• Project Based Learning Project: Watch as we combine Science, Math, Social Studies, English and Technology by studying chemical combustion via the construction of "tennis ball can" cannons!

• Essential Question: How has science and technology made wars impersonal, especially as it relates to technology? Likewise, what is the human impact of war - both domestically and personally? (Consdier the perspective of a soldier in combat - a civilian in combat - and a civilian at home watching the combat.)
• How did your knowledge of the gas laws govern your design elements in reference to the cannon construction? Specifically, how do/did pressure, volume, and temperature play a role in designing the most efficient cannon?

• Construction of canons acts as the vehicle through which goals and objectives reinforcing analysis, informational writing and critical thinking within each of the Science, Math, Social Studies, English and Technology curriculums is promoted.
  
  SCIENCE COMPONENT
• Task: Constructing the Canon

1. Obtain a list of materials:

• 2 tennis ball cans with tops
• 12 inch strip of duct tape
• 1 pair of scissors
  

2. Create a graphic organizer by designing on paper a model of your cannon.

3. Construct the cannon – *and remember to include an opening for the ignited wood splint.

4. Record each step of your construction.

• * For this part, you should to take digital photos /video to document your construction so That you may incorporate visuals in your written and oral explanation.

5. Construct hypothesis: At this point: your cannon is constructed, and you have documented your data of your construction both visually and in writing.

*From this data or RAW MATERIAL – you must now generate a thesis statement about the process. So, in your hypo-thesis: you should inquire about the relationship between pressure, volume and temperature.

6. Run the experiment – fire your cannon!

7. Record experiment:

• a. RECORD using video and/or digital photography.
• b. RECORD the distance the nerf ball travels
• c. RECORD your assessment of how the cannon worked.
• D. WRITE a reflection of how you might conduct this experiment differently next time.

** Reflect back on your hypothesis to assess if and how your original predictions worked. **Support your reasoning with details.

8. Create a blogspot to Present your experiment and findings and Dialogue with peers.

9. Create a file on your network and record your blogspot address and thesis.
You should identify blogspot URL and members of the team in your Science FOLDER, marked Cannon.

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MATH COMPONENT
You have been hired to focus on two main themes within the realm of mathematics:

• 1. What is the optimal angle you should choose as your launch angle?
  Based on research, why did you pick this angle?
  Is this angle optimal for real world situations or for a vacuum?
• 2. You need to examine what the initial velocity of firing is. To do this:
  You will use your projectile formula to solve for the initial velocity
  You will be using g=32.2 ft/(sec)(sec) as our gravitational constant.
  R= the launch distance you will find upon firing
  Theta = the launch angle (which you measure during construction) .

HOW DO YOU WANT THEM TO RECORD/DIALOGUE findings?

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SOCIAL STUDIES COMPONENT

You will need three pictures of cannons from the following 3 time periods:

• prior to 1700's,
• prior to 1900's, and
• the 20th century.

For each photo, WRITE a paragraph which gives historical background - including:

• creator,
• nation used,
• technical details of materials,
• cost
• ability of weapon,
• personnel required to use weapon and
• effectiveness.

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ENGLISH COMPONENT

"The Charge of the Light Brigade" by Tennyson (1809-1892)

http://poetry.eserver.org/light-brigade.html

1. Motivation: Writing before Reading

• What are some examples of times when people must obey an authority figure, even though they may not want to?
• Must military commanders enforce harsh discipline on their soldiers?
• Is it important for a military outfit to work as a team?
• What are the consequences if a commander is unable to keep his or her troops under control during wartime?

2. Read and Analyze Poem

• Read and discuss the poem
• Recall and interpret facts and extend meanings
• Analyze narrative poetry and the use of repetition and metaphor in a poem
• Discuss the following themes: courage and honor; leaders and followers; justice and vengeance

This poem "documents" Tennyson's strong reaction to the Crimean War fought between Turkey and Russia (1854-56). Under the command of Lord Raglan, British forces entered the war in September 1854 to prevent the Russians from obtaining control of the important sea routes through the Dardanelles. From the beginning, the war was plagued by a series of misunderstandings and tactical blunders, one of which serves as the subject of this poem: on October 25, 1854, as the Russians were seizing guns from British soldiers, Lord Raglan sent desperate orders to his Light Cavalry Brigade to fend off the Russians. Finally, one of his orders was acted upon, and the brigade began charging--but in the wrong direction! "Someone had blundered!" Still the soldier rode on into the "valley of Death".

The 600 soldiers were assaulted by the shots of shells of canons in front and on both sides of them. Still, they rode courageously forward toward their own deaths: "Into the jaws of Death / Into the mouth of hell / Rode the six hundred."

The soldiers struck the enemy gunners with their unsheathed swords ("sabres bare") and charged at the enemy army while the rest of the world looked on in wonder. They rode into the artillery smoke and broke through the enemy line, destroying their Cossack and Russian opponents. Then they rode back from the offensive, but they had lost many men so they were "not the six hundred" any more.

Canons behind and on both sides of the soldiers now assaulted them with shots and shells. As the brigade rode "back from the mouth of hell," soldiers and horses collapsed; few remained to make the journey back.

3. Listen to the musical composition "Overture of 1812".

4. WRITE A REFLECTION: Pay attention to the firing of canons in the music - why is this significant to this piece of music?

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WRITING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM

A. PLANNING PHASE

1. Create a graphic organizer to plot task analysis/activity.

2. Construct cannon and record step-by-step construction.

(*YOU SHOULD MAKE PREDICTIONS HERE).

3. Journals – 2 complete paragraphs: (TS-SD-A-SD-A-CS) record your thoughts/reflection.


FIRING PHASE
FIRE: RECORD RESULTS AND FINDINGS; PHOTOS; VIDEO;REFLECTION.

1. View one another's firing of cannons.

Students will shoot cannons by individual teams. No two cannons will be fired at the same time so that you may video one another's experiment.

2. Record additional data (measure the length that the nerf ball travels after firing).

3. Compare and contrast successful canon firings.

REFLECTION AND ASSESSMENT PHASE

1. Write a journal reflection and examine the following questions:

a. Did your cannon have intelligent design based on pressure, volume and temperature? How so?

b. Which gas laws were being followed? How?

c. Did your observations follow what the gas laws teach us? What about your classmates?

d. If you had a poor firing of the canon, what do you think caused that? What would you do differently? If you had a positive firing of the cannon, to what do you attribute that success? Would you do anything differently next time?

e. Assessment: Self/Peer/Instructor: http://www.bie.org/files/BIE_PBLrubrics.pdf

FINAL PHASE

WRITE A SPEECH to your school (teachers and peers) in which you discuss the construction and execution of a science experiment [in this case, a cannon]. Be sure to address how your research (pre-construction), construction and firing of your cannon demonstrates the relationship between pressure volume and temperature through a combustion reaction. As well, your speech should inform your audience of your sequenced steps and things you learned throughout each step. You should conclude with how this activity enhanced your understanding of how to work in a group. This speech must include: