The Arizona STEM Acceleration Project

Roller Coasters Lesson 1 of 4

Physics Roller Coasters- Lesson 1 of 4

A 6th Grade STEM lesson

Jenifer Henson

11/28/23

Notes for teachers

If you do not have computers for each student, you can modify the journals and print out. You can also do the online simulations as a whole class

Unit Lessons 1-4

List of Materials

• Roller coaster journal: https://docs.google.com/document/d/17rspSzthKNoB5uTOC4RMATsLshaXUE3Wk2A4CiSN0-w/edit?usp=sharing
• Computers for students
• Projector

Science Standards

Science Standard

6.P4U2.5 Analyze how humans use technology to store (potential) and/or use (kinetic) energy.

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Technology Standards

• 6-8.4.b. Students select and use digital tools to support a design process and expand their understanding to identify constraints and trade-offs and to weigh risks.
• 6-8.4.c. Students engage in a design process to develop, test, and revise prototypes, embrace the iterative process of trial and error, and understand setbacks as potential opportunities for improvement.
• 6-8.4.d. Students demonstrate an ability to persevere and handle greater ambiguity as they work to solve open-ended problems.
• 6-8.5.a. Students practice defining and solving problems by selecting technology for data analysis, modeling, and algorithmic thinking.
• 6-8.5.b. Students find and organize data and use technology to analyze and represent it to solve problems and make decisions.
• 6-8.5.c. Students break problems into component parts, identify key pieces, and use that information to solve problems.
• 6-8.5.d. Students demonstrate an understanding of how automation works and apply algorithmic thinking to design and automate solutions.

Objective:

Today we will explore the relationship between potential energy and kinetic energy in roller coasters.

Agenda (1 lesson, 50 minutes)

1. Think-Pair-Share: What do you know about roller coasters? What do you wonder?
2. Show the roller coaster video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSyz_U79iQ0

and have students take notes in their roller coaster journal about the following vocabulary words: potential energy, kinetic energy, law of conservation of energy, mechanical energy. Have students talk to a partner about the different terms.

3. Go over the vocabulary on the vocabulary slide to make sure students have complete notes.

4. Have students complete the online simulations found in the roller coaster journal and record their findings.

5. Have students complete the closure and discuss the findings as a class

Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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Think-Pair-Share: What do you know about roller coasters? What do you wonder?

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Intro/Driving Question/Opening

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As you watch, take notes in your roller coaster journal

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Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSyz_U79iQ0

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Vocabulary:

Potential Energy: stored energy

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Kinetic Energy: the energy of motion

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Law of Conservation of Energy: energy can neither be created nor destroyed - only converted from one form of energy to another.

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Mechanical Energy: the ability of an object to do work

Hands-on Activity Instructions

• Students will take notes during the video in the roller coaster journals.
• Students will do the online simulations and record their findings in their journals.

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Assessment

Monitor students as they complete the simulations

Monitor students during discussions

Look at students’ answers in their roller coaster journals

Differentiation

Complete simulations as a class and fill out journals together.

Remediation

Extension/Enrichment

Have students research famous roller coasters and put together their information in a slide show. Have them label the potential and kinetic energy in the different roller coasters.