Friday, August 3, 2018

Barbie Zipline for Pythagorean Theorem and Inverse Trig Functions


UPDATE!
Barbie went to high school and can now do inverse trig functions with her zipline engineering! Geometry students found angles of depression using inverse trig functions and Pythagorean theorem to find the length of cable they needed! The handout and more photos can be found at the end of this post!
  

Math and Science classes could have been sponsored by Mattel this year with all the Barbie involved! You can read about our super fun Barbie Bungee adventures here or over at my awesome partner science teacher's blog where we dropped Barbie from the top of the football stadium bleachers.

                           

After doing Barbie Bungee with our students this year for scatter plots, we leaked the plans that we would also be doing Barbie Zipline. Students had really been looking forward to this and as soon as they saw the unit divider for their notebooks was Pythagorean Theorem, they erupted with excitement and questions!


The lesson started with this video to get them thinking about the criteria of what makes a zipline fun but safe. Most line, height, and speed! We reminded them that just like Barbie Bungee, we wanted to give Barbie a thrill without killing her! Students were also given a budget to work within to get their business started. After looking at all the ways other teachers have done this lesson, I liked how Andrew Stadel at Divisible by 3 did it so I used his plan to guide me...along with talking out every detail 47 times and adjusting throughout the day with my amazing co-teachers! Here is the handout for their notebooks where I combined all the things I stole found and changed it to a fun font!



Students had to get their designs approved by our super awesome maintenance guy or amazing library media specialist. Our library media specialist gave them a tough time and even had some redesign their zipline before she would approve it! One group forgot to take their money with them to pay for the permit and she charged them interest by the minute while they {ran} to get the money! I love that the whole building was involved in their learning. 


We walked through the criteria together and they had to come up with three designs. One that would be instant, certain death for Barbie, one where Barbie may get stuck or lack a thrilling ride, and a ride just right where Barbie goes a safe, fun speed. 


                 


Students worked hard on their designs and stood in line to get them approved! I gave them the height (leg) of the launch which was the catwalk at the cafeteria. They used the tiles on the cafeteria floor to measure where the zipline should be held (leg). The hypotenuse was the amount of cable needed and they had to calculate that as well. I let them have a walkthrough of the cafeteria to make any last minute adjustments to their design and that was Day 1.



For Day 2, launch day, the science classes timed the Barbies going down the ziplines and calculated the speed for each group. We used feet for the design measurement so students could use the tiles but for the speed we had them convert to meters. It was awesome to see mathematicians launching their Barbies while the scientists collected the data below! I love when our powers combine! 


In the videos below, you can see the launch and the students timing and calculating below. I love everything about this lesson and the Pythagorean Theorem!





I am so happy so many want to try this in their classrooms! Here is the link to the interactive notebook page I used. Please make it your own and let me know how it goes and how we can make it better! Yay math!

Barbie Zipline for Interactive Notebook

Barbie Zipline using inverse trig functions

This post is part of the MTBoS Blaugust Festival of Mathematics Blogging! Click the photo to be taken to some amazing math bloggers!




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88 comments

  1. This is so cool! Major props for creating a fun and engaging project!

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  2. This is awesome! Do you have a full package I can purchase?

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    1. I got everything from the website I mentioned http://mr-stadel.blogspot.com/2014/07/barbie-zip-line.html and it is all free. I can send you the ones I made if you want? Just give me an email!

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  3. Would love the package you made if you could email to me dstewart@sd62.bc.ca

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  4. I would really like to have copies of the handouts you used with your students. Want to use this as a culminating project for Pythagorean Theorem. Love this activity!

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  5. If you have a chance I (on behalf of my science counterpart and myself) would appreciate any handouts and plans you’d be willing to share! Jvollenweider@fptrojans.org

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  6. I would love to have a copy of your handouts. I am working on completing this activity with my 8th grade students next week. Thanks,
    ajennings@currituck.k12.nc.us

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  7. We were just talking about Pythagorean Theorem and how to make it more fun. I would love a copy of your handouts if you would be so kind.
    Thank you,
    michelleg.jones@sdhc.k12.fl.us

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  8. This is awesome!!! Would love to try it with my 8s! Any chance you would share a copy of your handouts? Kari.chatterson@cssd.ab.ca. Thanks :)

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  9. Hi! I would also love to use your worksheets and collaborate with the science teacher!

    Mendes.kara@gmail.com

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  10. May I please have a copy of your handouts, etc? This sounds so fun and Pythagorean’s theorem is coming up soon for us!!
    My email is wendym197533@gmail.com

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  11. I would LOVE these files!!! My email is emily.stee@k12.sd.us

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  12. This looks amazing! Would you be able to email me everything as well? Thank you!

