"It's Derby Time at Cumby School"

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

One might ask what a roller derby and math and science classes at Cumby School have in commom? "Plenty!" affirms math and science teacher, David Stribling. "Combining math and science TEKS objectives in a creative learning environment is what the project of building the roller coasters are all about. Students learn about gravity, force, energy, and the calculation of speed, just for starters!"

Striblings classes begin the studies by studying the first day about roller coasters online, examining how they are built and supported. They use the data collected to figure m.p.h., speed, and other mathematics calculations.

 

 

Then, on the second through the fourth days of the project, the students actually construct roller coasters in the classroom, using materials provided and some "secret" ingredients that they may have possibly learned to make their project go faster!

 

 

 

 

 

Then, on the 5th day, the students calculate the 20 trials of their marble track, to find the mathematical data and statistics about their own constructed track. Once the individual groups collect their data, the data is combined by the class and features of each project are discussed.

 

 

 

"I like to call the project "Discovery Learning at Its Best,'" declared Stribing. "There is an amazing amount of math that goes into this one project, that allows the students to calculate an actual experience and see the importance of using the various mathematics calculations!"

 

 

 

"It is a fun learning experience and one that has practical application," affirmed one of Stribling's students. "It certainly beats working problems on the board without any relative application!"

 

 

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