STEM Challenge - Project: Thrills - Design A Fast and Furious Roller Coaster

Engage your students with this week-long STEM challenge.

The Challenge:

You have been asked by the CEO to submit a proposal to create the next great

rollercoaster at Scream-o-rama. As the lead engineer, you will need to figure out how

to get guests from point A to point B in the safest and most thrilling way possible. The

first step of this project is to design a prototype of your roller coaster to present to the

board members. Each hill, twist, turn, and loop will impress the board and increase the

likelihood that you will get the bid to build the final rollercoaster at Scream-o-Rama. But

take note, you will have to remain under budget to win the bid. You will be competing

against other firms across the country (classroom). Good luck with your project.

What's Included

• The 21st-century problem includes a video challenge which outlines the activity in a fun and easy to understand way.

• The slideshow presentation (PPT and Keynote) allows the teacher to facilitate the pacing throughout the project.

• The teacher lesson plans include TEKS and NGSS standards alignment, and step-by-step directions on what the teacher and students should be doing along the way.

• The student notebook will guide the student through the activity. The questions will challenge students to learn new information, reflect on learned information, and provide the students a framework for the entire project.

• Each lesson is written using the Launch process. Students are going to be brainstorming with their peers and reflecting on failures and opportunities. At the end of each project, we’ve asked the students to share their ideas with the world. This holds students accountable. They will put forth the best effort knowing other students could critique the project.

What Supplies Do I Need?

Each product contains a list of suggested supplies for the project. We were very cautious about choosing inexpensive items. This project has a suggested supply list that includes: Plumbing insulation tubes cut in half for tracks, Toothpicks as connectors, Tape as a connector, Scissors, Marbles

The supply list is dynamic and can be adjusted to your situation.

NGSS and TEKS Standards

Aside from the engineering components of this project, students will be learning about precision and accuracy, maintaining a budget, and describing the change in position and speed when acted on by an unbalanced force.

NGSS: MS-ETS1-1, MS-ETS1-2, MS-ETS1-3, MS-ETS1-4, MS-PS3-2, MS-PS3-5

TEKS: 6.8A

Other STEM Challenges

Project: Rocket Launch - Create Rocket That is Ready for Launch

Project: Birdman - Design a Bird Beak for a Feeding Frenzy

Project: Electric - Design a System to Harness Wave Energy

Project: Hurricane Defender - Build a Hurricane Proof House

Project: Inhabit Mars - Build a Landing Device for Mars

Project: Lunar Base - Design a Lunar Colony

Project: Move - Design a Pulley System To Move a Heavy Load

Project: Save the Oceans - Design a Device to Clean the Oceans

Project: Skydive - Design a Parachute For Your New Business

Project: Thrills - Design A Fast and Furious Roller Coaster

Project: Wind and Sky - Create a 21st Century Turbine

Project: Explore Mars - Create a Space Probe for a MARS Mission

Save $$$

STEM Challenge Bundle 20% off

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