Speed Tests

This week our second and third graders have been continuing to learn about force in science. In order to learn about how the mass of an object can influence how fast the object moves, we decided to do a bit of a test. Students were placed into groups of three and the groups were given materials to make a ramp (books and whiteboards), a tape measure, a toy car, an iPad (for the stopwatch), masking tape, and play dough. Students conducted this experiment in the gym because there is less friction on the gym floor, which makes for a better experiment. However, before going to the gym, students wrote down the necessary steps to the test they were going to do and assigned each person a job in the experiment.

Once we were in the gym, each group of students built their ramp and placed tape on the gym floor for their "finish line" (20 inches from the end of the ramp). After building the ramp and taking measurements, students tested letting go of their car and timing to see how long it took the car to reach the finish line. After testing the car three times and finding the median time, students then took the play dough and placed it on top of their car in order to add more mass to their car. Then, with the play dough on top of their car, students conducted the same experiment to see how long it took the heavier car to cross the finish line with play dough on top of it. After testing it three times, students once again found the median time and they compared the different times.

Back in the classroom, we found the median speed of the cars without play dough and the median speed of the car with the play dough by dividing the distance (20 inches) by the time (how many seconds it took the car to cross the finish line). Students then compared the speed of the car with the play dough and without the play dough. They noticed that the car had a faster speed without the play dough then the car that had the play dough. So, we realized through this experiment that how much an object weighs (its mass) will have an influence on the speed of that object. Students loved getting to experiment with the different objects throughout this test and they learned a lot!

Strength of Force in Magnets

Yesterday our second and third graders continued to learn about force in science, this time they used magnets. Small groups of students were given a paper maze glued onto cardboard along with a paperclip. Moving to different places in the classroom, students tested the strengths of different magnets and how well the magnets could work through the cardboard to pull the paperclip through the maze. Students loved testing out the many magnets and they could easily gauge which magnets were stronger than others. Below are a few pictures of the groups of second and third graders as they tested out the strengths of the magnets.

Force and Motion

This week we began a new unit in science about force and motion. Today, to get started thinking about this new concept, we had the opportunity to test out some objects to see how force and motion work firsthand. There were certain objects placed around the room at five different centers. In groups, students moved to each center to see how they could experiment with force and motion with each object at each group. For example, at one group there were magnets and paper clips. Students noticed that the magnet produced a pull (force) that caused the paper clip to get drawn toward the magnet (motion). Another example is when students experimented with a car and a ramp at a different center. Students realized that the taller the ramp, the more force is placed on the car and the farther it will move. We all enjoyed experimenting with force and motion during this activity and we are excited to continue to learn more about it in science. Below are a few pictures of students working through the science centers. 

Social Studies Review

We have finally finished our first unit of social studies! To review the key concepts that we have learned in this unit, we decided to play a game called Kahoot! To play this fun review game, I placed students in pairs and gave each pair of students an iPad. I displayed the social studies review questions on the Apple TV and each set of students answered each question as best as they could by clicking the correct answer on their iPads. Students loved watching the TV to see how many groups answered each question correctly. At the end of the game we found out which partner pair placed first, second, and third, based off of how many questions they answered correctly. We love reviewing concepts with Kahoot!