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Ms.

Shivers Gifted STEM Class


New STEM Unit: A Long Way Down: Designing Parachutes
Unit Overview
This unit introduces students to aerospace
engineeringand how aerospace engineers use
their knowledge of astronomy to design space
technologies. Starting with the storybook Paulos
Parachute Mission, students learn about a boy
from Brazil who designs a parachute to get a
large, heavy fruit down from a tree. Students
apply their knowledge of drag (air resistance) and
conditions on other planets to engineer a model
parachute thats mission ready to land a payload
on a planet with an atmosphere much thinner than
Earths.
When his family moves to rural Alcantara, Brazil,
so his parents, who are aerospace engineers, can
work on a space mission, Paulo is not happy. He
misses his best friend Andre, and the last thing he
wants to do is make friends with his new
neighbor, Lucas. But then Paulo finds himself
working with Lucas to solve an aerospace
challenge of their owndesigning a parachute that can safely float a large, heavy, and
delicious fruit down from a forest tree. Will their mission succeed?

Lessons Include:
Think like an Aerospace Engineer
Students use information about the
temperature, atmosphere, and surface of a
planet to imagine how a spacecraft traveling to
that planet might be designed.

Slow and steady wins the race


Students learn about air resistance and test three isolated
variables used in the design of parachutes.

Designing a Parachute
Students apply their knowledge of air resistance
and aerospace engineering as they imagine,
plan, create, test, and improve their own
parachutes.

January 18th
February 5th
March 14th
March 14th & 15th

Holiday
Midterm
Student Holiday & Teacher Furlough Day
GAGC Convention in Athens Ga.

Governor Deal proclaims January, 2016


Gifted Education Month in Georgia
This proclamation emphasizes the importance of developing the potential of Georgias children
in the areas of academics, creativity, leadership, and fine arts. It recognizes that our teachers and
educational leaders work together with our community to provide the key learning experiences
that engage and inspire our students. Finally, it calls for all of us to join in recognizing the unique
needs of gifted young people.
In honor of Gifted Education Month, you may want to invite your government representatives,
Board of Education members, superintendent, school administrators, teachers, community
leaders, parents, and local news/newspaper reporters to see the many ways gifted education
impacts all students in your district. This can be a time of advocacy for gifted students and for
gifted education, emphasizing the importance of challenging all students to reach their potential.
Please share this proclamation with your school board, teachers, parents, and community
members as we highlight ways that gifted education transforms the lives of our Georgia students.

Faith Shiver
Gifted Teacher
Scott Elementary (Mon Wed)
Harper Elementary (Wed Thur)
contact information: shiverf@tcitys.org

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