Building a Catapult

by Stephen Alwon and Sherwin Fernandes

Introduction Anchor Video Concept Map Project Calendar Lesson Plans Letter to Parents Assessments Resources Modifications Grant

Dear Parents or Guardians, Your child will be involved in a project that brings together mathematics and physics. The students will work on various labs and activities that will teach them projectile motion, and at the end of the six weeks they will work on building a working catapult using the techniques they have learned. The purpose of this project is to raise interest in mathematics for the students by having them work on an applied problem, and hopefully they will have fun building a catapult. The bulk of the project will be done in class and will not require any outside work outside of periodic homework assignments. The students will not need to purchase any extra materials; these will be provided as needed. The catapults will be constructed and launched in a well supervised environment, and the students will not need to use any power tools for their construction, minimizing any safety concerns. The project will include labs and homework assignments, and then presentations and a final write up of the success or failure of their catapult. The presentation and write up will tie together everything that the students have done for the project. Please sign below to indicate that you have seen this letter. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, Stephen Alwon and Sherwin Fernandez ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Please keep the above for your own copy. Give the below to your child to turn in. I have read and understand the requirements of my child's mathematics project. Parent signature _____________________ Date____________________ Child’s name_____________________ (please print)