INSTRUCTIONAL SUGGESTIONS: Ancient Archery MEA

DAY 1: (Block 1)

*Teacher must have lab materials ready for the students before class! View the suggested materials section for more info.

- (0-10) Go to http://www.biology4kids.com/files/studies_scimethod.html. Read over this with the class in order to review and reinforce the basics of the pursuit of scientific knowledge through experimentation.

- (11-15) Organize the class into groups, with 3 or 4 students per group. Hand out client letter #1 and the blank data table #1 to each group.

- (16-30) Each group should now work together to complete the Readiness Questions.

- (31-50) Discuss the readiness questions as a class to be sure all groups understand. THIS IS A CRITICAL STEP

- (0-10) Pass out the document “Lab Report Steps” to the students. Students should be made aware of the fact that they must develop a series of experiments to test the string for three main attributes. If you wish to be specific, tell students they must address the following problem statements: 1) Which type of string fires a projectile most accurately? 2) Which type of string fires a projectile the farthest? 3) Which type of string has the highest tensile strength? (How much pulling force can it handle before it snaps?)

- (11-50) After students understand the task, they can begin to working on their experiments. Students should have access to all necessary string types and proper materials to devise their own experiments. Students must be well aware that each group of students will complete a full, proper lab report for each of the attributes they are testing. (This means 3 complete reports!)

*Be sure to have experimental materials ready before class.

- (0-10) As a class, go to http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/0_0_0/whatisscience_03

The class should read through the paragraphs together and then discuss how they relate to their archery project. Continue to page 04. - (11-15) Review with the class the problem at hand. Briefly discuss any issues or concerns that the groups have had to minimize problems later on. This would be an excellent time to for groups having trouble to get some ideas by hearing functional ideas from successful groups.

- (16-50) Students will be sent back to work in their groups to finish their three experiments. Remind students that good experimental data is collected over multiple trials (repetition). Students should do and record at least 3 trials of each test.

The class should read through the paragraphs together and then discuss how they relate to their archery project. Continue through page 06 and 07.

- (16-40) Students must now analyze their data and develop a system to rank each material from best to worst in order to make their suggestion to the research team.

- (41-50) After students have developed their data, have them complete any necessary write-ups and be sure they complete their response letter to the client. Teams who have not finished experimenting should be encouraged to do so. They will have to complete the written work as home learning.

- (0-5) Sit students in their proper groups and hand out client letter #2 and Blank Data Chart #2.

- (6-10) Discuss Educative Questions: Part 2 with the students.

- (11-45) Students should now complete the SAME experiments they used to rate the ancient materials on the two new synthetic strings. If students were only doing comparative tests, they may have to test all 5 string types against one another. Students who were actually gathering numerical data will only need to test the 2 new strings. Again, remind students that repetition is needed for effective scientific research. Students should do and record at least 3 trials of each test.

- (46-50) Students must now analyze their new data and rank each materials from best to worst. Students will have to decide if they need a new system to rank their materials based on the addition of two more independent variable options. Some students may need to make changes, others may not.

- (0-15) After students have developed their data, have them complete any necessary write-ups and be sure they complete their response letter to the client. Teams who have not finished experimenting should be encouraged to do so. They will have to complete the written work as home learning.

The class should read through the paragraphs together and then discuss how they relate to their archery project. Continue through pages 09. After page 09( about “behaving scientifically”), Students should be able to share difficulties they encountered, successful experiments, and any questions they may have.

- (31-40) After the discussion, share the information about the real ancient bowstrings, modern bowstrings, and the history of archery. Some interesting facts to share:

-Archery began approximately 10,000-12,000 years ago. The first evidence was discovered in Germany and Denmark.

-Ancient people used sinew (tendons) and animal intestines to form the strings for their bows. Plant fibers and horsehair were also used. Flint was commonly used for arrowheads.

-Archery was a key to survival for humans for thousands of years.

-Modern bows use many synthetic materials, with materials such as polyester and kevlar being most effective.

- (41-50) Present class notes on the scientific method and physics. Discuss the proper steps to the method and question students on the physical workings of the bow and arrow as a wrap-up and review.

NOTES:

-Scientific Method: 1)Question 2) Research 3) Hypothesis 4) Experiment 5) Analyze 6)Conclusion 7) Share Results 8) New Question

-Physics:

Potential Energy: Stored energy waiting to be used.

(The bow stored elastic potential energy. It WANTS to be straight!)

Kinetic Energy: Energy of Motion.

(The bow transfers the stored elastic potential energy into the string, then into the arrow. The arrow accelerates due to the force applied and gains Kinetic Energy)

CONGRATULATIONS! You have completed the full Ancient Archery MEA! BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Oldest Bows:http://www.uab.es/servlet/Satellite/latest-news/news-detail/the-oldest-neolithic-bow- discovered-in-europe-1096476786473.html?noticiaid=1340951938330

Information about string materials:

From The Art of Archerie by Gervase Markham, 1634: http://www.archerylibrary.com/books/art_of_archerie/docs/chapter06.html

From An Essay on Archery by Walter Moseley, 1792: http://www.archerylibrary.com/books/moseley/an- essay-on-archery/docs/chapter05/

Historical Importance of Archery and explanation of the manufacture, string, and physics of the bow:

Office of the State Archaeologist at The University of Iowa: http://www.uiowa.edu/~osa/learn/ancient/archery.htm