You are invited to come to a free Six Flags workshop on Saturday, October 13, 2007, to see high and low-tech ways you can use amusement park physics in your curriculum. Each physics teacher participant may also bring a guest free of charge. Rex Rice, Bill Brinkhorst and Mark Schober will lead the workshop. A free lunch is also provided.
You will receive printed copies of the questions for several rides, as well as a CD with the complete curriculum materials, ride data, and digital videos. The materials to accompany the rides at Six Flags are being continually updated to take advantage of altimeter/multi-axis accelerometer data and digital video. We'll give you an orientation to the materials and ideas for using the materials throughout your curriculum, whether or not you are able to take your students to Six Flags Math, Science, and Physics Day next April 25, 2008.
Agenda (note the later starting time)
9:30 to 10:00 am: Come to the park through the main entrance to the World's Fair Pavilion for donuts and chat. You will enter the Park through the side entrance, just past metal detection.
10:00 am: Take a behind-the-scenes tour of Mr. Freeze.
11:00 am: A presentation about the Six Flags curriculum resources available to physics teachers will be made. Examples will be provided showing how the materials can be used throughout the school year, as well as before, during, and after the trip to Six Flags Math, Science, and Physics Day in April.
12:00 to 3:30 pm: You are free to do whatever will help you most:
[] Borrow a high-tech equipment vest with accelerometers and a barometer to gather data on the rides of your choice. We'll show you how the curriculum materials guide students to interpret the data and understand how the equipment works.
[] Pick a ride or two and work through the curriculum materials. We'll help you to understand the structure of the materials and the rationale behind the questions.
To sign up, send an e-mail with your name (and your guest's name) to Carla DeSalme: cdesalme@sftp.com by Tuesday, October 9.
Six Flags is located just west of Eureka, Missouri on Interstate 44 at Exit 261. Dress for the weather, bring something to write with, and feel free to bring any amusement park data collection equipment that you might use with your students.