Lessons and machines
Drag the Sun across the sky and see how a shadow changes length and direction.
- 112.7.b.9 Gr 5 Earth rotates about every 24 hours. Day and night. Shadow positions and shapes change.
- 112.2.b.8.B K Light is blocked by some objects and makes shadows.
- 112.4.b.9.A Gr 2 The Sun is a star that gives light and heat.
Run a fair test with two dishes. Change one switch at a time and read the clock.
- 112.5.b.6.C Gr 3 Predict and record changes of state caused by heating. Liquid water to water vapor.
- 112.6.b.10.A Gr 4 The Sun is the energy source in the water cycle.
- 112.5.b.1.B Gr 3 Plan and conduct a descriptive investigation. A fair test changes one thing.
Pluck a rubber band. Change its length and tightness and hear the pitch change.
- 112.4.b.8.A Gr 2 Sound is made by vibrating matter.
- 112.6.b.8.A Gr 4 Energy transfers by objects in motion, waves in water and sound.
- 112.5.b.8.A Gr 3 Identify everyday examples of energy, including sound.
Move a lamp, cover a plant and watch how stems respond to light over days.
- 112.2.b.12.A K Plants depend on air, sunlight, water, nutrients and space.
- 112.6.b.12.A Gr 4 Producers use sunlight, water and carbon dioxide to make food.
- 112.7.b.5.B Gr 5 Identify and investigate cause and effect.
Place ramps, bouncers, fans, teeter boards, spinners and trampolines to ring bells. Test, adjust, test again.
- 112.5.b.8.B Gr 3 Investigate how the speed of an object relates to its mechanical energy.
- 112.7.b.7.A Gr 5 Equal and unequal forces cause patterns of motion and transfer of energy.
- 112.6.b.8.A Gr 4 Energy transfers by objects in motion.
- 112.7.b.1.B Gr 5 Engineering practices to design solutions to problems.
Balance crates on a plank. Slide the pivot. Find that weight times distance decides the balance.
- 112.5.b.7.A Gr 3 Forces acting on an object, including pushes and pulls and gravity.
- 112.6.b.7 Gr 4 Investigate patterns of forces on an object.
- 112.5.b.5.B Gr 3 Identify and investigate cause and effect.
Lift a crate with a plain rope, a fixed pulley, a moving pulley and four strands. Compare the pull and the rope length.
- 112.5.b.7.A Gr 3 Forces acting on an object, including pushes and pulls and gravity.
- 112.6.b.7 Gr 4 Investigate patterns of forces on an object.
- 112.7.b.2.C Gr 5 Use mathematical calculations to compare patterns and relationships.
Slide the Sun across the sky and read the time from a stick shadow. Compare a short stick and a tall one.
- 112.7.b.9 Gr 5 Earth rotates about every 24 hours. Day and night. Shadow positions and shapes change.
- 112.2.b.8.B K Light is blocked by some objects and makes shadows.
- 112.4.b.9.A Gr 2 The Sun is a star that gives light and heat.
Turn a handle on wheels of three sizes. Compare the pull with the distance the handle travels.
- 112.5.b.7.A Gr 3 Forces acting on an object, including pushes and pulls.
- 112.6.b.7 Gr 4 Investigate patterns of forces on an object.
- 112.7.b.2.C Gr 5 Use mathematical calculations to compare patterns and relationships.
Push a crate up three ramps to the same height. Compare the push with the length of the ramp.
- 112.5.b.7.A Gr 3 Forces acting on an object, including pushes and pulls and gravity.
- 112.6.b.7 Gr 4 Investigate patterns of forces on an object.
- 112.5.b.5.B Gr 3 Identify and investigate cause and effect.
Run a water clock with a small, middle and big hole. Mark each minute and compare the spacing.
- 112.5.b.1.D Gr 3 Use tools, including timing devices, to collect and record observations.
- 112.5.b.7.A Gr 3 Forces acting on an object, including pushes and pulls and gravity.
- 112.5.b.5.B Gr 3 Identify and investigate cause and effect.
Pluck a string and slide the bridge. Hear and see how string length and thickness change the pitch.
- 112.4.b.8.A Gr 2 Sound is made by vibrating matter.
- 112.5.b.5.A Gr 3 Identify and use patterns to explain scientific phenomena.
- 112.5.b.5.B Gr 3 Identify and investigate cause and effect.
Load two pans and level the beam. Use known weights to find a mystery weight.
- 112.5.b.6.A Gr 3 Measure, test, and record physical properties of matter, including mass.
