The fifth-grade students at Knoch Intermediate Elementary School have been learning about Motion and Design this month. The students created vehicles using K'nex pieces, and explored concepts related to the physics of motion. The students also applied these concepts to a technological design. In this particular lesson (refer to pictures), the students created a falling weight system to investigate how a vehicle moves when acted on by various forces. By observing how the vehicle moves when a weighted string pulls it, the students can investigate how a force can change a vehicle's motion.
In the rest of the Motion and Design unit, the students will create a vehicle that can carry a load, and then they will investigate how different loads affect the amount of force needed. In a future lesson, students will learn about potential and kinetic energy by using three rubber bands linked together. There are many other lessons in this unit that cover energy, air resistance, drag, friction, spinning propellers, etc.
The final test of the unit is when the students are given a scenario and the students have to create an appropriate vehicle that meets all the criteria. Just like engineers do, students test their vehicle designs and repeatedly evaluate and refine them until the designs meet the specifications. During this unit, all the students share in the creativity of solving problems, testing ideas, and presenting results. Finally, they can reflect on their work in this unit and apply their knowledge to concepts in their own world.
