The infamous “Roller Coaster Project” was completed on October 10. Each year the Algebra 2 students of Mr. Doering and Mrs. Clemmer are assigned to construct a working roller coaster with a theme complete with a portfolio of all of the mathematics and physics involved. The project is assigned fifteen days prior to its due date and each year the students congregate in the library to present their final products to the second grade class of El Segundo and a few select judges. The coasters are then judged and awarded the top three honors out of both regular and honors classes.

            This year is Mr. Doering’s first year teaching Algebra 2 Honors and Algebra 2. Mrs. Clemmer will be passing the torch, as she will not be teaching Algebra 2 honors next year. It was exciting to see what the new honors class would produce. There were 11 roller coasters constructed from both Mr. Doering’s and Mrs. Clemmer’s honors classes, and 11 roller coasters from Mr. Doering’s regular Algebra 2 class. All the roller coasters proved to be well done at the final presentations in the library on October 10.

The library was jam-packed with multitudes of second graders waiting to test the roller coasters and get their hands on some candy! The second graders were told to choose their favorite coaster, because they would draw a picture of it and write a letter to the Algebra 2 students. In the letters, second grader, Christina S. said, “I liked the ‘Aloha’ the best because it was Hawaiian. I liked the decoration on the Hawaii. I had fun. I can’t wait until I grow up and be in high school and make one like your roller coaster. You must have worked hard. Thank you for letting us come.“ Also attending the roller coaster convention, were engineers from Boeing and Raytheon who judged the roller coasters.  They visited each roller coaster, asking the students questions about the construction, physics, and engineering behind their roller coaster. At the end of the presentation, the winners were announced.

Many people question the purpose of this project and it is often criticized. Mrs. Clemmer states, “Every year, I am criticized for assigning this project, but I continue to do it because my entire focus is on student learning and success.” The project may appear tedious, but the true purpose is to learn about slopes and physics while working together as a team to solve problems and create something great. Sophomore Jeff Campeau, who constructed “Cirque du Clemmer,” stated, “The roller coaster project was interestingly difficult and was tight to make!” Junior Khalid Abdelshife commented, “I learned the physics and mathematics of roller coasters. It took my group and me a while before we could get our roller coaster to work and understand why it worked. But, overall, I thought the roller coaster was a great experience and I had fun working on it.” The students learned a lot and Mrs. Clemmer welcomes any one to come and read the portfolios created by each group because she says it will give insight to what the students gain from the roller coaster project.

Mr. Doering commented, “What I liked most was the presentation part of the project. I like to see the community getting involved and the second graders looking up to the Algebra 2 students. The students worked really hard this year.” Most people who attended the presentation in the high school library on October 10 also thought it was heartwarming to see the Algebra 2 students lifting up the second graders so that they could have a chance to drop the marbles down the coasters. When asked about her feelings on the outcome of the project, Mrs. Clemmer stated, “ I am always awestruck by what students can do. I feel that the amount of learning takes place in both the academic subject of math, and in the students’ responsibility. The teamwork is incredible! This year in particular, there was one roller coaster that didn’t work on the day of the presentation, and the rest of the class was so upset that five people spent their lunch working on it after the judging had been done. We will, as a class, make that roller coaster work!”

Back

Current Issue

September

October

November

December

January

February

March

April

May

June