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Overview

Your students will design, build, and race balloon-powered cars in this fun lesson plan that teaches about engineering design and kinetic and potential energy.

NGSS Alignment

This lesson helps students prepare for these Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations:

MS-PS3-5. Construct, use, and present arguments to support the claim that when the kinetic energy of an object changes, energy is transferred to or from that object.

MS-ETS1-4. Develop a model to generate data for iterative testing and modification of a proposed object, tool, or process such that an optimal design can be achieved.

This lesson focuses on these aspects of NGSS Three Dimensional Learning:

Science & Engineering Practices

Disciplinary Core Ideas

Crosscutting Concepts

Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions. Apply scientific ideas or principles to design, construct, and test a design of an object, tool, process, or system.

Engaging in Argument from Evidence. Evaluate competing design solutions based on jointly developed and agreed-upon design criteria.

PS3.A: Definitions of Energy. Motion energy is properly called kinetic energy; it is proportional to the mass of the moving object and grows with the square of its speed.

A system of objects may also contain stored (potential) energy, depending on their relative positions.

PS3.B: Conservation of Energy and Energy Transfer. When the motion energy of an object changes, there is inevitably some other change in energy at the same time.

ETS1.B: Developing Possible Solutions. A solution needs to be tested, and then modified on the basis of the test results in order to improve it.

Energy and Matter. Energy may take different forms (e.g. energy in fields, thermal energy, energy of motion)

The transfer of energy can be tracked as energy flows through a designed or natural system.

Materials

Note: since this is an engineering design project, it does not have an exact list of required materials for students to build their cars. You can use the materials you have available in your classroom, including recycled materials, to keep costs down. The list below provides some suggestions.

Open floor space

Tape measure

Wheels (round objects like CDs and bottle caps, etc.)

Axles (wooden skewers, pencils, straws, etc.)

Frame/body (plastic bottles, cardboard boxes, popsicle sticks, etc.)

Straws

Balloons

Rubber bands

Tape

Scissors

Other assorted classroom/office supplies (paper clips, binder clips, zip ties, etc.)

Engineering design, potential energy, kinetic energy, conservation of energy

Ben Finio, PhD, Science Buddies

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Your students will design, build, and race balloon-powered cars in this fun lesson plan that teaches about engineering design and kinetic and potential energy. This lesson helps students prepare for these Next Generation Science Standards Performance Expectations: MS-PS3-5.

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Plans, activities, experiments, etc.

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Science Fair Project Ideas, Answers, & Tools

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Free Topic Selection Wizard, science fair project ideas, step by step how to do a science fair project, Ask an Expert discussion board, and science fair tips for success.

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Separated tabs for whole unit.

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learning 5 lessons of seventh grade science

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Goes with the separate guide

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One of my favorite things about being a teacher is watching how excited kids get when something just "clicks" in their heads. I love that moment. While it happens often in the classroom from just everyday lessons, there is something even more exciting about it when it happens from a hands-on experiment. That is one reason I just love science. It's an opportunity to play while you learn.

We have been studying force and motion in my classroom recently and that means lots of experiments with cars! First, we explored height and how gravity is a force by creating a ramp of just basic wood and our science textbooks.

Together students took on the roles of managing a stopwatch, measuring the distance, and calculating the speed. As they zoomed the cars down the ramps, students were quick to discover that the higher the book, the greater the speed.

In fact, once they created a height of five books, they were amazed to discover that in every group, the car started to curve and change directions at the end of the ramp. We hypothesized why this was. It was fun to hear their ideas. Some thought it was like being out of control on ice because the force was just too great to control.

The next day we decided to test weight. We added pennies to the cars and zoomed them down the ramps again. Actually many students thought the weight would slow them down. We discussed if there was ever a time that weight would slow something down more than speed it up and why. (I love to ask why in my classroom. It drives my students crazy- a lot like a toddler would their parents!)

Of course, you can definitely enjoy this activity with your students too by heading over to my Teachers Pay Teachers store and snatching up my Force and Motion Unit (or click on the image below).

I have a sheet below for you to download free. It is a force and motion inquiry-like sheet. Just click here to download it FREE!

Happy Experimenting-

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Zoooooming with Force and Motion! - The Owl Teacher

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One of my favorite things about being a teacher is watching how excited kids get when something just "clicks" in their heads. I love that moment. While it happens often in the classroom from just everyday lessons, there is something even more exciting about it when it happens from a hands-on experiment.

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Newton's laws of motions

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Sir Isaac Newton, born on January 4, 1643, was a scientist, mathematician, and astronomer. Newton is regarded as one of the greatest scientists who ever lived. Isaac Newton defined the laws of gravity, introduced an entirely new branch of mathematics (calculus), and developed Newton's laws of motion.

The three laws of motion were first put together in a book published by Isaac Newton in 1687, Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica ( Mathematical Principals of Natural Philosophy). Newton used them to explain and investigate the motion of many physical objects and systems. For example, in the third volume of the text, Newton showed that these laws of motion, combined with his law of universal gravitation, explained Kepler's laws of planetary motion.

Newton's laws of motion are three physical laws that, together, laid the foundation for classical mechanics. They describe the relationship between a body and the forces acting upon it, and its motion in response to those forces. They have been expressed in several different ways, over nearly three centuries, and can be summarized as follows.

1. Every body continues in its state of rest, or of uniform motion in a straight line unless it is compelled to change that state by forces impressed upon it.

