Warm-up Your Brain and Make Observations
Three friends went sledding on a big hill. Two friends took their sleds up to the top of the hill, while the third friend watched from the bottom. This picture was taken when the sledders got to the bottom of the hill.
What are you noticing?
What are you wondering?
Utah Student Science Experience format adapted from the work developed by Chris Zieminski and TJ McKenna for NGSSphenomena.com
What are you observing/wondering?
How Can I Explore What is Happening?
Investigate what happens when objects collide by using materials that you have at home.
Gather materials to test:
A toy car, a piece of cardboard to make a ramp, small blocks or other small toys
Investigate collisions:
Make a ramp with the cardboard. Test how your toy car will gain energy (speed) as it goes down the ramp.
Now try putting objects at the bottom of the ramp. Make observations of what happens when the car rolls down the ramp and collides with the objects.
Make your ramp steeper. What happens now when the car collides with the objects?
Draw a picture to show how you set up your investigation.
Which objects could the toy car move?
Which objects stopped the toy car?
What happened when you made the ramp steeper?
What Am I Thinking Now About the Experience?
What Can I Learn to Help Me Make Sense?
Developed by Chris Zieminski and TJ McKenna for NGSSphenomena.com
Read about collisions in the 4th Grade OER Textbook on pp. 60 - 61. As you read think about how you can answer the questions listed below:
How do you know that there has been a change in energy when objects collide?
Explain what can happen if a fast moving object collides with an object that is stationary, or standing still.
Write an explanation for how a sledder can knock over a friend standing at the bottom of the hill. Your explanation should include evidence from the text.
What can I do next?
Can you think of a time when you experienced something similar? How was that event similar to the one you are investigating today? How was it different?
Share what you learned with another person. Be sure to include evidence from your learning task and reading. After talking with someone else, what are you thinking about now?