- 112.5.b.5.C Gr 3 Use scale, proportion, and quantity to describe, compare, or model different systems.
- 112.5.b.5.B Gr 3 Identify and investigate cause and effect.
Steer a steel ball through a maze with a hidden magnet. Compare a steel ball with a wooden bead and a small magnet with a big one.
- 112.5.b.6.A Gr 3 Measure, test, and record physical properties of matter, including magnetism.
- 112.5.b.7.A Gr 3 Forces acting on an object, including pushes and pulls and gravity.
- 112.5.b.5.B Gr 3 Identify and investigate cause and effect.
Turn a windmill to face the wind and compare sail sizes. Watch wind energy light a lamp and grind grain.
- 112.6.b.8.A Gr 4 Investigate and identify the transfer of energy by objects in motion, waves in water, and sound.
- 112.6.b.11.A Gr 4 Advantages and disadvantages of renewable and nonrenewable resources such as wind.
- 112.5.b.5.B Gr 3 Identify and investigate cause and effect.
Split a log with a thin and a wide wedge. Lift a block with a fine and a coarse screw. Compare push and distance.
- 112.5.b.7.A Gr 3 Forces acting on an object, including pushes and pulls and gravity.
- 112.6.b.7 Gr 4 Investigate patterns of forces on an object.
- 112.5.b.5.B Gr 3 Identify and investigate cause and effect.
Tilt two mirrors to bend light over a wall and see the bird. Find the angle that sends light to the eye.
- 112.7.b.8.C Gr 5 Light travels in a straight line and can be reflected, refracted, or absorbed.
- 112.5.b.5.A Gr 3 Identify and use patterns to explain scientific phenomena.
- 112.5.b.5.B Gr 3 Identify and investigate cause and effect.
Time the swing of a pendulum. Change the string length and the weight of the bob and see which one matters.
- 112.7.b.7.A Gr 5 Investigate and explain how forces acting on an object cause patterns of motion and transfer of energy.
- 112.6.b.8.A Gr 4 Investigate and identify the transfer of energy by objects in motion.
- 112.5.b.5.A Gr 3 Identify and use patterns to explain scientific phenomena.
Fly a kite with no tail, a short tail and a long tail. Change the wind and see what lifts it and what keeps it steady.
- 112.5.b.7.A Gr 3 Forces acting on an object, including pushes and pulls and gravity.
- 112.7.b.7.A Gr 5 Investigate and explain how equal and unequal forces acting on an object cause patterns of motion and transfer of energy.
- 112.5.b.5.B Gr 3 Identify and investigate cause and effect.
Mesh a crank gear with a small, same-size and big gear. Compare turns and direction, then add a middle gear.
- 112.5.b.7.A Gr 3 Forces acting on an object, including pushes and pulls and gravity.
- 112.5.b.5.D Gr 3 Examine and model the parts of a system and their interdependence.
- 112.6.b.7 Gr 4 Investigate patterns of forces on an object.
Light a lamp with no lens, a mirror and a big lens. Move a boat out to sea and see when the sailor sees the beam.
- 112.7.b.8.C Gr 5 Light travels in a straight line and can be reflected, refracted, or absorbed.
- 112.5.b.5.B Gr 3 Identify and investigate cause and effect.
Fill a tube, move the lower bucket and watch water flow over a rim. Find what makes it faster and what makes it stop.
- 112.5.b.7.A Gr 3 Forces acting on an object, including pushes and pulls and gravity.
- 112.5.b.5.B Gr 3 Identify and investigate cause and effect.
- 112.6.b.7 Gr 4 Investigate patterns of forces on an object.
Choose a load and set the burner. Watch lift and weight decide whether the balloon rises, floats or sinks, then land it softly.
- 112.7.b.7.A Gr 5 Equal and unequal forces cause patterns of motion and transfer of energy.
- 112.5.b.7.A Gr 3 Forces acting on an object, including pushes and pulls and gravity.
- 112.5.b.5.B Gr 3 Identify and investigate cause and effect.
Tap a key to send dots and dashes down a wire and spell a word. Cut the wire and see that the circuit must be complete.
- 112.7.b.8.B Gr 5 Electrical energy in complete circuits can be transformed into motion, light, sound, or thermal energy. Requirements for a functioning circuit.
- 112.6.b.8.C Gr 4 Electrical energy travels in a closed path that can produce light and thermal energy.
- 112.5.b.5.B Gr 3 Identify and investigate cause and effect.