    Kimberly.chave@gppsd.ab.ca

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  13. I hate to ask because you have sent a million people your attachment worksheets already but maybe I could send you my Graphdom project or something in return. This is right up my teaching style! Would you mind sending just onnnnne more person your project? Traci Ayer email: traci.ayer@yorkprepsc.org Thank you so much! I can't wait! I usually show videos and do treehouse applications along with a fence project. You would like it because they have to choose a contractor and workout the cost.

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    1. I don't mind at all! Teachers are the best at bartering! The treehouse sounds fun too!

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  14. Please share mlaw@aacps.org. Looks like so much fun!

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  15. I think I got everyone! Let me know if you haven't received it!

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  16. Are you still sending this out? After reading so many teachers' experiences with this activity, I think I'm ready to take the plunge and I would love to use your files! My email is jaegetsreal@gmail.com - thank you!

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  17. I would love your stream-lined handouts. Thanks so much! rzaruba@dentonisd.org

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  18. I’ve been doing Barbie Bungee for years and I’d love to follow it up with this activity! Looks like so much fun! I’d be v
    ery grateful for any handouts you’ve created that you’re willing to share! My email is tmeyer@janesville.k12.wi.us

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  19. If you can send this to me I’d be very interested in trying it! Thanks. Hunta4@nv.ccsd.net

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  20. Can you please send me as well? Thank you!!! jaclynntobin@gmail.com

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  21. Love this idea! I do the Barbie Bungee Drop and my kids love it, this will give me another reason to get the Barbies out. Would you please email your packet?
    eankrom@bpsnebr.org
    Thanks

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  22. How much fun is this?!! We bungee jumped with Barbie last year for the first time.... I can't wait for us to try this activity. I love the second video, of the rather "Unsafe" landing!!! I'd appreciate the materials if you could send them to me. --- I love seeing so many teachers getting excited about this! Thank you!!!! mardalee.burwitz@allenisd.org

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  23. I love how excited everyone is about Barbie Zipline! It was so much fun! I think I have emailed everyone but let me know if you didn't get it. I have also linked my interactive notebook foldable at the end of the post. But I would love to hear how it goes and how we can make it better! Yay math!

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    1. Could you send me the info as well? ashley.archer@cape.k12.de.us Thanks!

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    2. I would absolutely love this! my email is hannah_debruyn@bwdsb.on.ca

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    3. I would love this too!! jessicalbella@hotmail.com

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  24. I would love for you to send me the packet as well. My email is jvaello@sharylandisd.org

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  25. I would love it as well. Thank you! clwitting@mpsaz.org

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  26. I would love the packet, also. My e-mail is schoenbaumc@manheimcentral.org. Thank you so much!!!

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  27. I would also love a packet! Such a fun activity! ashley.archer@cape.k12.de.us

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  28. This looks fabulous! What a fun way to teach and the students will be so excited. Could you send me your handouts as well? Thanks so much. kelly.walker@gssd.ca

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  29. Yes please! Please send to me! Fantastic!
    angela.napolski@jpsk12.org

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  30. I would LOVE to do this with my kids next year or maybe for an awesome activity at the end of the year. Can you please email me the packet and anything else that would be of help to do this. My email is kellye.green@midlandisd.net
    thank you!!

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  31. Please email me the materials too!! Thank you.

    ddameris@panaschools.com

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  32. I have been using Barbie Bungee for years. I love the ideas of this activity. Could you please send me the packet and everything else that would super helpful. My email is shannon.deaton@gilbertschools.net

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  34. Me too me too!
    Devonolmstead@gmail.com

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  35. What size pulley did you use? Did you just order it on Amazon? Thanks!

    acoppinger@easton449.org

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    1. I just picked it up at Home Depot because they give teacher discounts! But you could definitely get it from Amazon. It was 1 or 1 1/4 inch. I am emailing you a photo!

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  36. I’m new to 8th grade math and I’m trying to get stuff together. I absolutely looooove these Barbie activities!!! Could I please get a copy of whatever you have??

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  37. Looking forward to trying this activity this year! Please send me anything copies you feel I would need besides the interactive notebook. (cindianastasio@whschools.org) Also, I see you got pulley's from Home Depot, but what type of cable did you use? THANKS so much!

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    1. Hi Cindi! I am so excited you will be giving it a try! I used thick fishing line in a neon green color so we wouldn't get tangled in it! I can't wait to hear how it goes and please reach out if you need anything else!

