick to measure the distance rolled and then worked with the metric system to learn about conversion within the system as well as between decimals and fractions.
When it was time to test the design of each of our rovers, we headed to a smooth floor in the cafeteria and rolled our rovers down a ramp. We used a meter stick to measure the distance rolled and then worked with the metric system to learn about conversion within the system as well as between decimals and fractions.
Blueprints:
Once all of our ramp data was collected, it was time to take some measurements of our actual rover to draw up a blueprint to submit to the Crazy Crater Construction Company. We used the concept of scale drawings to draft a proportionate blueprint drawing of each of our rovers.
Once all of our ramp data was collected, it was time to take some measurements of our actual rover to draw up a blueprint to submit to the Crazy Crater Construction Company. We used the concept of scale drawings to draft a proportionate blueprint drawing of each of our rovers.
Rover Pride:
Once our rovers were made and drafted as blueprints, we used computer software and hardware to create advertisements.
Once our rovers were made and drafted as blueprints, we used computer software and hardware to create advertisements.
Crate Concepts:
In order to construct a crate for our rovers, we first needed to understand a thing or two about surface area of three-dimensional figures. After all, we need to know how much board it will take to construct our rover crates! We started out by using logic to guess and discover the surface area formulas. This is what we came up with:
In order to construct a crate for our rovers, we first needed to understand a thing or two about surface area of three-dimensional figures. After all, we need to know how much board it will take to construct our rover crates! We started out by using logic to guess and discover the surface area formulas. This is what we came up with:
Crate Construction:
Once we understood the make-up of the formula for surface area of a rectangular prism, we understood how the net of the crate had to be designed using the dimensions we had taken and recorded earlier in the school year. By making a rough model of our crates and labeling them with the real dimensions, we were on our way to designing the real crate.
Once we understood the make-up of the formula for surface area of a rectangular prism, we understood how the net of the crate had to be designed using the dimensions we had taken and recorded earlier in the school year. By making a rough model of our crates and labeling them with the real dimensions, we were on our way to designing the real crate.
Let the CRATES be BUILT!
Math application is best when FUN!!! We finally got to use our measuring, calculating fractions, and geometry skills to successfully build our rover crates. Time to ship them for launch!
Math application is best when FUN!!! We finally got to use our measuring, calculating fractions, and geometry skills to successfully build our rover crates. Time to ship them for launch!