1. Vibrant G.E.M.S. (Girls Excelling in Math and Science) A Rochester Teacher Center/ MSTL Nazareth College Initiative by Sherry Cope and Khieta Davis Flower City School, #54

2. Objective To form a G.E.M.S. extended day program for 5 th and 6 th grade girls in order to support their self-concepts as young women, to strengthen relationships among the girls, teacher facilitators, and invited guests, to enhance the girls’ skill in math and science, and to provide connections and resources beyond the classroom to promote academic excellence.

3. Overview Kites Airplanes Rockets

4. Let’s Go Fly A Kite! Literature Connections

5. Big Idea (Kites) Standard 1:Analysis, Inquiry, and Design Key Idea S1:The central purpose of scientific inquiry is to develop explanations of natural phenomena.

6. Kites Inquiry Please write some possible essential or guiding questions we might use with our students.

7. MSTL Kites Activity Materials needed: – Commercial kites – Kite making materials (paper, plastic bags, bamboo sticks or dowels, kite string or fish line, tape, rulers, scissors, tissue paper, etc.)

8. Up, Up and Away! (Airplanes) Literature Connections

9. It is Rocket Science! Literature Connections

10. Future Study for Fall and Spring Airplanes and Rockets Possible Essential Questions – What makes a “good” paper airplane (rocket)? – Which plane will fly best? – What will make the projectile (rubber band) travel the farthest (using the rubber band launcher)?