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Making an Object Move 

In this provocation, students will make an object move without it being pushed

Objective:

  • Create a structure that will make your car/ball travel on its own without being pushed

Problem-solving and strategic thinking:

  • Students will use materials provided to build a structure (i.e. a ramp) to make their car move

  • Students will test how far and fast their car/ball moves

Standards/Objectives addressed:

  • K-PS2-2: Analyze data to determine if a design solution works as intended to change the speed or direction of an object with a push or a pull.

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.K.3 - With prompting and support, describe the connection between two individuals, events, ideas, or pieces of information in a text.

  • NGSS.K-PS2-1 - Plan and conduct an investigation to compare the effects of different strengths or different directions of pushes and pulls on the motion of an object.

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.1.9 - Identify basic similarities in and differences between two texts on the same topic

  • 1-PS4-4 - Use tools and materials to design and build a device that uses light or sound to solve the problem of communicating over a distance

Background knowledge needed:

  • Understanding the concept of motion

  • How to make a plan - sketch a design

  • Ramps, wheels

  • How to make things move

Materials:

  • Blocks, balls, legos, cars, timer, cardboard, tape to mark where the object lands

Prompts – questions or statements to elicit engagement:

  • How can you change your design to make the ball/car go faster/farther?

  • How long does it take to reach a certain point?

  • What will happen if…?

  • How are you going to use…?

Vocabulary:

  • Ramps, steep, straight, trajectory, angel, speed, ruler, track, motion, force, propel

Reflection prompts:

  • What worked well? What part of your design made your car go fast?

  • How did you test your design?

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