Title – Hoopsters; The Flying Machine

By – Linda Newcome

Primary Subject – Science

Grade Level – 4-8

Note from LessonPlansPage.com:

A Hoopster is an airplane made with a straw, an index card and some tape. The index card is cut lengthwise into thirds. The ends of one strip are taped together to form a small hoop. The remaining two strips are taped together to make a longer strip and this strip is taped into a larger hoop. The hoops are taped

perpendicularly

on either end of a straw and you have an airplane that looks a little like this

:    


o      O




For the actual plans see

:


http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/hoopster.html

Concept / Topic To Teach:

Aerodynamics, wind flow, thrust

Standards Addressed:

Students will:

SC.S.2

• demonstrate the abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry;
  
• demonstrate understanding about scientific inquiry; and
  
• demonstrate the ability to think and act as scientists by engaging in active inquiries, investigations and hands-on activities a minimum of 50% of the instructional time.

SC.4.2.1

• demonstrate curiosity, initiative and creativity by developing questions that lead to investigations; designing simple experiments; and trusting observations of discoveries when trying new tasks and skills.

SC.4.2.2

• recognize that developing solutions to problems requires persistence, flexibility, open-mindedness, and alertness for the unexpected.

SC.4.2.3

• support statements with facts found through research in reference books, science-related magazines, multimedia and the Internet.

General Goal(s):

To introduce aerodynamics and how it affects different aircraft and their use.

Specific Objectives:

Students will:

• talk about plane design and how each part affects flight
  
• take quiz on plane parts before completing Hoopster
  
• read and follow written directions
  
• design or fashion an airplane from limited materials
  
• have a fly off and measure distance by yards or meters
  
• discuss why airplanes have the designs that they do
  
• interpret how the nose, wings, and tail affect flight
  
• discuss the airflow over, under, and through the hoops and how it provides lift
  
• discuss and journal all of the above information
  
• extend the activity by remodeling or redesigning Hoopster (see Hoopster directions)
  
• complete another fly off

Required Materials:

• straws,
• tape,
• 3×5 index card for each student,
• yardsticks or meter sticks for measurement,
• journal from other activities,
• transparency of airplane and parts

Step-By-Step Procedures:

Teacher will

1. introduce activity by displaying a transparency of an airplane and all of its parts: rudder, fuselage, nose, cargo hold, wings, ailerons, flaps, cockpit.
   
2. The next day students will be required to complete a quiz by labeling the parts of a plane (students need to journal materials discussed and written on board).
   
3. Teacher hands out materials for students to complete their Hoopsters. I allow students to design and color their Hoopster before assembling.
   
4. The next day students have a fly off outside weather permitting or inside in a long hallway. Students are paired up to have a fly off. The Hoopster that goes the farthest is the one measured and left lying to compare with other fly offs.

Closure:

I then tie this in with Hot Air Balloons that we make from tissue paper, Alka Selzter Rockets, Balloon Rockets, and paper airplanes.

Assessment Based On Objectives:

Rubric; internet

Rubri Star for Teachers

Possible Connections To Other Subjects:

Social Studies and the Wright Brothers, Art; Van Gogh and the first flying machine,

E-Mail

Linda Newcome

!