Race the Track! Design Challenge (Lesson Five)
By Kathy Scoggin, February 23, 2009
Grade Level
- Elementary School
Category
- Architecture
Subject Area
- Science
Lesson Time
45-60 minutes
Introduction
Students and their teachers are introduced to basic physics concepts and the idea of variables through use of Mattel™ Hot Wheels tracks and steel balls. Students will use the design process to explore force and motion.
This series of lessons allows students and teachers to work through the design process in order to investigate physical science and experimental design concepts. It highlights the design process as a tool allowing students to approach issues in a meaningful and productive way.
This unit follows a learning cycle of Focus - Explore - Reflect - Apply. The cycle is followed throughout the entire unit as well as within individual lessons. It allows students to observe phenomena during their investigations which will lead them to ask questions and design systems in which to explore answers to their questions - and on to further questions.
National Standards
Science
Standard 10. Level II. Understands forces and motion
2. Knows that the Earth’s gravity pulls any object toward it without touching it
5. Knows that when a force is applied to an object, the object either speeds up, slows down, or goes in a different direction
6. Knows the relationship between the strength of a force and its effect on an object (e.g., the greater the force, the greater the change in motion; the more massive the object, the smaller the effect of a given force)
Standard 11. Level II. Understands the nature of scientific knowledge
2. Knows that good scientific explanations are based on evidence (observations) and scientific knowledge
4. Knows that scientists review and ask questions about the results of other scientists’ work
Standard 12. Levels Pre-K and II. Understands the nature of scientific inquiry
1. Knows that scientific investigations involve asking and answering a question and comparing the answer to what scientists already know about the world
2. Knows that scientists use different kinds of investigations (e.g., naturalist observation of things or events, data collection, controlled experiments), depending on the questions they are trying to answer
3. Plans and conducts simple investigations (e.g., formulates a testable question, plans a fair test, makes systematic observations, develops logical conclusions)
5. Knows that scientists explanations about what happens in the world come partly from what they observe (evidence), partly from how they interpret (inference) their observations
Objectives
This lesson works as a formative assessment to check student understanding of concepts learned throughout the unit. Students work in teams using concepts explored in previous lessons to design a racetrack with a clear goal. They challenge classmates to timed races using specific materials.
Students will:
• demonstrate understanding of how variables affect the outcome of the way in which a projectile travels through a track
• recognize the design process as a creative challenge employing the skills of observation, research (data collection), problem solving, construction, revision and sharing results
• use the design process as they set up a track in order to achieve a specified outcome
The variables that students will add at this time are: loop, hill, and jump
Materials
Each group of students will need:
- track pieces (8 short plus 1 long)
- connectors (5)
- c-clamp or masking tape
- jump (launch and catch pieces – 2 per team)
- one loop piece
- meter stick
- masking tape
- can (to be used as target)
- foam blocks to make hills
- small steel balls
- Racing Challenge Data Sheet
- Design Process Poster
Vocabulary
- design: plan something for a specific role or purpose or effect; the act of working out the form of something
- variable: anything you can change in an experiment that might affect the outcome
- controlled experiment: a form of scientific investigation in which one variable, termed the independent or control variable, is manipulated to reveal the effect on another variable, termed the dependent or responding variable, while all other variables in the system are held fixed
- speed: distance travelled per unit time
- distance: the property created by the space between two objects or points
- projectile: any object propelled through space by the exertion of a force which ceases after launch (in this case, the steel ball)
- potential energy: the mechanical energy that a body has by virtue of its position; stored energy
- kinetic energy: the mechanical energy that a body has by virtue of its motion
- friction: the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another
- gravity: the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface
- acceleration: a rate of increase of velocity
- system: a set of related objects that can be studied in isolation
Procedures
1. Teacher Presentation: Put the students into teams and give them the following challenge: Design a track that will carry the small steel ball as fast as possible. Use what you’ve learned so far while doing the previous Hot Wheels™ investigations. Your track must use all nine track pieces and include the following components:
• Release – from the back of a chair
• One loop (constructed from a loop piece and the long piece of track)
• At least one jump 20 cm or longer
• At least one hill at least two foam blocks high
2. Once the teams have their fastest tracks they should challenge another team to a race.
3. Students should record the results of each race and draw the two track designs on the Challenge worksheet. (Note: Allow a minimum of two hours to design, build, test tracks and race with other teams.)
4. Class Discussion/ Wrap up and shared learning: Have teams compare and discuss the results of their races. Focus discussion on how the variables affected each design. Suggested prompts for small group discussions:
- What did you notice about each track?
- Why did one track work faster than another?
- Where did the object traveling on the track speed up or slow down and why do you think that happened?
- How could either of the tracks be improved?
Assessment
Ask students to share what they think are the important ideas from the past design lessons (The Big Ideas). Have them discuss with partners and then have the groups share with the whole class. This will give you a chance to assess their understanding of the objective and to clarify or restate ideas that are not brought forward by the students.
Prompts for small group discussion from lesson "wrap-up" portion could be used to individually assess students.
Enrichment Extension Activities
Extension: The Gravity Game
This extension encourages creativity. Teams invent ways to turn their track into a game that scores points. Teams are given the Gravity Game worksheet with a checklist of criteria they must include in their track design. Allow a minimum of two hours for students to design, build, and test the track.
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