2. The acceleration produced by a particular force acting on a body is directly proportional to the magnitude of the force and inversely proportional to the mass of the body.

3. To every action there is always opposed an equal reaction; or, the mutual actions of two bodies upon each other are always equal, and directed to contrary parts.

If you are a parent or teacher who wants to introduce your students to Sir Isaac Newton, the following printable worksheets can make a great addition to your study. You might also want to look at resources such as the following books:

Isaac Newton and the Laws of Motion - This book is written in graphic-novel format, making it much more appealing to students than a standard textbook. It tells the story of how Isaac Newton developed the laws of motion and the law of universal gravitation.

Force and Motion: An Illustrated Guide to Newton's Laws - Author Jason Zimba breaks with the traditional method of teaching the laws of motion by explaining them visually. The book is organized into seventeen brief, well-sequenced lessons that are each followed with problems for students to work.

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Fun Ways to Learn About Newton's Laws of Motion

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Sir Isaac Newton, born on January 4, 1643, was a scientist, mathematician, and astronomer. Newton is regarded as one of the greatest scientists who ever lived. Isaac Newton defined the laws of gravity, introduced an entirely new branch of mathematics (calculus), and developed Newton's laws of motion.

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Engage the Students

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As some of you know, when I first started teaching, I got thrown into several subjects and topics that I didn't really have any background knowledge of. One of them being Newton and his lovely laws of motion. However, throughout eleven years of teaching, thankfully with tireless research and through questioning of other scientists, I now have units that I used to loathe which are now my very favorites to teach. In case you find yourself in a similar boat, here are some ways to ignite a love for these units that can seem intimidating.

When students see pictures of Isaac Newton who was born in 1643, it is hard for them to not giggle. It's hard for them to relate to someone who was born so long ago yet I feel it is important for them to see the scientist behind the science. To accomplish this goal, I have students research about different scientists. I feel this not only helps their nonfiction reading skills but also, allows them to get to know each scientist better.

The best way to engage any student is through hands-on learning. This forces them to participate, make more connections to their learning and make learning memorable. To introduce this unit, before I tackle vocabulary or anything, I introduce four inquiry activities to my students to get the wheels spinning. The activities are simple but effective.

After completing the activities, we refer to them as we study different forces. Students generally remember them and have a better understanding of how forces work and interact with one another.

The following day is when we tackle vocabulary. Now that students have some background knowledge based around this unit, students are likely to recall the terms more easily.

Informative text gives us the background knowledge we need to tackle more hands-on learning. The text is designed to give students necessary information to better grasp the unit. Embedded throughout the text are checkpoint and comprehension questions to assess learning and understanding of forces and Newton's laws of motion. Technology is a focus in my district, yet I like to give students choice, so these worksheets are offered in two formats and I differentiate learning by allowing student choice. The traditional printable is included as well as a digital option which can be distributed seamlessly through Google Classroom, Schoology or your preferred learning management system.

Activities to Review:

Once students have a foundation, activities are rooted to help cement learning. I do activities with each of Newton's laws of motion which allow me to assess and further push understanding of this concept.

Newton's 1st Law: Egg demonstration. Taking two eggs (one hardboiled and one raw) we make observations and predictions to try to determine which is which once spun. Students must back up their thinking with evidence and reasoning. Then the teacher spins each egg at the same time. Students share their thinking and reasoning and then the answer is revealed. This connects to Newton's first law of motion, "An object at rest will stay at rest and an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an unbalanced force." In addition to the eggs, we discuss how a water bottle can also demonstrate this law.

Newton's 2nd Law: This law refers to force, mass, acceleration and their relationship. For this activity, I have my students complete word problems practicing the equation F=MA.

: His law states, " For every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction ". I love the activity we complete for this law. Students make "hot air" balloons. Using the following materials

Students complete the steps to make their balloon. The balloon's "hot air" comes from their own breath. It is important to tell students that they cannot close the balloon as they need it open to be able to set off the balloon a few times. This activity allows students to see that as the air comes out of the bottom of the balloon, the balloon races up the straw similar to how a rocket ship is launched.

STEM Project: STEM is such a hot topic lately. To incorporate STEM and inquiry, I have students use their knowledge of force and motion to create a vehicle that they design to hold and keep an egg safe (yes, I use a lot of eggs in my science class). Students are given guidelines and a list of possible materials that they can "purchase" from me or I allow them to use their own materials at their own cost. The creativity that is inspired by this project is always amazing. I love test day when students come in and see how their vehicle performs. Students are able to make predictions and reflect on how their vehicle performs. The reflection piece is key as it allows me to see if students understood where their design went wrong and if they can think of modifications.

Other ways to review:

To try to integrate various learning styles in my science class, I include coloring when possible. A color by number activity is a great self-checking tool that allows students to review what they learned and easily see what they know or need to review more of.

Task cards are another great review tool as I have developed ones that are printable, digital or using BOOM learning decks. This allows all modalities to be piqued and practice learning.

If you are a first year or even a veteran teacher, there are units that can seem overwhelming. I hope that these ideas have inspired or eased your concerns about force and motion and made it seem like a unit that you can tackle and achieve great success with your students. If you have any questions, please comment below. I love hearing from you.

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Engaging Students in Learning about Force and Newton's Laws of Motion

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As some of you know, when I first started teaching, I got thrown into several subjects and topics that I didn't really have any background knowledge of. One of them being Newton and his lovely laws of motion.

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Forces and motion

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Excellent PowerPoint for class