This is a question from Chegg and I'm thinking that it's a pretty standard Physics problem; something that I remember doing when I was in high school.  There are a lot of good conversations that could come from this, but the question only begs for one precise response/outcome.  If "find the distance from the ramp" is the only question we're asking, we need to restructure, or bulldoze, the problem altogether.

Using Google Sketchup, I create a ramp.  It's ugly, and it is certainly not going to be the best design, but it allows me to demonstrate something that this problem couldn't.  It reminds me, in a way, of Dan's Makeover Monday.

My wife says it looks more like a shoe than a ramp, and I agree.  Looking at this, though, I can do a lot more with it than that problem pulled from Chegg (and used throughout math/physics classrooms around the world).  Some examples:

• Have students run trials of how far a ball travels
• Have students run trials of the average velocity while on the ramp, overall, or once it leaves the ramp
• Have students compete to see who can design a ramp to travel a specific distance
• Have students compete to see who can design a ramp with a precise average velocity
• ..... And soooooo much more

The main points to make in this are that the students are doing the majority of the investigation and learning and they are given a number of routes to take in order to meet their objective.  If you want the full lesson plan that goes with this, Airwolf3D should have it on their site relatively soon.  More importantly, I'm looking to make this a better lesson.  

What would you ask students to do?  

As of right now, the ramp is printing.  I've intentionally created it to be large so that I can test out the durability of the printer (it's supposed to take 11 hours to print) and I want a giant ramp so that I can revert back to my 6 year-old self and launch cars, balls, rocks, and other fun stuff with my two sons.  I'll add more pictures when it finishes up tomorrow.

Until then, Happy Fishing.

OK so it took a long time to print, and I made it wayyyyyy too big, but this was FUN!  Next up, I'll be spending about 8 years of my life (or until it breaks.  With my boys, and my desire to break stuff, it'll probably be a week) acting like a kid with my boys as we send all sorts of objects through the ramp of zoom :)

Trying to stay true to form after the TMC conference that I had the opportunity to attend, I want to highlight some great teachers that I follow on Twitter who have great ideas, things to share, or are doing incredible work that inspires me.  This is partly because of a conversation that Dan Meyer and I were having, but also because it's only right to spread the word about teachers doing great work.  Karl Lindgren-Streicher also wrote about how it's important to lift up others in our profession.


This week, it's an easy choice.  Jessie Hester is a teacher that I found because of Matt Vaudrey.  My students had just completed a "Choose Your Own Assessment" for triangle congruences and one student decided that she wanted to draw a dreamcatcher.  A dreamcatcher?  Yes, a dreamcatcher.  I was blown away.  Then, because the Internet is a powerful place, Vaudrey stumbled onto a Desmos design that one of Mrs. Hester's students created.  

Yes, a dreamcatcher.

The fact that her kids make dreamcatchers doesn't mean that I have a ton of respect for the work that Jessie does on a regular basis.  No, it's more about the conversations that I was able to have with her in Oklahoma.  Mrs. Hester is great about putting kids first and the opportunities that she presents them with.  How can I get my kids to make dreamcatchers like this?  On the spot, I can't.  She has clearly set up an incredible class structure and culture that invites creativity and unique perspective like this.  I walked away from Twitter Math Camp with even more respect for her and how she approaches teaching.

Professionally, she's making some pretty amazing things.  Now I'm not going to pretend to say that I've downloaded her chevron patterned lesson planning book, but it's awesome that she's willing to give it (and other ideas that she's pounced on) away for free.  If you're interested in how to set up interactive notebooks, get in touch with Jessie.  If you're interested in creating unique lesson planning guides, get in touch with Jessie.  If you're interested in creating math stations, get in touch with Jessie. If you're interested in being a better teacher, get in touch with Jessie.

My goal, in one way or another, is to learn how to be better at what I do from Mrs. Hester.  Hopefully you'll join me.

Happy Dreamcatcher Fishing