Lexi Tocman

4th grade
Science Circus Theme: Planets/Solar

System

Lesson 1: Blast Off Your Own Rocket Ship

Lesson 2: Be An Astronaut
Lesson 3: Where are the planets?
Lesson 4: How far away are we from the planets?
Lesson 5: Model the Planets
Science SOL: 4.1The student will demonstrate an understanding
of scientific reasoning, logic, and the
nature of science by planning and
conducting investigations in which
l) Models are constructed to clarify explanations, demonstrate
relationships,
and solve needs.
4.7The student will investigate and understand the organization of the solar
system. Key concepts include
a) The planets in the solar system;
b) The order of the planets in the solar system; and
c) The relative sizes of the planets.
Materials:
Construction paper
Tape and scissors
Film canister (or other like container)
Water
Paper towels
Effervescing antacid tablet (Alka-Seltzer)
Computer and projector
Engage: Tell the students Before we can learn about and understand space and the planets we
have to understand what it takes for people and other space objects to
actually get into space.
We all know that astronauts go up into space in spaceships but does
anyone really know how this works?
It is important to know and understand how a rocket can travel with
enough force and speed to make it out of Earths atmosphere and into
space.

We are going to design and simulate our own rocket ship in order to
see what a rocket ship take off may look like.

Explore: Film canister rocket simulation1. Wrap and tape a tube of paper around the film canister. Invert the
canister so that the lid lies flat on the table.
2. Cut fins from the index cards and tape them to the rocket.
3. Make a nose by cutting a circle out of paper. Cut out a pie shape from
the circle and twist the paper into a cone. Tape the cone together then
tape it on the open end of the paper tube.
4. Turn the rocket upside down and fill the canister 1/3 full with water.
5. Carefully carry it outside and bring it to the sidewalk.
6. Ask for predictions on what is going to happen.
7. Drop in a tablet of Alka-Seltzer and snap the lid on tight.
8. Quickly stand the rocket upright (lid on the table) and stand back!
CAUTION: Be careful when launching your rocket. Stand back and
dont point it at anyone.
Explain: After the experiment is complete, have a discussion with the
students Ask the class why they think that happened.
When you mix the tablet with water it creates many bubbles of carbon
dioxide and then it reacts with the film canister and it goes up.
The gas is building up inside the closed film canister and it pops off the
lid because it is the weakest part of the container and the gas comes
rushing out of the end of the canister.
Newtons Third Law of Motion- every action has an equal and opposite
reaction. The gas rushing out of the bottom of the container sends the
rocket up in the opposite direction.
This is how all rockets work (real ones use chemical rocket propellant)!
What do you think would happen if there was more or less water?
What do you think would happen if the water was a different
temperature?
What do you think would happen if we added more tablets?
Elaborate: Show video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnoNITE-CLc
Rockets used a pressurized fuel and an oxidizer, which is what allows
the fuel to burn without using outside air.
The fuel, when it is a gas, is pressurized because this forces it out the
end of the rocket just like in the film canister rocket.
Evaluate: Exit ticket-

After seeing this simulation and watching the video of a rocket ship taking off
how what do you think the astronauts inside are experiencing?
How do you think they are feeling?
*Film canister rocket experiment found at:
http://imaginationstationtoledo.org/content/2010/08/film-canister-rockets-2/