BARBIE BUNGEE JUMP

Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom

Foxcroft Academy Algebra I students Michaleb Niles, blue shirt, and Caleb Ladd — whohad Mason McLeish in their group — watch as their Barbie doll takes the plunge from the top of the stairwell to the steps near the bottom as part of a lesson in linear functions on Dec. 4. Students in Ryan Nickerson’s class used linear functions, a scatterplot app on their iPads and numerous test jumps to calculate how many elastics would be needed to drop Barbie as close to the ground as possible without making contact.

Watching the jump are, from left, students Emelia Grant, Heather Burgess and Emily Mooers with Nickerson to the far right. Nickerson had a similar project, based on proportions instead of linear functions, as part of the curriculum of his grade 8 classes when he previously taught at SeDoMoCha Middle School. A story and more photos from the Barbie bungee jump will be in next week’s issue.