Helicopter Seeds

This Cre8ate maths flight testing activity requires students to work in groups and, having made their own helicopter seed model from a template, record the landing positions and distances from a central point when the model is dropped from a standard height of one metre. The experiment is repeated ten times and involves the students in data collection and recording, measurement and the calculation of averages. It also gives good first-hand experience of the mathematical idea of range.

There is an opportunity for students to modify the basic helicopter seed, so that the seeds spread further, by changing parameters such as wing width, wing length, tail length or mass.

URL: http://stem.org.uk/rx4x

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Review

Helicopter seeds cre8ate maths

Posted by Anna Richardson on 9th December 2010

Activity time: 1 – 2 hours
Level / prior knowledge: Pupils need to know how to calculate…

Activity time: 1 – 2 hours
Level / prior knowledge: Pupils need to know how to calculate the mean, median, minimum, maximum and range.
Subject / curriculum links / skills: Maths: data analysis, primary data collection, basic statistics, measuring skills. Wider skills: communication, group work, pupil reflection, investigation
Preparation time: 20 min
Extra resources: Tables in groups (max 5 per table), recording sheets (downloaded), helicopter seed templates (downloadable), scissors, metre ruler, A3 paper, 30cm ruler, calculators
Commentary
This activity was done with a mixed ability year 8 classes over 2 hours.
This was an excellent activity to show pupils how to set up an investigation and develop basic statistical skills in maths. There is great potential for pupils to develop this activity to explore how the helicopter seeds can be changed to make them travel further. Variables that could be changed include height, weight of the seeds, material they are made from, length of wings etc.
I found there was a need to be very flexible when letting pupils make changes to the construction of the seeds, there also needs to be suitable feedback time to let pupils reflect on what they have learnt.
By Lindsey Stones