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  38. This looks so engaging! I would love if you could send me a copy. Thanks!

    jannae.bridgeman@rbe.sk.ca

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  39. Hi Jacqueline! This looks like so much fun! I would also love a copy of your handouts.

    stephanie.colgate@asd20.org

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  40. Hello, I am really looking forward to trying this. What speed was determined to make the zipline "unsafe" for barbie?" I cant seem to find a cut off between fun and unsafe. Did you use a specific speed that they couldnt go over? thank you

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    1. I would also like copies of your handouts if available still. Thank you

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    2. We had the students decide based on the numbers found here https://headrushtech.com/zip-line/National-Zip-Line-Survey_Summary.pdf and then they had to convert from feet to meters. We used the tiles in the cafeteria so it was easier to measure using feet but scientists use meters! The handout is a link at the bottom of the post! Let me know how it goes!

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  41. hi! I don't know if you're still giving these out, but I would love an email of the hand out! ari-an.w@apis.ac.th

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  42. Hi Jacqueline! I was wondering if I could get a copy of the handout if you are still sharing. My email is mulkerrins@holliston.k12.ma.us. Thanks!!

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    1. Jacqueline RichardsonDecember 18, 2019 at 11:55 AM

      Just sent an email! Sorry for the delay!

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  43. HI Jacqueline- Is the attached link of your foldable the same as the information you are emailing out? I wasn't sure if not- my email is bmitan@wbsd113.org. Thanks!

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    1. Jacqueline RichardsonDecember 18, 2019 at 11:50 AM

      It is the same! Hope your kids love it! Let me know if you need anything else!

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  44. May I please have a copy of this FANTASTIC project?!? agray@pretzelpride.com Thank you!

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    1. Jacqueline RichardsonJanuary 15, 2020 at 3:26 PM

      It is linked at the end of the post! Hope your kids love it!

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  45. What size fishing line worked best for you?
    Also, do you have a link to the pulleys you used?

    Thanks.

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    1. Jacqueline RichardsonJanuary 15, 2020 at 3:28 PM

      I used 40-50 pound in bright green so we could see it! I just picked up the pulleys from Home Depot because they give a teacher discount! It was the 1 1/4 inch fixed pulley below. Hope this helps! Let me know if you need anything else!

      https://www.homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-1-4-in-Nickel-Plated-Fixed-Pulley-43344/205887589?MERCH=REC-_-PLP_Search-_-205883050;203810649;203810460;-_-205887589-_-N

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  46. I would love to see a copy of your project
    smooney@mayflowerschools.org

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    1. Jacqueline RichardsonJanuary 15, 2020 at 3:28 PM

      Hi! It is linked at the end of the post! Hope your kids love it!

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  47. Could you send me a copy please
    Lorijocobb@yahoo.com

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  48. Can you share what type of rope you used for this?

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    1. Jacqueline RichardsonJuly 14, 2020 at 5:57 PM

      I used fishing line! Neon green so you could see it and just the heaviest weight they had. Hope this helps!

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  49. I would love to do this and can I get a copy as well? penny.turso@wcsga.net
    Thank you! Is there a list of materials?

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    1. Jacqueline RichardsonAugust 1, 2020 at 11:49 PM

      Hi! It is linked at the end of the post. Supplies were just velcro, carabiners, pulleys, and fishing line. Hope this helps!

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  50. WOW! I am learned of your project through a math course I am taking through Trent University (Canada). I love it and would like to do this project with my grade 8's. Would you be able to send me a copy of your lesson?? I think it is meaningful, engages all students and something I would love to try. Thank you very much for being such a great math teacher!

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    1. Jacqueline RichardsonAugust 1, 2020 at 11:48 PM

      Yay! So happy you found me! Everything you need is linked at the end of the post! Let me know how it goes!

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  51. Well for you’re still willing, though it’s been awhile since this was posted. I’d love a copy of your documents for this project! I’m excited to give it a go. mandel.babe@sd76.ab.ca Thanks!

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    1. Hi! Both files are at the end of the post! I will also email them to you!

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  52. What is a good "perfect run"? Just curious what you found so I can do a sample budget/presentation for my students :-)

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    1. Jacqueline RichardsonMay 24, 2021 at 8:14 AM

      As far as the budget goes, I calculated based on the height of where they would start. If you are doing it in the classroom, the budget should restrict them to a zipline that would fit inside the room. If you plan to go outside, the budget should be larger. Inside the classroom, most fell around 7 feet as the starting height and the time was around 2-3 seconds. I hope this is what you are asking?! Please email me if you have more questions!

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    2. I was thinking more about the slope of the line they'll need. We will be dropping from a 16ft roof :-) I had them do test runs in the classroom from 3 feet high, then scaled up to 16 to find the distances... but I'm not sure I made the budget high enough... so was just looking for a "good" slope so I can maybe work from there for next year :-)

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  53. I would love a copy as well if you are still sharing. I am making plans for around 80 7th & 8th grade girls at a STEAM camp this June & I think this would be perfect if I can get all the materials & a good spot to do it nailed down in time, if not them I would love to use it at next year's camp. I love it!!!

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