 Search NOVA Teachers  Back to Teachers Home  Roller Coaster!
Viewing Ideas  Before Watching    1. Draw a side view of a
roller coaster, including several hills and valleys, on the
board. Place six chairs in front of the room and invite students
in teams of six to "ride the coaster." As you trace the coaster
on the board, the riders should position their bodies as if they
were at that place on the coaster: leaning to one side, pushing
back in their seats, etc. The rest of the class should discuss
and comment on the riders' positions at three or four key points
along the ride, such as      1. going up a hill,     2. halfway
down a hill, or     3. At the top of a loop.  After Watching
1. Discuss students' earlier predictions about body positions on
different portions of a roller coaster. Which of their
predictions were confirmed by information presented in the
program? In what ways might students want to change some of
their ideas? Why?    2. On the board, draw a large square and
divide it into a grid of ni