The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Gliding Through the Air

Gliding Through the Air

A 7th grade STEM lesson

M. DeMuro

July 2023

Notes for teachers

This is best done after students have already created paper airplanes or gliders. Students need a base knowledge in how flight works.

List of Materials

• Notecards
• Straws (not bendable)
• Masking Tape
• Scissors
• Rulers
• Aluminum foil
• Magazines/Catalogs
• Small bubble bubble wrap (unpoppable kind)

Standards

Engineering Standard 2.0

Create engineering solutions by applying a structured problem-solving/decision making process

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.8

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Standards

Engineering Standard 4.0

Apply scientific laws and principles relevant to engineering technology

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

Objective(s):

You are to create a hoop glider that flies 25 feet. You will then alter your hoop glider and aim to get the best distance possible for each alteration.

Agenda (lesson time)

Day 1: Introduce challenge and show hoop glider video, students begin creating their first hoop glider

Day 2: Teach students how to compute velocity, students finish creating hoop glider, complete first challenge, respond to questions

Day 3: Students alter hoop glider, complete second challenge, respond to questions

Day 3: Students alter hoop glider, complete third challenge, respond to questions

Day 4: Students alter hoop glider, complete third challenge, respond to questions

Day 5: Students alter hoop glider, complete fourth challenge, respond to questions

Day 6: Introduce alternate materials, students create new hoop glider, begin fifth challenge

Day 7: Students finish fifth challenge, respond to questions

Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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Show the Hoop Glider Experiment video to engage students. Engage in a discussion about how it looks different than other types of paper airplane/glider models they have flown before. Why do they think it works? Will it perform better or worse than previous flight experiments?

Hands-on Activity Instructions

• This is an independent project. Students are encouraged to work together to time and measure flights.
• Challenges 2-4 can be eliminated or adjusted for time or interest constraints.
• Use whatever stiff materials you have on hand for Challenge 5.
• Beyond Challenge 1, students will most likely not reach 25 feet, that isn’t their goal. They should focus on how each alteration affects the flight.
• Students can reuse their straw through Challenge 4. They will need a new straw for Challenge 5.
• If students have access to phones they can use a measuring app to determine how far their glider flew

Assessment

See following slides for challenge directions, data collection, and response questions.

Challenge #1 - No Changes, Follow Directions Exactly

1. Cut the card into three strips that measure 1” x 5”
2. Tape two pieces of card together to make a strip 1” x 10”
3. Tape the long strip into a circle, overlapping the edges just a bit, write your name on the inside of the circle
4. Tape the small strip into a circle, overlapping the edges just a bit
5. Tape the circles to the straw so that they are lined up on the straw
6. Take your glider outside and fly it

Challenge #1 Response

How did your glider fly? Did it fly further than your paper airplane?

Challenge #1 Data

Challenge #2 - Offset Hoops

You will reuse your straw and hoops from Challenge #1.

1. Tape the circles to the straw so that they are offset and do not line up on the straw
2. Take your glider outside and fly it

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Challenge #2 Response

How did your glider fly? Did it fly further than your paper airplane? How did it fly in comparison to your first glider?

Challenge #2 Data

Challenge #3 - Change Hoop Number

You will use your same straw and add hoops from new cards.

1. At at least one more hoop between the small and large one, may add up to three additional hoops for a total of 5 hoops
2. Cut the card into three strips that measure 1” x 5”
3. Tape two pieces of card together to make a strip 1” x 10”
4. Tape the long strip into a circle, overlapping the edges just a bit, write your name inside the circle
5. Tape the small strip into a circle, overlapping the edges just a bit
6. Tape the circles to the straw so that they are lined up on the straw
7. Take your glider outside and fly it

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Challenge #3 Response

How many hoops did you add? How did the number of hoops change the way the glider flies in comparison to the other gliders you have made?

Challenge #3 Data

Challenge #4 - Change Straw Length

You will use your same straw and hoops.

1. Reduce the length of your straw with scissors
2. Tape the circles to the straw so that they are lined up on the straw
3. Take your glider outside and fly it

Challenge #4 Response

In inches, how long is your straw? How did your glider fly with a shorter straw? Did it fly further than your paper airplane? How did it fly in comparison to your first glider?

Challenge #4 Data

Challenge #5 - Change Hoop Material

You will receive a new straw once you show me that you have completed all of the previous challenges, including data and responses.

1. Cut the card into three strips that measure 1” x 5”
2. Tape two pieces of card together to make a strip 1” x 10”
3. Tape the long strip into a circle, overlapping the edges just a bit, write your name inside the circle
4. Tape the small strip into a circle, overlapping the edges just a bit
5. Tape the circles to the straw so that they are lined up on the straw
6. Take your glider outside and fly it

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Challenge #5 Response

What hoop material did you select? Did it make a looser or stiffer hoop than the notecard? How did this different hoop material affect the flight of the hoop in comparison to your other hoops?

Challenge #5 Data

Analysis and Reflection

Talk about what you learned as you changed the position of the hoops, the number of hoops, straw length, and hoop material. What surprised you? Did something work better than you expected? Worse than you expected?

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Differentiation

Assist with or eliminate finding velocity for those students who have mathematical challenges

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Have students work with a peer

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Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Students can use multiple materials to make their hoops in Challenge 5

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Provide students with a minimum distance for Challenges 2-5